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Update: Oregon Governor signs new legislation cracking down on abusive debt collectors
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Abusive debt collectors face greater scrutiny and regulation in Oregon with passage of SB 386. Governorn Kulongoski singed the bill this week.
Before passage, Oregon law contained many loopholes that provided cover for abusive debt collectors.
Passage of the bill means that abusive debt collectors will be covered by Oregon's Unlawful Trade Practices Act. That has two effects. First--and probably most important--the Oregon Department of Justice will have new enforcement powers to combat overly aggressive debt collector misconduct. Second, consumers will have the ability to privately enforce new rights, and that should even up the balance of power.
I don't see this as a great sea change. Lawful debt collectors will not be affected, and consumers who over spend will still owe debts. At most it will curb the bad guys. That's something that the collections industry should welcome, as they don't need bad people fouling the system. It's gratifying to see consumer advocates move important legislation forward.
