Definitions of Terms in the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act

There are three factors that must be met in order for the Act to apply: It must involve a debt collector, a consumer debt and a consumer.

The Act defines a "debt collector" to include any person who uses any instrumentality of interstate commerce, US mail in any business, the principle purpose of which business is the collection of any debt, directly or indirectly, owed, due or asserted to be owed or due to another. The Act also defines a "debt collector" to include any person who regularly collects a debt owed to another.

The Act defines "debt" to mean any obligation or alleged obligation of a consumer to pay money arising out of a transaction in which the money, property, insurance or services which are the subject of the transaction are primarily for personal, family or household purposes, whether or not such obligations have been reduced to judgment.

The Act defines "consumer" as any person obligated or allegedly obligated to pay any debt.

To discuss your case with a lawyer, call 612-659-9500 or fill out our contact form. Se habla español. Our law office is conveniently located in downtown Minneapolis, in the historic Warehouse District, one block off Washington Avenue and our lawyers represent clients throughout the Twin Cities metro, Greater Minnesota and Western Wisconsin.