PlainBillCongress, translated.Legislation. Context. Public interest.Referred to the Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit.
Congressional Research Service
Version 00 · Introduced in House · May 25, 1995
Amends the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act to make it a violation of such Act for the debt collector to fail to disclose the attempt to collect a debt in the first written communication with a consumer (currently, in all communications made to collect a debt). Requires that the consumer notify the debt collector in writing of any dispute within thirty days of receiving a debt notice or the debt will automatically be considered valid. Allows the debt collector to: (1) demand payment of a debt, and attempt to collect it, within the thirty days after giving the consumer notice; and (2) obtain information concerning location, income, asset, or credit of the consumer from any person besides the consumer's lawyer if the lawyer refuses to provide such information. Declares that such Act provides no remedy, liability, or penalty for violations of State law. Excuses a debt collector from liability for violations of such Act resulting from the use of a form of written communication approved by any State or Federal agency. Requires a court, in determining whether a debt collector has failed to comply with such Act, to consider the effect of any act or omission of the debt collector upon a reasonable person.
People & committees
Rep. Bachus, Spencer [R-AL-6] · R–AL
Legislative record
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Referred to the Subcommittee on Financial Institutions and Consumer Credit.
Referred to the House Committee on Banking and Financial Services.
Introduced in House
Introduced in House
Primary sources
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Source last updated: Aug 21, 2025. Consult Congress.gov for the current record.
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