Debt collectors can now direct message you on social media to collect debt. But wait, there’s more. Debt collectors can also email and text you. I wanted to cover a few things so that you might understand your rights as a consumer.

New rules approved by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau during the previous administration took effect on Tuesday (11/30/21).

Debt collection agencies can email and text people as well as message them on social media to seek repayment for unpaid debts.

The former CFPB director said this brings the bureau into modern times, but consumer advocates worry that it sets consumers up for harassment and can easily lead to a host of scams.

Currently, 77.6 MILLION Americans have at least one debt in collections. (That’s almost a quarter of the population.)

Here are a few things you should know:

Collectors can request to follow you on social media
They must identify themselves as a collector in your DMS
Collectors cannot post anything on your public page.
They must give you the right to opt-out.
Agencies can also email and text consumers but must also give people the ability to opt-out of text and email communication.

The new rules also LIMIT the number of times a collector can call you during the week (now only 7 times)

No one is saying you shouldn’t pay your debts, but it’s important to know your rights:

Collectors can not threaten to call your employer
They cannot threaten to get law enforcement involved
Collectors only have a few years to collect on debt (varies state by state so Google it for where you live)
Last year the FTC began shutting down agencies using illegal collections practices, including collecting on fake debts or debts already paid.

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