Section R20-4-1511. Prohibition of Harassment

A.      A collection agency shall not use unauthorized or oppressive tactics designed to harass any person to pay a debt.

B.       A collection agency shall not use written or oral communica- tions that either ridicule, disgrace, or humiliate any person or tend to ridicule, disgrace, or humiliate any person.

C.      A collection agency shall not state, imply, or tend to imply, in written or oral communications that any person is guilty of fraud or any other crime.

D.      A collection agency shall not permit its agents, employees, representatives, debt collectors, or officers to use obscene or abusive language in efforts to collect a debt.

E.       A collection agency or its agents, employees, representatives or officers are subject to penalties listed in A.R.S. § 32- 1056(B) for any violation of this Article, as well as other lia- bilities imposed under any other provision of law.

Historical Note

Adopted as an emergency effective September 6, 1978, pursuant to A.R.S. § 41-1003, valid for only 90 days (Supp. 78-5). Adopted effective December 6, 1978 (Supp. 78-6). R20-4-1511 recodified from R4-4-1511 (Supp. 95-1). Amended by final rulemaking at 12 A.A.R.

1331, effective June 4, 2006 (Supp. 06-2).