[Federal Register Volume 84, Number 149 (Friday, August 2, 2019)]
[Proposed Rules]
[Pages 37806-37807]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2019-16476]


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BUREAU OF CONSUMER FINANCIAL PROTECTION

12 CFR Part 1006

[Docket No. CFPB-2019-0022]
RIN 3170-AA41


Debt Collection Practices (Regulation F); Extension of Comment 
Period

AGENCY: Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection.

ACTION: Proposed rule; extension of comment period.

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SUMMARY: On May 21, 2019, the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection 
(Bureau) published in the Federal Register a Notice of Proposed 
Rulemaking (NPRM) requesting comment on the Bureau's proposed 
amendments to Regulation F which implements the Fair Debt Collection 
Practices Act (FDCPA). The proposed amendments would prescribe Federal 
rules governing the activities of debt collectors, as that term is 
defined in the FDCPA. The NPRM provided a 90-day comment period that 
was set to close on August 19, 2019. To allow interested persons more 
time to consider and submit their comments, the Bureau has determined 
that an extension of the comment period until September 18, 2019, is 
appropriate.

DATES: The comment period for the debt collection NPRM published May 
21, 2019, at 84 FR 23274, is extended. Responses to the NPRM must now 
be received on or before September 18, 2019.

ADDRESSES: You may submit comments, identified by Docket No. CFPB-2019-
0022 or RIN 3170-AA41, by any of the following methods:
     Federal eRulemaking Portal: http://www.regulations.gov. 
Follow the instructions for submitting comments.
     Email: [email protected]. Include Docket 
No. CFPB-2019-0022 or RIN 3170-AA41 in the subject line of the message.
     Mail: Comment Intake--Debt Collection, Bureau of Consumer 
Financial Protection, 1700 G Street NW, Washington, DC 20552.
     Hand Delivery/Courier: Comment Intake--Debt Collection, 
Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection, 1700 G Street NW, Washington, 
DC 20552.

[[Page 37807]]

    Instructions: The Bureau encourages the early submission of 
comments. All submissions should include the agency name and docket 
number or Regulatory Information Number (RIN) for this rulemaking. 
Because paper mail in the Washington, DC area and at the Bureau is 
subject to delay, commenters are encouraged to submit comments 
electronically. In general, all comments received will be posted 
without change to http://www.regulations.gov. In addition, comments 
will be available for public inspection and copying at 1700 G Street 
NW, Washington, DC 20552, on official business days between the hours 
of 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. Eastern Time. You can make an appointment 
to inspect the documents by telephoning 202-435-7275.
    All submissions, including attachments and other supporting 
materials, will become part of the public record and subject to public 
disclosure. Proprietary or sensitive personal information, such as 
account numbers, Social Security numbers, or names of other 
individuals, should not be included. Submissions will not be edited to 
remove any identifying or contact information.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Courtney Jean or Kristin McPartland, 
Senior Counsels, Office of Regulations, at 202-435-7700 or https://reginquiries.consumerfinance.gov/. If you require this document in an 
alternative electronic format, please contact 
[email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: On May 7, 2019, the Bureau issued an NPRM 
proposing to amend Regulation F, 12 CFR part 1006, to prescribe Federal 
rules governing the activities of debt collectors, as that term is 
defined in the FDCPA. The NPRM was published in the Federal Register on 
May 21, 2019.\1\ The NPRM would, among other things, address 
communications in connection with debt collection; interpret and apply 
prohibitions on harassment or abuse, false or misleading 
representations, and unfair practices in debt collection; and clarify 
requirements for certain consumer-facing debt collection disclosures. 
The NPRM requested public comment on each of those topics, among 
others.
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    \1\ 84 FR 23274 (May 21, 2019).
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    The NPRM provided a 90-day public comment period that was set to 
close on August 19, 2019. The Bureau has received written requests 
asking that the Bureau extend the comment period. Two written requests 
from consumer advocates and an industry trade group asked that the 
Bureau extend the comment period by either 60 or 90 days. The requests 
indicate that the interested parties would use the time to conduct 
additional outreach to relevant constituencies and to properly address 
the many questions presented in the NPRM.
    The Bureau has balanced interested parties' desire to have 
additional time to consider the issues raised in the NPRM, gather data, 
and prepare their responses, with the Bureau's interest in proceeding 
expeditiously with the debt collection rulemaking. In light of these 
factors, the Bureau believes that a 30-day extension of the NPRM 
comment period to September 18, 2019, is appropriate. This extension 
should allow interested parties more time to prepare responses to the 
NPRM without delaying the debt collection rulemaking. The NPRM comment 
period will now close September 18, 2019.

    Dated: July 26, 2019.
Kathleen L. Kraninger,
Director, Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection.
[FR Doc. 2019-16476 Filed 8-1-19; 8:45 am]
 BILLING CODE 4810-AM-P