All financial litigation action by Department of Justice personnel should meet the highest ethical and professional standards. Statutory limitations on the activities of private collection agents and agencies are found in the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1692. These limitations do not apply to activities undertaken by United States Attorneys’ offices to enforce collection of debts due the United States or victims of crime. Nevertheless, whenever specific activities by private collection agents are limited by statute, and such activities are analogous to those of United States Attorneys’ offices, the statutory limitations should be followed.

[added May 2018]