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Two consumer protection laws are as follows:
Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act (GLBA): This Act of 1999 removed the barriers to consolidation among banking and other financial institutions and allowed the consolidation of a commercial bank, securities firm, investment bank, and insurance company. This Act is also known as the “Financial Services Modernization Act.” This Act allows consumers to use various financial services at a single financial institution. More importantly, the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act provided limitations on the private information gained from consumers through the transactions performed through banks and other institutions. Private information cannot be sold to other entities without the permission of the consumer. In addition, the Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act makes the practice of obtaining information using false pretenses illegal. Because of the mergers of different types of financial institutions with the relaxation of barriers of consolidation, one entity could possibly have access to an individual’s financial, medical, and criminal history information through the merger of an insurance company and a brokerage company. Therefore, privacy legislation was needed to protect consumers with the Financial Services Modernization Act.
Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA): This act prohibits debt collectors from making use of unfair means to recover overdue bills. Unfair means may include calling consumers at any time other than between 8:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. local time. It also prohibits using offensive language during the conversation over debt and demanding unjustified amounts not allowed legally. The FDCPA make consumers’ voices powerful by giving consumers more rights regarding how debts are collected from them. These rights include allowing consumers to sue debt collectors individually and to ban contact with consumers at work. Consumers can also seek proof that they actually do owe the money that the debt collector refers to. When first contacting a consumer, the debt collector must inform a debtor of his or her right to dispute the debt. The debt collector must also tell the debtor the amount of the debt, the name of the creditor, and the fact that the debt can be disputed within 30 days. Debt collectors can’t misrepresent themselves by claiming to be an attorney or an employee of a credit reporting agency.
The costs to society include the economic costs. Staffers, lawyers, and enforcement agencies are hired for the administration of these laws. Compliance with regulations requires that companies hire, train, and continually re-educate employees on how to comply with applicable laws. In addition, one provision of the FDCPA requires that consumers can recover reasonable attorney fees. Society needs to contribute for the payment of these services through taxes and also through the higher-priced products and services companies must assess in order to remain profitable.
