Debt collection: practices.

Existing law, the Rosenthal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, is intended to prohibit debt collectors from engaging in unfair or deceptive acts or practices in the collection of consumer debts and to require debtors to act fairly in entering into and honoring those debts. Existing law prohibits a debt collector from, among other things, collecting or attempting to collect a consumer debt by means of the use, or threat of use, of physical force or violence or any criminal means to cause harm to the person, or the reputation, or the property of any person. This bill would enact analogous provisions applicable to collections or attempts to collect certain government debts and debts arising from towed or impounded vehicles, as specified. The bill would prohibit government and towing debt collectors, as defined, from engaging in specified collection practices and would require the person collecting to provide the debtor with specified information regarding the debt, including specified language requirements for the information provided. Existing law makes it a crime, with respect to attempted collection of a consumer debt, for a debt collector, creditor, or an attorney, to send a communication that simulates legal or judicial process or that gives the appearance of being authorized, issued, or approved by a governmental agency or attorney if it is not. This bill would make it a crime to engage in those acts with respect to the collection of certain government debts and debts arising from towed or impounded vehicles. The bill would also establish civil penalties for violations and would authorize a consumer to bring a civil action against a debt collector or attorney who violates these provisions. By expanding a crime, the bill would impose a state-mandated local program. Existing law authorizes certain individuals to cause the removal of a vehicle found upon a highway or public land or a vehicle parked on private property under specified conditions. This bill would make a person who violates these provisions, with certain exemptions, liable for specified damages. The California Constitution requires the state to reimburse local agencies and school districts for certain costs mandated by the state. Statutory provisions establish procedures for making that reimbursement. This bill would provide that no reimbursement is required by this act for a specified reason.