In one of its conclusive acts before accepting the state budget late last month, the Assembly gave its green light to the New Jersey Fair Debt Collection Practices Act by a 60-18 vote. That sent the proposal to the state Senate, where it at the beginning will be considered by the Commerce Committee.

Benefactors say the legislation would supplement existing federal protections and restrict collectors’ ability to contact a debtor at work or at “any time and place” known to be untimely. It also will protect consumers from harassing, intimidating or abusive collection routines and give them a way to dispute and verify debt information to ensure its accuracy.

“We’re doing nothing here to relieve a consumer of a rightful debt, but this is a fairness bill that will ensure consumers are not harassed by unscrupulous debt collectors,” said Burzichelli, D-Paulsboro. He sponsored the measure along with Assemblymen Matthew W. Milam, D-Cape May Court House, Wayne P. DeAngelo, D-Hamilton and Paul Moriarty, D-Turnersville.

State consumer affairs officials receive numerous complaints about debt collection tactics each year, and that number appears to be booming in recent months as more people struggle with their finances.

“There are many people who have fallen behind and are in debt, and some (debt collectors) are telling them they could be drug in to court tomorrow if they don’t pay up right away or making other threats,” Burzichelli said. “We want to make sure people are aware of their rights and their responsibilities (about paying debts).

The bill would prohibit, with limited exceptions, a debt collector from communicating with a debtor earlier than 8 a.m, and later than 9 p.m. At the debtor’s place of employment, although the collector may send a single letter or make one phone call per month to the debtor at their place of employment if the debt collector hasn’t been able to contact the debtor at home.

If the debt collector knows the debtor is represented by an attorney and can readily ascertain that attorney’s name and address. Proponents of the measure say it’s important legislation in troubling economic times.”Just because someone is in debt does not mean they forfeit their rights to be treated fairly,” Moriarty said.

Mallory is employed by a debt collection agency. She also writes stories on business, finance, and collections. .

Commissioners on Monday delayed a decision to hire a collection agency because of unpaid ambulance bills incurred in unincorporated areas of Flagler County. Instead, county staff will do more research and the item will be brought back to commissioners for consideration sometime in July.

Commissioner Alan Peterson pronounced during the meeting that he was not ready to sign at the dotted line in the piggyback contract alongside officials in Orange County because he first wanted to have knowledge of how the collection agency does its business.

He wanted to know how frequently the agency calls residents about their delinquent accounts and what times of the day those calls were made. He also wished to know how many written notices would be sent to residents in arrears for their emergency medical care during an ambulance ride.

“My overriding concern on this whole issue is that unlike most bills people incur, this is an involuntary expense,” Peterson said. “People don’t normally choose to take an ambulance for medical care.”

Commissioner Barbara Revels said she also wanted to ensure the county wasn’t getting into business with a “heavy-handed” collection agency that could result in consumer backlash, like some that’s now being seen around the country.

Under the county’s current billing methods, insurance companies are billed for a patient who receives medical care and transport. If the patient is not insured or the insurance does not cover the full balance due, a third-party billing company steps in and attempts to collect the debt through written notices with the help of information verification from Tax Collector Suzanne Johnston’s office. The account is kept open and debt collection attempts continue for up to a year, at which time the debt is moved to a “bad debt” list and charged off by commissioners.

The debts are not placed on residents’ credit reports and pugnacious telephone tactics are not used for collection.

Peterson also said if the board decides to move forward in hiring a collection agency, he’d like to see county officials add a new level of regular review to the accounts on its “bad debt” list before they’re turned over for collection.

“There should be a review of each and every account to see if it makes sense to turn it over to the collection agency,” Peterson said.

He requested county staff acquire the proposed collection agency’s procedures and has asked them to present an outline of the policy they will use for reviewing accounts before they’re turned over to the agency sometime before the end of July.

“We haven’t had a collection agency up to this point, so I don’t think it would hurt to delay the decision two weeks,” said County Administrator Craig Coffey.

Mallory is employed by a debt collection agency. Also, she composes articles on business and finance, and collections. .