Abstract

New research assessing consumer's knowledge of fair debt collection examines a broad population, spanning educated consumers and uneducated consumers, and participants from all types of economic status, addressing the influence of the communication of hospitals and medical providers to medical debtors, the legality of the persuasive tactics of debt collectors, and the extent to which consumers have paid off debts they believe to be unfair as a result of the debt collector rhetoric. This thesis examines how medical debt, new bankruptcy laws, and corrupt credit counseling agencies have hurt consumers; ability to fight unfair debts. The literature review and the quantitative data indicate cause for concern in the rhetorical practices of debt collectors. A lack of debtor awareness of the Fair Debts Collection Practices Act has allowed the use of abusive collection tactics to continue and result in debtors paying off debts they felt were unfair. The unethical and often illegal communication practices of debt collection agencies result in significant human and economic costs that might be avoided with better consumer education.