BOSTON (WBZ NewsRadio) — Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healy has announced a new temporary regulation on debt collectors in the state, in an effort to help those impacted by the coronavirus pandemic.
In a press release, Healy's office says the order is "designed to protect consumers from unfair and deceptive debt collection practices during the COVID-19 crisis."
The new regulation immediately prohibits creditors from "engaging in methods of debt collection that can require people to leave their homes or have in-person contact."
Healy said that includes "filing new lawsuits against Massachusetts consumers, visiting their homes or places of work, or repossessing their cars, among other protections."
The regulations will be in effect for 90 days, or however long the state of emergency is in effect.
"There will be time to deal with that later," Healy told WBZ NewsRadio, "People are really vulnerable right now. My job is to come in and protect them."
WBZ NewsRadio's Karyn Regal (@KarynRegal) reports:
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