Since the recession began, aggressive debt collectors have gone completely overboard. In several states, debt collection agencies have been involved in unethical, illegal uses of law enforcement to sort out unpaid debts, resulting in modern day debtors prisons. Recent abusive practices by debt collectors have been well documented by both the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and the Government Accountability Office.

Minnesota Senator Al Franken and Florida Senator George LeMieux have introduced the bipartisan End Debt Collector Abuse Act, the key to ending systematic abuses by debt collectors and a consumer advocacy law that will help empower people to know their rights about unpaid debts.

The End Debt Collector Abuse Act will prohibit collectors from seeking arrest warrants for overdue bills and thus end misuse of law enforcement in seeking debt repayment. It will no longer be acceptable to jail debtors simply on the basis of unpaid bills. The bill will also increase penalties against aggressive lenders who break the law. It will help put a stop to those who use the legal system for private profit.

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