Massachusetts Temporarily Suspends Debt Collection Calls

Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey has filed an emergency addendum that has prohibited calls from debt collectors for “ninety (90) days following the effective date of this regulation or until the State of Emergency Period expires, whichever occurs first”.  The addendum reads:

35.04: Prohibition on Debt Collection Telephone Calls with Regard to Debt Collectors Only
(1) For the ninety (90) days following the effective date of this regulation or until the State of Emergency Period expires, whichever occurs first, it shall be an unfair or deceptive act or practice for any debt collector to initiate a communication with any debtor via telephone, either in person or by recorded audio message to the debtor’s residence, cellular telephone, or other telephone number provided by the debtor as his or her personal telephone number, provided that a debt collector shall not be deemed to have initiated a communication with a debtor if the communication by the debt collector is in response to a request made by the debtor for said communication.

Massachusetts joins Nevada in temporarily suspending debt collection activity.  Colorado’s Attorney General Phil Weiser on March 18 released a statement urging student loan servicers, debt collection agencies, and creditors to act responsibly toward Colorado borrowers but has not passed measures (at the time of this writing) to prohibit debt collection.  New York, North Carolina and the City of Chicago have all temporarily suspended collections on debt that originated in their own jurisdiction and is owed to these jurisdictions.  New York, North Carolina and City of Chicago have not suspended collection activity on other forms of debt.

Check back often for a consolidated REAL-TIME update on the impact to Debt Collections due to the Covid-19 crisis. We are tracking collection suspensions, state office closures and renewal license deadline changes in REAL-TIME.