Complaints regarding debt collectors and collection practices are frequently among the top complaints of older consumers struggling with the health and economic consequences of the pandemic. Legal Services Corporation’s most recent Justice Gap Report shared that consumer and finance is one of the most common types of civil legal problems experienced by low income older adults’ households. This session will provide different strategies advocates can use to help older consumers respond to debt collectors, including dealing with debt collection harassment. These strategies have been updated to reflect new federal debt collection regulations that took effect on November 30, 2021.
Participants will learn about:
1. Strategies for responding to debt collectors.
2. New debt collection regulations and how these impact older consumers.
3. Potential scams and how to avoid them.
Presenter: April Kuehnhoff (she/her), Staff Attorney, National Consumer Law Center