Arizona Fair Debt Collection Practices Act

When times are hard, one does not need the added pressure of the constant calls of debt collectors.  While many debt collection practices in Arizona are legal, there is a line that debt collectors cannot cross.  Congress created the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act to protect consumers from unfair, deceptive, abusive and oppressive conduct.  Some states also have laws that protect consumers from this improper conduct as well.

Arizona has a statute that covers debt collection agencies; however, Arizona has some exemptions for lawyers that act as debt collectors-Ariz. Rev. Stat. Ann §§32-1001 to 32-1057.The statute is a licensing statute.  This means that the law is one that has requirements of obtaining a special license to perform debt collections in Arizona.  Also the statute in Arizona is designed to prevent oppressive, vindictive or other illegal methods of debt collection, misrepresentations and simulated legal process.

There is no mention in the law as to whether the consumer has a private remedy – in other words, this may only be enforceable by a government entity and the consumer may not have a right to sue on their own behalf in Arizona.