In an age when phone calls have decreased, debt collectors have needed to find new ways to collect on debts they have bought. New rules are allowing them to use more than just a phone call. They can now find you on social media.
According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, a new law went into effect this week that allows debt collectors can now find you on your favorite social media sites. While the rules are strict on how they can contact you on your favorite app, they still have that ability too. The CFPB lays the rules out as such:
- Keeping the messages private – Their messages to you must be private and not viewable by the general public or by your friends, contacts, or followers.
- Identifying themselves as a debt collector – If a debt collector attempts to send you a private message requesting to add you as a friend or contact, the debt collector must identify themself as a debt collector.
- Providing a way for you to opt-out of their communications – They must also provide you, in each message, a simple way to opt-out of receiving further communications from them on that social media platform.
There is no limit to how much a debt collector messages you on social media, or text messaging, but they are allowed to call you up to seven times per week. If you feel a collector is breaking the rules, you can contact the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau online or by calling 855-411-2372.
So, before you accept that new connection on a social media site, beware, they may be looking for something different than your favorite dog and food pics.