source:
  type: regulation
  id: reg-f-1006.18
  authority: 12 CFR §1006.18 — False, deceptive, or misleading representations or means
  description: 'Regulation F §1006.18 (implementing FDCPA section 807) prohibits a debt

    collector from using any false, deceptive, or misleading representation

    or means in connection with the collection of any debt, and requires

    the debt-collector identity disclosures in initial and subsequent

    communications.

    '
obligations:
- id: reg-f-1006.18-a
  canonical_id: reg-f-1006.18-a
  section: 12 CFR §1006.18(a)
  description: '(a): (a) In general. A debt collector must not use any false, deceptive, or misleading
    representation or means in connection with the collection of any debt , including, but not limited
    to, the conduct described in paragraphs (b) through (d) of this section.'
  type: dont
  tags:
  - regulator-direct
  - section-complete
  - cfpb-regulation
  primary_source:
    tier: 1
    authority: 12 CFR §1006.18(a)
    source_class: cfpb-regulation
    source_url: https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/12/1006.18
    snapshot_id: 6eddf9ca23b25f29
    fetched_at: '2026-05-22T18:21:13Z'
    content_hash: sha256:adf65077c7b1037aac9a45d483790bb35418c27a85499faad5f9c5fbfb8e4789
    paragraph_quote: (a) In general. A debt collector must not use any false, deceptive, or misleading
      representation or means in connection with the collection of any debt , including, but not limited
      to, the conduct described in paragraphs (b) through (d) of this section.
    drafter_attestation: Verbatim subsection of 12 CFR §1006.18 from Cornell LII snapshot 6eddf9ca23b25f29;
      body isolated between nav and notes; substring-verified.
  judgment: false
- id: reg-f-1006.18-b
  canonical_id: reg-f-1006.18-b
  section: 12 CFR §1006.18(b)
  description: '(b): (b) False, deceptive, or misleading representations. (1) A debt collector must not
    falsely represent or imply that:'
  type: dont
  tags:
  - regulator-direct
  - section-complete
  - cfpb-regulation
  primary_source:
    tier: 1
    authority: 12 CFR §1006.18(a)
    source_class: cfpb-regulation
    source_url: https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/12/1006.18
    snapshot_id: 6eddf9ca23b25f29
    fetched_at: '2026-05-22T18:21:13Z'
    content_hash: sha256:adf65077c7b1037aac9a45d483790bb35418c27a85499faad5f9c5fbfb8e4789
    paragraph_quote: '(b) False, deceptive, or misleading representations. (1) A debt collector must not
      falsely represent or imply that:'
    drafter_attestation: Verbatim subsection of 12 CFR §1006.18 from Cornell LII snapshot 6eddf9ca23b25f29;
      body isolated between nav and notes; substring-verified.
  judgment: false
- id: reg-f-1006.18-i
  canonical_id: reg-f-1006.18-i
  section: 12 CFR §1006.18(i)
  description: '(i): (i) The debt collector is vouched for, bonded by, or affiliated with the United States
    or any State , including through the use of any badge, uniform, or facsimile thereof. (ii) The debt
    collector operates or is employed by a consumer reporting agency , as defined by section 603(f) of
    the Fair Credi…'
  type: do
  tags:
  - regulator-direct
  - section-complete
  - cfpb-regulation
  primary_source:
    tier: 1
    authority: 12 CFR §1006.18(a)
    source_class: cfpb-regulation
    source_url: https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/12/1006.18
    snapshot_id: 6eddf9ca23b25f29
    fetched_at: '2026-05-22T18:21:13Z'
    content_hash: sha256:adf65077c7b1037aac9a45d483790bb35418c27a85499faad5f9c5fbfb8e4789
    paragraph_quote: (i) The debt collector is vouched for, bonded by, or affiliated with the United States
      or any State , including through the use of any badge, uniform, or facsimile thereof. (ii) The debt
      collector operates or is employed by a consumer reporting agency , as defined by section 603(f)
      of the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( 15 U.S.C. 1681a(f) ). (iii) Any individual is an attorney or
      that any communication is from an attorney. (iv) The consumer committed any crime or other conduct
      in order to disgrace the consumer .
    drafter_attestation: Verbatim subsection of 12 CFR §1006.18 from Cornell LII snapshot 6eddf9ca23b25f29;
      body isolated between nav and notes; substring-verified.
  judgment: false
- id: reg-f-1006.18-v
  canonical_id: reg-f-1006.18-v
  section: 12 CFR §1006.18(v)
  description: '(v): (v) A sale, referral, or other transfer of any interest in a debt causes or will
    cause the consumer to: (A) Lose any claim or defense to payment of the debt ; or (B) Become subject
    to any practice prohibited by this part. (vi) Accounts have been turned over to innocent purchasers
    for value. (vii) Do…'
  type: dont
  tags:
  - regulator-direct
  - section-complete
