Debt Collectors Can Now DM Debtors on Social Media

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Debt collectors now have another avenue to try and collect on unpaid debts – social media.
Although debt collectors won’t be allowed to publicly comment on social media posts, they can now send private messages on social media, the Associated Press reports.
According to NPR, under the new rules, debt collectors must clearly identify themselves if sending you a friend request or a DM via social media and they must include a way for the recipient to stop receiving their messages. Collectors cannot post on your page if it can be seen by your contacts or the public.
“We are finally leaving 1977 behind and developing a debt collection system that works for consumers and industry in the modern world,” former Consumer Financial Protection Bureau director Kathleen L. Kraninger said in a blog post regarding the changes.
The new rules also set a limit on the number of times a debt collector can call you. NPR reports agencies can now only call seven times per week for each account in collection.