Accredited Financial Counselor (AFC) Practice Exam

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) is the federal law that governs the behavior of debt collectors and establishes guidelines for their interactions with consumers. One of the key provisions of this act prohibits creditors from contacting consumers at unreasonable hours. Specifically, the FDCPA restricts phone calls to between 8 AM and 9 PM, making a call at 2:00 AM a clear violation of the law.

This act was put in place to protect consumers from harassment and ensure fair treatment in the debt collection process. By allowing consumers to have peace during off-hours, the FDCPA aims to reduce undue pressure and stress associated with debt collection. Therefore, in this scenario, the creditor's late-night call to Jack demonstrates a breach of the FDCPA, as it occurs outside the permissible time frame for debt collection communications.