  - cfpb-regulation
  primary_source:
    tier: 1
    authority: 12 CFR §1006.18(a)
    source_class: cfpb-regulation
    source_url: https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/12/1006.18
    snapshot_id: 6eddf9ca23b25f29
    fetched_at: '2026-05-22T18:21:13Z'
    content_hash: sha256:adf65077c7b1037aac9a45d483790bb35418c27a85499faad5f9c5fbfb8e4789
    paragraph_quote: '(v) A sale, referral, or other transfer of any interest in a debt causes or will
      cause the consumer to: (A) Lose any claim or defense to payment of the debt ; or (B) Become subject
      to any practice prohibited by this part. (vi) Accounts have been turned over to innocent purchasers
      for value. (vii) Documents are legal process. (viii) Documents are not legal process forms or do
      not require action by the consumer . (2) A debt collector must not falsely represent:'
    drafter_attestation: Verbatim subsection of 12 CFR §1006.18 from Cornell LII snapshot 6eddf9ca23b25f29;
      body isolated between nav and notes; substring-verified.
  judgment: false
- id: reg-f-1006.18-i
  canonical_id: reg-f-1006.18-i
  section: 12 CFR §1006.18(i)
  description: '(i): (i) The character, amount, or legal status of any debt . (ii) Any services rendered,
    or compensation that may be lawfully received, by any debt collector for the collection of a debt
    . (3) A debt collector must not represent or imply that nonpayment of any debt will result in the
    arrest or imprisonm…'
  type: dont
  tags:
  - regulator-direct
  - section-complete
  - cfpb-regulation
  primary_source:
    tier: 1
    authority: 12 CFR §1006.18(a)
    source_class: cfpb-regulation
    source_url: https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/12/1006.18
    snapshot_id: 6eddf9ca23b25f29
    fetched_at: '2026-05-22T18:21:13Z'
    content_hash: sha256:adf65077c7b1037aac9a45d483790bb35418c27a85499faad5f9c5fbfb8e4789
    paragraph_quote: (i) The character, amount, or legal status of any debt . (ii) Any services rendered,
      or compensation that may be lawfully received, by any debt collector for the collection of a debt
      . (3) A debt collector must not represent or imply that nonpayment of any debt will result in the
      arrest or imprisonment of any person or the seizure, garnishment, attachment, or sale of any property
      or wages of any person unless such action is lawful and the debt collector or creditor intends to
      take such action.
    drafter_attestation: Verbatim subsection of 12 CFR §1006.18 from Cornell LII snapshot 6eddf9ca23b25f29;
      body isolated between nav and notes; substring-verified.
  judgment: false
- id: reg-f-1006.18-c
  canonical_id: reg-f-1006.18-c
  section: 12 CFR §1006.18(c)
  description: '(c): (c) False, deceptive, or misleading collection means. A debt collector must not:
    (1) Threaten to take any action that cannot legally be taken or that is not intended to be taken.
    (2) Communicate or threaten to communicate to any person credit information that the debt collector
    knows or should know …'
  type: dont
  tags:
  - regulator-direct
  - section-complete
  - cfpb-regulation
  primary_source:
    tier: 1
    authority: 12 CFR §1006.18(a)
    source_class: cfpb-regulation
    source_url: https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/12/1006.18
    snapshot_id: 6eddf9ca23b25f29
    fetched_at: '2026-05-22T18:21:13Z'
    content_hash: sha256:adf65077c7b1037aac9a45d483790bb35418c27a85499faad5f9c5fbfb8e4789
    paragraph_quote: '(c) False, deceptive, or misleading collection means. A debt collector must not:
      (1) Threaten to take any action that cannot legally be taken or that is not intended to be taken.
      (2) Communicate or threaten to communicate to any person credit information that the debt collector
      knows or should know is false, including the failure to communicate that a disputed debt is disputed.
      (3) Use or distribute any written communication that simulates or that the debt collector falsely
      represents to be a document authorized, issued, or approved by any court, official, or agency of
      the United States or any State , or that creates a false impression about its source, authorization,
      or approval. (4) Use any business , company, or organization name other than the true name of the
      debt collector ''s business , company, or organization.'
    drafter_attestation: Verbatim subsection of 12 CFR §1006.18 from Cornell LII snapshot 6eddf9ca23b25f29;
      body isolated between nav and notes; substring-verified.
  judgment: false
- id: reg-f-1006.18-d
  canonical_id: reg-f-1006.18-d
  section: 12 CFR §1006.18(d)
  description: '(d): (d) False representations or deceptive means. A debt collector must not use any false
    representation or deceptive means to collect or attempt to collect any debt or to obtain information
