Fair Debt Collection Practices Act
Public Law 95-109 · H.R. 5294 · 95th Congress · began in the House
Signed by Jimmy Carter (D) on Sep 20, 1977 · Commerce
Sponsor: Rep. Frank Annunzio (D-IL-11)
Cosponsors (8): Rep. Millicent Fenwick, Rep. Chalmers Wylie,
Passage votes
- HouseMethod not stated
- SenateMethod not stated
Data notes
The final version of the law, as each chamber passed it. A chamber that passed it by voice vote or unanimous consent has no count. “Method not stated” means the record does not say how the chamber voted. Where the record has a member-by-member vote, the “Who voted for it” section shows who voted yea.
Summary
The Congressional Research Service’s plain-language summary of what the law does.
Fair Debt Collection Practices Act - Declares the findings of Congress that collection abuses by independent debt collectors are serious and widespread and that existing State laws are inadequate to curb these abuses.
Prohibits a debt collector when contacting third persons to locate a consumer from: (1) stating that the consumer owes a debt; (2) contacting the third person more than once unless reasonably necessary; or (3) using language symbols on mail indicating that it pertains to debt collection. Prohibits a debt collector from contacting a third person if the debt collector knows that the consumer is represented by an attorney and has the attorney's name and address.
Prohibits a debt collector, without the consumer's consent, from: (1) contacting a consumer at any unusual or inconvenient time or place; (2) contacting a consumer if represented by an attorney; or (3) calling a consumer at work if the debt collector knows the consumer's employer prohibits such calls.
Provides that if a consumer notifies a debt collector in writing that he refuses to pay a debt or wishes the debt collector to cease further contacts, the debt collector must cease communications except to notify the consumer of the debt collector's or creditor's possible further actions.
Prohibits a debt collector from engaging in any conduct the natural consequence of which is to harass, oppress or abuse any person.
Prohibits a debt collector from using any false, deceptive or misleading representations to collect debts; or from using any unfair or unconscionable means to collect debts.
Requires the debt collector, within five days after contacting a consumer, to notify in writing the consumer of the amount of the debt and the name of the creditor and advise the consumer of the debt collector's duty to verify the debt if it is disputed.
Prohibits a debt collector from applying payments to disputed debts and, where applicable, requires applying payments in accordance with the consumer's directions.
Makes it unlawful to compile, design, and furnish forms knowing that they will be used to create the false impression that a third person is collecting a debt.
Subjects a debt collector who violates the Act to actual damages plus costs and reasonable attorney's fees.
Empowers the Federal Trade Commission and the Federal bank regulatory bodies to use all their functions and powers to enforce compliance.
Committees
The committees the bill was sent to, and what each did with it.
Data notes
A committee links to its page only where it exists in the current Congress; older and renamed committees are named without a link.
Timeline
From introduction to signing, newest first: the committees, the floor and the president. 14 actions.
- Sep 20, 1977Became lawBecame law · Signed by President.
- PresidentPresident · Public Law 95-109.
- Sep 9, 1977PresidentPresident · Measure presented to President.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in Senate.
- PresidentPresident · Measure enrolled in House.
- Sep 8, 1977Resolving differencesResolving differences · House agreed to Senate amendment.
- Aug 5, 1977FloorFloor · Measure passed Senate, amended.
- FloorFloor · Measure called up by unanimous consent in Senate.
- Aug 2, 1977CommitteeCommittee · Reported by Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee
- Apr 6, 1977CommitteeCommittee · Referred to Senate Banking, Housing, and Urban Affairs Committee
- Apr 4, 1977FloorFloor · Measure passed House, amended, roll call #124 (199-198).House roll call 124
- Mar 29, 1977CommitteeCommittee · Reported by House Financial Services Committee
- Mar 22, 1977CommitteeCommittee · Referred to House Financial Services Committee
- IntroducedIntroduced · Introduced in the House
Data notes
Shows the introduction, each committee and subcommittee step the source dates (referral, hearings, markup, report, discharge), and the floor, conference, presidential and became-law steps. Calendar placements, messages between the chambers, amendments and committee report numbers are not shown for laws before the 108th Congress. Two entries the source lists twice are shown once.
Official record
The bill’s full text and every action, including introduction and committee steps, are on Congress.gov. Data through Oct 7, 2026.