How to respond to a debt collector's letter or calls in Hawaii

What Hawaii law says

Federal law requires certain written notices and a 30-day dispute right: under 15 U.S.C. § 1692g a collector must state the amount, the creditor, the 30-day dispute period, and that verification or the original creditor’s name will be provided if timely requested. Federal rules also restrict unfair collection methods, allocation of multi-debt payments, and third-party contact, see 15 U.S.C. § 1692f, 15 U.S.C. § 1692h, and 15 U.S.C. § 1692b. Hawaii law defines consumer debt and who is a debt collector, and preserves other remedies, see Haw. Rev. Stat. § 480D-2 and Haw. Rev. Stat. § 480D-5.

What to do

1. A common first step is to keep records of the collector’s letters and any calls (dates, times, what was said).
2. A common option is to send a written validation request or dispute within the 30-day period under 15 U.S.C. § 1692g.
3. A common follow-up is to request the name and address of the original creditor if it is not provided, which pauses collection of the disputed portion until verification is mailed.
4. A common choice is to send a written cease-communication letter if one wants the collector to stop contacting certain people or methods, noting federal limits on communication.
5. A common step is to review whether any collection conduct might violate the prohibitions in 15 U.S.C. § 1692f or contact restrictions in 15 U.S.C. § 1692b.

Grounded in current Hawaii law

• statuteHaw. Rev. Stat. § 480D-2
• statuteHaw. Rev. Stat. § 480D-5
• statute15 U.S.C. § 1692g
• statute15 U.S.C. § 1692h
• statute15 U.S.C. § 1692f
• statute15 U.S.C. § 1692b
• caseFlores v. Rawlings Co.
• caseKeauhou Master Homeowners Ass'n v. County of Hawai'i
• casePacific Concrete Federal Credit Union v. Kauanoe
• caseHawaii Community Federal Credit Union v. Keka

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