Who is covered by fair debt collection practices act?

The fair debt collection practices act applies to both "consumers" and "debt collectors."

Consumers are only covered in personal and family or household transactions.  Any transactions relating to a personal business are not covered under the fair debt collection practices act.

Debt collectors are defined as:  "any person who uses any instrumentality of interstate commerce or the mails in any business the principal purpose of which is the collection of any debts, or who regularly collects or attempts to collect, directly or indirectly, debts owed or due or asserted to be owed or due another."

What is the fair debt collection practices act?

The fair debt collection practices act was created in 1978 by the government to eliminate unethical practices in the collection of consumer debts.  It was created to make debt collection fair and to give the consumer the chance obtain their credit information.  Consumers also have the right to dispute any inaccuracies in their credit reports.  The act also made guidelines by which all debt collectors have to conduct their business.