Rhode Island Fair Debt Collection Practices Act

This act regulates the conduct of debt collectors and debt buyers pursuing consumer debts, limiting how and when they may contact consumers and seek location information from third parties, prohibiting harassing and deceptive collection tactics, requiring that debts be validated on request, and setting conditions on repossession activity, the handling of consumers' financial information, and the filing of collection lawsuits. It also creates a licensing regime for those engaged in debt collection, with bonding, fee, recordkeeping, and reporting obligations, disqualification based on certain prior convictions, and provisions covering the wind-down of a licensed business, all administered by a regulator authorized to adopt rules and issue advisory rulings. Compliance is backed by investigations, license suspension or revocation, administrative enforcement orders and assurances of discontinuance subject to appeal, along with civil penalties and civil liability to consumers for violations.

Editorial summary generated from the text of this act. It is not part of the statute — read the sections below for the operative language.