HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1591        FILED ON: 1/17/2013

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 187

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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PRESENTED BY:

Christine E. Canavan

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To the Honorable Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts in General
Court assembled:

The undersigned legislators and/or citizens respectfully petition for the adoption of the accompanying bill:

An Act reducing unwanted communications from creditors to protect the peace and privacy of residents.

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PETITION OF:

HOUSE DOCKET, NO. 1591        FILED ON: 1/17/2013

HOUSE  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .  No. 187

The Commonwealth of Massachusetts

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In the Year Two Thousand Thirteen

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An Act reducing unwanted communications from creditors to protect the peace and privacy of residents.

Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General Court assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:
 

SECTION 1.   Chapter 93 of the General Laws as appearing in the 2010 Official Edition is hereby amended by inserting after subsection(d) in section forty-nine the following:-

(e) The creditor communicates with the alleged debtor regarding a debt after such debtor has notified the creditor, in writing or orally, that the alleged debtor refuses to pay such debt or that the alleged debtor wishes the creditor to cease further communications with debtor about such debt, with the following exceptions, which must be in writing:

To advise the alleged debtor that the creditors further efforts are being terminated;

To notify the alleged debtor that the creditor may invoke specified remedies which are ordinarily invoked by such creditor; or, where applicable, to notify the debtor that the creditor intends to invoke a specified remedy.

An oral notice shall be valid for only ten days unless the alleged debtor provides written confirmation postmarked or delivered within seven days of such notice. A debtor may rescind at any time such a notice by written communication to the creditor. A creditor must send the alleged debtor written notification of this right at the time that the creditor considers the account delinquent and begins communication with the debtor about the debt.  Such written notice must be separate from the regular monthly statement.

Notwithstanding any General or special law or rule or regulation to the contrary, if a debtor sends a written notice to a creditor to whom said debtor owes an obligation for the payment of a bill or an outstanding debt stating that said debtor wishes the creditor to cease any further communications with said debtor concerning said bill or outstanding debt, then said creditor shall immediately cease any further communications with said debtor.

Notwithstanding any General or special law or rule or regulation to the contrary, a copy of the aforementioned written notice prohibiting communications between said creditor and said debtor shall be forwarded by said creditor to any further creditor further assigned to collect said bill or debt, and the provisions of such written notice shall remain operational and in effect until such time a said debtor sends a written notice to said creditor rescinding the original written cease communication notice. 

For purposes of this section, “creditor” means any person and his agents, servants, employees, or attorneys engaged in collecting a debt owed or alleged to be owed to him by a debtor; provided, however, that a person shall not be deemed to be engaged in collecting a debt if his activities are solely for the purposes of repossessing any collateral or property of the creditor securing such a debt.