    concerning a consumer .'
  type: dont
  tags:
  - regulator-direct
  - section-complete
  - cfpb-regulation
  primary_source:
    tier: 1
    authority: 12 CFR §1006.18(a)
    source_class: cfpb-regulation
    source_url: https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/12/1006.18
    snapshot_id: 6eddf9ca23b25f29
    fetched_at: '2026-05-22T18:21:13Z'
    content_hash: sha256:adf65077c7b1037aac9a45d483790bb35418c27a85499faad5f9c5fbfb8e4789
    paragraph_quote: (d) False representations or deceptive means. A debt collector must not use any false
      representation or deceptive means to collect or attempt to collect any debt or to obtain information
      concerning a consumer .
    drafter_attestation: Verbatim subsection of 12 CFR §1006.18 from Cornell LII snapshot 6eddf9ca23b25f29;
      body isolated between nav and notes; substring-verified.
  judgment: false
- id: reg-f-1006.18-e
  canonical_id: reg-f-1006.18-e
  section: 12 CFR §1006.18(e)
  description: '(e): (e) Disclosures required —(1) Initial communications. A debt collector must disclose
    in its initial communication with a consumer that the debt collector is attempting to collect a debt
    and that any information obtained will be used for that purpose. If the debt collector ''s initial
    communication wi…'
  type: do
  tags:
  - regulator-direct
  - section-complete
  - cfpb-regulation
  primary_source:
    tier: 1
    authority: 12 CFR §1006.18(a)
    source_class: cfpb-regulation
    source_url: https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/12/1006.18
    snapshot_id: 6eddf9ca23b25f29
    fetched_at: '2026-05-22T18:21:13Z'
    content_hash: sha256:adf65077c7b1037aac9a45d483790bb35418c27a85499faad5f9c5fbfb8e4789
    paragraph_quote: (e) Disclosures required —(1) Initial communications. A debt collector must disclose
      in its initial communication with a consumer that the debt collector is attempting to collect a
      debt and that any information obtained will be used for that purpose. If the debt collector 's initial
      communication with the consumer is oral, the debt collector must make the disclosure required by
      this paragraph again in its initial written communication with the consumer . (2) Subsequent communications.
      In each communication with the consumer subsequent to the communications described in paragraph
      (e)(1) of this section, the debt collector must disclose that the communication is from a debt collector
      . (3) Exception. Disclosures under paragraphs (e)(1) and (2) of this section are not required in
      a formal pleading made in connection with a legal action. (4) Translated disclosures. A debt collector
      must make the disclosures required by paragraphs (e)(1) and (2) of this section in the same language
      or languages used for the rest of the communication in which the debt collector conveyed the disclosures.
      Any translation of the disclosures a debt collector uses must be complete and accurate.
    drafter_attestation: Verbatim subsection of 12 CFR §1006.18 from Cornell LII snapshot 6eddf9ca23b25f29;
      body isolated between nav and notes; substring-verified.
  judgment: false
- id: reg-f-1006.18-f
  canonical_id: reg-f-1006.18-f
  section: 12 CFR §1006.18(f)
  description: '(f): (f) Assumed names. This section does not prohibit a debt collector ''s employee from
    using an assumed name when communicating or attempting to communicate with a person , provided that
    the employee uses the assumed name consistently and that the debt collector can readily identify any
    employee using …'
  type: do
  tags:
  - regulator-direct
  - section-complete
  - cfpb-regulation
  primary_source:
    tier: 1
    authority: 12 CFR §1006.18(a)
    source_class: cfpb-regulation
    source_url: https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/12/1006.18
    snapshot_id: 6eddf9ca23b25f29
    fetched_at: '2026-05-22T18:21:13Z'
    content_hash: sha256:adf65077c7b1037aac9a45d483790bb35418c27a85499faad5f9c5fbfb8e4789
    paragraph_quote: (f) Assumed names. This section does not prohibit a debt collector 's employee from
      using an assumed name when communicating or attempting to communicate with a person , provided that
      the employee uses the assumed name consistently and that the debt collector can readily identify
      any employee using an assumed name. Fair Credit Reporting Act CFR Toolbox Law about... Articles
      from Wex Table of Popular Names Parallel Table of Authorities Accessibility About LII Contact us
      Advertise here Help Terms of use Privacy
    drafter_attestation: Verbatim subsection of 12 CFR §1006.18 from Cornell LII snapshot 6eddf9ca23b25f29;
      body isolated between nav and notes; substring-verified.
  judgment: false
