940 Mass. Reg. 7.05

Current through Register 1520, April 26, 2024
Section 7.05 - Contact with Persons Residing in the Household of a Debtor
(1) A creditor may assume that all contacts directed to the debtor's household are received either by the debtor or persons residing in the household of the debtor unless the creditor knows or should know information to the contrary.
(2) It shall constitute an unfair or deceptive act or practice for a creditor to imply the fact of a debt, orally or in writing, to persons who reside in the household of a debtor, other than the debtor.
(3) It shall constitute an unfair or deceptive act or practice for a creditor to contact or threaten to contact persons who reside in the household of a debtor, other than the debtor, in any of the following ways:
(a) Using profane or obscene language;
(b) Placing telephone calls, disclosing the name of the business, or company of the creditor, unless the recipient expressly requests disclosure of the business or company name;
(c) Causing expense to any such person in the form of collect or long distance telephone calls, text messaging, download fees, data usage fees or other similar charges;
(d) Engaging any such person in non-identifying communication via telephone with such frequency as to be unreasonable or to constitute harassment to such person under the circumstances, and engaging any person in communications via telephone, initiated by the creditor, in excess of two calls in each seven-day period at a debtor's residence and two calls in each 30-day period other than at a debtor's residence, for each debt;
(e) Placing telephone calls at times known to be times other than the normal waking hours of the person called, or if normal waking hours are not known, at any time other than between 8:00 A.M. and 9:00 P.M. eastern time;
(f) Visiting the place of employment of any such person, unless requested by such person
(g) Confronting or communicating in person with any such person regarding the collection of a debt in a public place, excluding courthouses, the creditor's place of business, other places agreed to by the person, offices of the person's attorney or of the attorney for the creditor or debtor, or places where the conversation between the creditor and such person cannot reasonably be overheard by anyone not authorized by such person;
(h) Using language on envelopes or on any other printed or written materials, except materials enclosed in sealed envelopes, indicating or implying that the communication relates to the collection of a debt, which in the normal course of business may be received or examined by any such person residing in the household of a debtor;
(4) Nothing in 940 CMR 7.05 shall prohibit any contact required by law to be made by a creditor or attorney acting on his or her behalf engaged in collection activities, including notices required prior or subsequent to repossession.

940 CMR 7.05