What Is The 7-In-7 Rule And What Does It Mean For You?
Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), the 7-in-7 rule sets limitations on the number of times a debt collector can attempt to call you in one week and outlines what information they must provide you with upon initial contact.
The Basics Of The 7-in-7 Rule:
- Prohibits debt collectors from calling you more than 7 times within 7 consecutive days. Contact attempts are cumulative and not specifically restricted to a single attempt to contact you per day for those 7 consecutive days.
- It is illegal for a creditor or debt collector to contact you again within 7 days following a telephone conversation with you about a specific debt.
- Shortly after their initial communication, the debt collector is required to send you a written notice, also known as validation notice, informing you of your right to dispute the debt and request verification.
Exceptions To The 7-In-7 Rule:
- A debt collector can contact you again if you specifically request for them to reach out to you more frequently and/ or sooner than the 7-day time period.
- A debt collector’s attempts to contact you are not counted if the phone number they are calling is not in service, there is no answer and/ or they are not able to leave a voicemail message.
What Types Of Communication Are Covered In The 7-In-7 Rule?
- Telephone Calls
- Voicemail Messages
- Pre-Recorded Voicemail Messages
- Limited-Contact Messages Left With A Person
The purpose of the 7-in-7 rule is to protect consumers from unscrupulous debt collection practices. By providing you with the opportunity to verify the debt, you can ensure that you are not being charged for something you did not incur. Additionally, you have the ability to dispute the debt if you believe it is inaccurate or unfair.
Learn more about your rights on the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s (CFPB) website. The CFPB is a government agency that focuses on protecting you from scams and making sure you are treated fairly by banks, lenders, creditors and other financial institutions.
Oxygen XL Is Here to Help You
At Oxygen XL, we believe it is important for you to know your rights and understand the laws and regulations that govern our debt collection activities. We are an accredited member of the ACA International, an organization that establishes ethical standards in the accounts receivable industry. Check out our Google Reviews below and you will see how we help people just like you resolve their unpaid debt.