Coronavirus/COVID-19 Updates

General Information

Agencies Seeing Backlash From Keeping Offices Open

Consumer Advocacy Group Calls on Treasury Dept. to Protect Stimulus Checks from Collectors

CFPB Employees Working From Home After Contractor Tests Positive

How to Pivot in a Time of Crisis: The Alternative to Scrambling Your Workforce

Did You Plan for the Wrong Disaster?

Former CFPB Director Cordray Calls For ‘Vigorous’ Oversight of Collectors in COVID-19 Whitepaper

Employees at Four Wells Fargo Call Centers Test Positive for COVID-19

All Rise, The Court of Public Opinion is Now in Session

CARES Act Information

Details About Relief Available Through CARES Act

Senate Unanimously Passes Relief Bill, Which Will Restrict Student Loan Collections Only

Senate, White House Reach Deal on Stimulus, But Question of Impact on Collections Industry Remains

Regulatory Guidance

CFPB Issues Credit Reporting Guidance During COVID-19

Collection Agency Regulator Group Urges Agencies to Proactively Work With Consumers

State Developments

States’ Action Against Coronavirus Causing Uproar in ARM Industry

Battle Brewing Over Fate of Collection Industry During Coronavirus Response

Cities, States, Federal Government Address Debt Collection During Outbreak

Cornerstone Publishes State-by-State Responses to Question About Working From Home During Pandemic

States Take Steps to Protect Stimulus Funds From Collectors

State AGs Ask CFPB to Withdraw Credit Reporting Guidance

CALIFORNIA

California Tolls Statute of Limitations, Among Other Legal Relief

ILLINOIS

Illinois Issues Guidance To Licensed Agencies

Illinois Takes More Steps to Regulate Debt Collection During COVID-19

MASSACHUSETTS

Massachusetts Enacts Emergency Collection Regs, Bans Phone Calls to Debtors

Massachusetts Places Restrictions on Collection of State-Owed Debt: ACA International

Massachusetts Issues FAQ to Help With Emergency Collection Regulations

NEW JERSEY

N.J. Senate to Vote on Bill Restricting Collection Activities

NEW YORK

N.Y. Suspends Debt Collection on Bills Owed To, Collected By, State AG

Advocacy Group in N.Y. Garnering Stories, Support for Campaign to Stop Collections in State

N.Y. Legislator Says He Has Introduced Bill to Ban Collections in State

COVID-19 Leads N.Y. to Scrap Collector Licensing: Report

NORTH CAROLINA

N.C. AG Suspends Collection of Debts Owed to State

Disaster Declaration in N.C. Triggers 30-Day Deferral of ‘Debt Payment’

OHIO

Bill Introduced in Ohio to Stop Debt Collection During Pandemic

SOUTH CAROLINA

S.C. Lawmaker Calls For Moratorium on Medical Debt Collection

WASHINGTON, D.C.

Collectors Barred From Contacting Debtors Under New Legislation in Washington, D.C.

WASHINGTON STATE

Washington Issues Shelter-in-Place Order

Washington State Issues Proclamation Regulating Debt Collection

WEST VIRGINIA

Collectors Allowed to Keep Working in West Virginia

WISCONSIN

Wisconsin Issues Stay at Home Order

Wisconsin Regulator Issues Warning to Collectors in Form of ‘Emergency Guidance’

Federal Government

Bill Introduced in Senate to Prohibit Negative Credit Reporting During Crisis

Regulators Urged to Halt Non-Coronavirus Rulemakings

Some in Congress Still Want Ban on Debt Collection

Consumer Groups Back Bank Request for Emergency FCC Robocall Relief

Lawmakers Lobby Treasury to ‘Protect’ Stimulus Checks From ‘Predatory’ Collectors

Advocacy Group Calls out CFPB to Stop Collectors From ‘Going After’ Consumers

Student Loans

Ed. Dept. Stops Collecting on Defaulted Student Loans, Tells Agencies to Do Same

Senate Unanimously Passes Relief Bill, Which Will Restrict Student Loan Collections Only

Coronavirus Update: March 16

Could Calls to Freeze Regulatory Agenda Put CFPB’s Debt Collection Rule in Jeopardy?

Layoffs/Closings

Coast Professional Lays Off More Than 300 Employees As More Agencies Cut Back Because of Coronavirus

Minnesota Agency Lays Off 250 Workers

Healthcare

More Healthcare Facilities Stopping Debt Collection Activities

Beginning to Assess the Impact of Coronavirus on Healthcare Collections

Hospitals Report Dire Financial, Staffing Situations With Worst of COVID-19 Still to Come

Press Releases

VoApps Hopes to Help in a Time of Need

Receivables Management Association International (RMAI) and the Credit and Collections Industry Introduce Hardship Provisions for Consumers After COVID-19

RMAI Supports Protection of Federal Stimulus Funds from Collections

Crown Asset Management Supports Frontline COVID-19 Healthcare Workers

The National Creditors Bar Association (NCBA) Supports Exemption of CARES Act Stimulus Payments from Garnishment

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