The 7-in-7 rule, sometimes called the 7×7 rule or the 777 rule, is one of the most stringent rules in favor of consumers when it comes to debt collection rights. This rule states that a creditor should not contact the person who owes them money more than seven times in a 7-day period. Learn more about how often a debt collector can call you Learn more about the rule for reporting a debt in collection Learn more about restrictions surrounding social media disclosure Learn more about limited-content messages If you have problems with debt collection, you can file a complaint with the CFPB online or by calling (85) 411-CFPB (237). You can also learn more about your debt collection rights.
Specifically, third-party debt collectors are prohibited from making more than seven calls in a seven-day period and calling within seven days of having a telephone conversation with the consumer about the debt. Rule 777 is a debt collection strategy that focuses on communicating, negotiating, and maintaining positive relationships with debtors. It's a method that not only helps ensure debt recovery, but also preserves the company's reputation and goodwill. Understanding the details of this rule can help your company realize the potential for the greater good. The 7-in-7 rule is designed to protect the FDCPA consumer by helping to protect consumers from seeing each other overwhelmed by creditors.
For example, the Rule does not require a tabular format for information related to details, and other designs or formats may comply with the Rule. As explained in question 2 of the limited-content messages on debt collection, a voicemail is a communication according to the rule that only transmits information about a debt, directly or indirectly, to a person through any medium. If the debt collector sends you a validation notice, it means that they have met their requirement to contact you and, in general, you can start declaring the debt to credit reporting companies, as long as they comply with other credit reporting laws. The most recent periodic status for the purposes of the Special Rule may be the one filed by a debt collector (who is not a creditor), provided that periodic status was required by Regulation Z, 12 CFR § 1026.41, at the time it was filed. However, a debt collector could violate the general prohibition if the natural consequence of another aspect of the debt collector's phone calls, unrelated to frequency, is to harass, oppress, or abuse anyone in connection with debt collection.
For example, when a debt collector obtains safe haven to meet content and format requirements, if the debt collector reveals an incorrect amount in the model validation notice, the debt collector violates the prohibition of providing false or misleading information. The FDCPA stands for the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, which is a federal law that protects consumers from abusive, deceptive and unfair debt collection practices. FDCPA laws prevent debt collectors from engaging in abusive, deceptive practices and unfair debt collection. For example, if the consumer inquiry provided direct prior consent, the debt collector returned the call within seven days of the consumer's inquiry, and the consent has not otherwise expired, the debt collector's return call is excluded from the frequency of phone calls.
As explained in question 1 of the limited-content messages for debt collection, for a voicemail message to be a limited-content message under the debt collection rule, the voicemail must include certain required content, including the business name of the debt collector that doesn't indicate that the caller is engaged in debt collection. A debt collector who chooses not to use the validation notice model or who makes changes that are not specified in the Rule and that result in a notice that is not “substantially similar” to the model validation notice does not necessarily violate the Rule, but will not receive a safe haven for the content and format requirements of the validation information. The opt-out notice must describe a reasonable and simple method by which the consumer can choose not to receive further electronic communications or attempts at communication from the debt collector to the email address, telephone number for text messages, or other specific electronic address to which the electronic communication or electronic communication attempt is sent. For more information on prohibited media and consumer requests to stop communicating through certain media, see section 7.2 of the Compliance Guide for Small Debt Collection Institutions. For the purposes of the exclusions on the frequency of telephone calls, under the Debt Collection Rule, the maximum period of validity of the consumer's direct prior consent to receive additional telephone calls is seven days, even if the consumer accepts a longer period.
An “attempted communication” is defined as any act aimed at initiating a communication or other type of contact in connection with a debt to a person through any means, including by requesting a response from that person person.