ASSEMBLY STANDING COMMITTEE ON CONSUMER AFFAIRS AND PROTECTION NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING |
SUBJECT: |
Debt Collection Practices |
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PURPOSE: |
To determine how the State can best protect consumers against unfair and deceptive debt collection practices. |
NEW YORK CITY |
Federal and state law regulate how debt collectors may communicate with debtors and prohibit the use of certain threatening, deceptive and unfair collection practices. Despite these legal protections, the number of consumer complaints regarding debt collection practices continue to rise. Consumer complaints received by the Federal Trade Commission regarding third-party debt collectors grew for the eighth consecutive year in 2005, and consumers filed with the Commission more complaints against third-party collectors than against any other specific industry. The New York City Department of Consumer Affairs recently reported a seventy percent increase over the past two years in consumer complaints related to debt collection practices. The purpose of this hearing is to determine how the State can best protect consumers against unfair and deceptive debt collection practices. The hearing will also investigate the practices of debt buyers (collection agencies that specialize in acquiring uncollected debts from principal creditors and third-party collectors) and examine the need for the State to implement enhanced consumer protections in this area. Oral testimony will be limited to ten minute durations. Ten copies of any prepared testimony should be submitted at the hearing registration desk. The Committees would appreciate advance receipt of prepared statements. Written testimony will also be accepted and may be sent to the contact persons listed on the reply form. In order to publicize the hearing further, please inform interested parties of the Committees' interest in receiving written testimony from all sources. In order to meet the needs of those who may have a disability, the Senate and Assembly, in accordance with their policy of non-discrimination on the basis of disability, as well as the 1990 Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), has made its facilities and services available to all individuals with disabilities. For individuals with disabilities, accommodations will be provided, upon reasonable request, to afford such individuals access and admission to Senate and Assembly facilities and activities. |
SELECTED ISSUES TO WHICH WITNESSES MAY DIRECT THEIR TESTIMONY:
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PUBLIC HEARING REPLY FORM Persons interested in presenting testimony at the public hearing on Debt Collection Practices to be held on October 24, 2006, or who wish to submit written testimony only, are requested to complete and return this reply form to:
Nichole Hedglin |
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I plan to attend the public hearing on Debt Collection Practices to be conducted by the Assembly Committee on Consumer Affairs and Protection and the Assembly Committee on Judiciary on October 24, 2006. | |
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I plan to make a public statement at the hearing. My statement will be limited to 10 minutes, and I will answer any questions which may arise. I will provide 10 copies of my prepared statement. | |
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I will address my remarks to the following subjects: |
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I do not plan to attend the above hearing. | |
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I would like to be added to the Committee mailing list for notices and reports. | |
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I would like to be removed from the Committee mailing list. | |
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I will require assistance and/or handicapped accessibility information. Please specify the type of assistance required: |
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