SB 328-Illegal debt collection prevention

From Attorney General Kroger:



JOHN R. KROGER

Attorney General


DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE

OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY GENERAL



March 24, 2009




Dear friends,



We have a great opportunity to protect Oregon’s consumers. The House will vote on SB 328 on Thursday. If approved, this bill will protect Oregonians from abusive debt collection tactics.


We need your help to make this happen.


Complaints about debt collection agencies have been on the Oregon Department of Justice’s Top 10 Consumer Complaint List since 2001, and complaints are on the rise. In Oregon, unfortunately, there is currently no state agency able to enforce illegal debt collection practices. Senate Bill 328 would close this loophole by giving the Attorney General the authority to hold debt collection agencies accountable when they violate the law, just like any other industry.



Earlier this month SB 328 was passed with strong bipartisan support in the Senate. Last week the House Consumer Protection Committee sent a strong pro-consumer message by sending it to the House Floor with a unanimous recommendation in favor of passage. Now the bill is headed for a vote.



Similar legislation has been defeated twice before by powerful lobbying interests. This year may be different but your legislators need to hear from you. The lobby is mobilized and is intent on defeating SB 328.



Please contact your legislator and urge them to support SB 328. You can locate contact information for your representative, or email them directly using this link.



Thank you so much for helping the Department of Justice do more to protect the citizens of our state.


Sincerely,


John R. Kroger

Attorney General of Oregon

One note: Even though this is a senate bill, it has already passed there and is coming up for a vote in the House and so it is our representatives that need to hear from us.
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