Bill > S1867

This bill requires debt collectors to stop collecting a debt if a consumer, within 30 days of the initial contact, provides a written statement claiming to be a victim of identity theft or misidentification regarding that specific debt, and this statement must either be a standardized affidavit of identity theft or a detailed certification including specific facts supporting the claim, explanations of why the consumer didn't incur the debt, and contact information. Upon receiving such a statement, the debt collector must review the information and determine if the consumer is responsible for the debt; if the debt collector recommences collection without this review or a proper written determination, it constitutes a violation of the act, which can result in injunctions and civil penalties of $500 to $1,000 per violation, though provisions exist for curing violations, defense against unintentional errors, and a one-year statute of limitations for enforcement actions.