Are State Debt Collection Laws Outdated?
A recent class action suit resulted in a large number of debt collectors paying a combined settlement of $59 million to the people of New York that were impacted by illegal debt collection practices. These tactics included freezing bank accounts and garnishing wages without the legal consent or right to do so. While this particular ruling is a step in the right direction when it comes to making sure debt collectors play by the rules, many states still need to update debt collection laws. Outdated Details As a recent New York Times article points out (see link to New York Times piece at the bottom of this article), various states have debt recovery laws that were clearly developed a long time ago. Vermont, for example, allows someone that owes a vast amount of debt to keep two goats, one cow, and three swarms of bees following debt collection. While groups like the National Consumer Law Center have suggested that all states allow a person to keep a reasonable amount of money (around