Can You Keep Debt Collectors Out of Your Social Media?

Yes, they can slide into your DMs, but you can kick them right out

Photo by dole777 on Unsplash

Yes, it’s true. That new friend request you have pending could be from a debt collector. New rules from regulators allow collection agencies to use social media as a means of contacting a borrower to collect on a debt.

Debt Collectors in Your DMs?. Consumer Bureau Rule Allows Debt… | by Andy Spears | Medium

It’s important to note, though, that you can keep debt collectors away from your social media — and if they get too aggressive, you can also file a complaint.

Now That Debt Collectors Can Reach Out on Social Media, What Are the Ground Rules? — NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth (nbcdfw.com)

Here are some basic rules:

“They can’t post in a way that would be viewable to the general public or even just viewable to your social media contacts,” explains April Kuehnhoff, an attorney with the National Consumer Law Center.

Social media messages must be private, so a debt collector can’t post on your page or comment.

When sending a message, the debt collector must identify themselves and wait at least 14 days after messaging to tell the credit bureaus a consumer defaulted on a debt.