The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) Wednesday proposed extending the effective date of two recent debt collection rules to January 29, 2022. This is 60 days after the currently scheduled effective date of Nov. 30, 2021.

According to the CFPB, the proposed delay would allow stakeholders affected by the pandemic additional time to review and implement the rules.

The first debt collection rule, issued in October 2020, focuses on the use of communications related to debt collection, and clarifies prohibitions on harassment and abuse, false or misleading representations, and unfair practices by debt collectors when collecting consumer debt.

The second debt collection rule, issued in December 2020, clarifies disclosures debt collectors must provide to consumers at the beginning of collection communications. The rule also prohibits debt collectors from making threats to sue, or from suing, consumers on time-barred debt. The rule requires debt collectors to take specific steps to disclose the existence of a debt to consumers before reporting information about the debt to a consumer reporting agency.

The proposal will be open for comment for 30 days following publication in the Federal Register.