Section 807 of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, 15 U.S.C. Sec. 1692e, provides, in part, as follows:
A debt collector may not use any false, deceptive, or misleading representation or means in connection with the collection of any debt. Without limiting the general application of the foregoing, the following conduct is a violation of this section:
"(1) The false representation or implication that the debt collector is vouched for, bonded by, or affiliated with the United States or any State, including the use of any badge, uniform, or facsimile thereof."
[Your Name] [Your Address] [City, State, Zip Code] [Email Address] [Phone Number] [Date] [Debt Collector’s Name] [Debt Collection Agency] [Address] [City, State, Zip Code] Subject: False Representation of Affiliation with the United States Dear [Debt Collector’s Name], I hope this letter finds you well. I am writing to bring to your attention some concerns regarding the collection activities concerning the debt associated with my account. Upon reviewing the recent communication and statements made by your agency, I have reason to believe that you are falsely implying or representing an affiliation or vouched-for status with the United States government. This misrepresentation violates the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FD CPA) under the section titled "False Representation or Implication that Debt Collector is Vouched for, Bonded by, or Affiliated with the United States." Firstly, it has come to my attention that in various phone conversations with your representatives, they have claimed to be vouched for or bonded by the United States government. Such false claims create an impression that the collection activities are authorized, endorsed, or guaranteed by a government entity, thereby misleading me as the consumer. This misrepresentation is both unacceptable and deceptive. Furthermore, in the correspondence I received from your agency, particularly in the written communication labeled as an "official notice," there are elements that imply an affiliation between your organization and the United States government. These misleading implications include the use of official-looking logos, insignia, or even ambiguous language that may mislead an average consumer into believing that the collection activities initiated by your agency have direct governmental backing or involvement. Such misrepresentations have the potential to mislead and confuse me as the debtor, which is against the FD CPA regulations. I want to emphasize that it is essential to adhere to the principles of transparency, accuracy, and honesty in all debt collection activities. Misleading or false representations not only violate the applicable laws but also harm the relationship between the consumer and the debt collector. Recognizing the seriousness of this matter, I kindly request that you immediately discontinue making any false or misleading claims or statements concerning your affiliation with the United States government in all current and future collection activities related to my account. I expect you to rectify this matter within [state a reasonable time frame, e.g., 15 calendar days] from the date of this letter. If I continue to receive any false or misleading communication implying an affiliation with the United States government, I will not hesitate to report the violation to the appropriate authorities, including but not limited to the Federal Trade Commission, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and my state’s Attorney General. Please consider this letter as a formal notice and a final opportunity for your agency to rectify these misleading misrepresentations. Failure to comply with this request and the FD CPA regulations may result in potential legal action. I appreciate your immediate attention to this matter and request written confirmation that you have taken the necessary actions to address the concerns outlined in this letter. Should you have any further questions or require additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me at the provided phone number or email address. Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter. Sincerely, [Your Name][Your Name] [Your Address] [City, State, Zip Code] [Email Address] [Phone Number] [Date] [Debt Collector’s Name] [Debt Collection Agency] [Address] [City, State, Zip Code] Subject: False Representation of Affiliation with the United States Dear [Debt Collector’s Name], I hope this letter finds you well. I am writing to bring to your attention some concerns regarding the collection activities concerning the debt associated with my account. Upon reviewing the recent communication and statements made by your agency, I have reason to believe that you are falsely implying or representing an affiliation or vouched-for status with the United States government. This misrepresentation violates the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FD CPA) under the section titled "False Representation or Implication that Debt Collector is Vouched for, Bonded by, or Affiliated with the United States." Firstly, it has come to my attention that in various phone conversations with your representatives, they have claimed to be vouched for or bonded by the United States government. Such false claims create an impression that the collection activities are authorized, endorsed, or guaranteed by a government entity, thereby misleading me as the consumer. This misrepresentation is both unacceptable and deceptive. Furthermore, in the correspondence I received from your agency, particularly in the written communication labeled as an "official notice," there are elements that imply an affiliation between your organization and the United States government. These misleading implications include the use of official-looking logos, insignia, or even ambiguous language that may mislead an average consumer into believing that the collection activities initiated by your agency have direct governmental backing or involvement. Such misrepresentations have the potential to mislead and confuse me as the debtor, which is against the FD CPA regulations. I want to emphasize that it is essential to adhere to the principles of transparency, accuracy, and honesty in all debt collection activities. Misleading or false representations not only violate the applicable laws but also harm the relationship between the consumer and the debt collector. Recognizing the seriousness of this matter, I kindly request that you immediately discontinue making any false or misleading claims or statements concerning your affiliation with the United States government in all current and future collection activities related to my account. I expect you to rectify this matter within [state a reasonable time frame, e.g., 15 calendar days] from the date of this letter. If I continue to receive any false or misleading communication implying an affiliation with the United States government, I will not hesitate to report the violation to the appropriate authorities, including but not limited to the Federal Trade Commission, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, and my state’s Attorney General. Please consider this letter as a formal notice and a final opportunity for your agency to rectify these misleading misrepresentations. Failure to comply with this request and the FD CPA regulations may result in potential legal action. I appreciate your immediate attention to this matter and request written confirmation that you have taken the necessary actions to address the concerns outlined in this letter. Should you have any further questions or require additional information, please do not hesitate to contact me at the provided phone number or email address. Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter. Sincerely, [Your Name]
