Business

Increasing number of people using federal law to shield them from creditors

Pat McMahon Contributor
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A growing number of people are using the intricacies of federal law to turn the tables on their creditors—and the collection agencies those creditors employ. You can now add Seattle attorney Mark Arthur’s name to that list. He’s suing the 800-pound gorilla of the student-loan industry, Sallie Mae, for what he alleges were dozens of illegal phone calls.

The Telephone Consumer Protection Act of 1991 prohibits debt-collection services from using autodialers to contact debtors who haven’t already provided them with contact info. According to the lawsuit, the Federal Communications Commission concluded in 2008 that receiving automated calls is more annoying for customers than calls from actual humans. That’s why the agency prohibited debt-collection services from using them unless the debtor has given consent.

Full story: Seattle News – Loan Shark – page 1