Bill > S155

This bill aims to protect residents' peace and privacy by limiting unwanted communication from creditors. It amends existing law to state that a creditor must stop communicating with a person about a debt if that person has notified the creditor, either in writing or orally, that they refuse to pay or wish for communications to cease. However, creditors can still communicate in specific situations, such as to inform the debtor that collection efforts are ending, that they may take certain actions to recover the debt, or that they intend to take such actions. An oral request to stop communication is only valid for ten days unless confirmed in writing, and debtors can always withdraw their request in writing. Creditors are required to inform debtors of their right to cease communications at the beginning of collection efforts, with this notice being separate from regular bills. Crucially, if a debtor sends a written request to stop communications, the creditor must immediately comply and also forward this notice to any other creditor to whom the debt is assigned, ensuring the cease communication request remains in effect until the debtor rescinds it in writing. For the purposes of this law, a "creditor" is defined as anyone collecting a debt, excluding those solely focused on repossessing collateral.