source:
  type: regulation
  id: reg-f-1006.22
  authority: 12 CFR §1006.22 — Unfair or unconscionable means (Regulation F)
  description: 12 CFR §1006.22 — Unfair or unconscionable means.
  coverage_tier: operative
obligations:
- id: reg-f-1006.22-full
  canonical_id: reg-f-1006.22-full
  section: 12 CFR §1006.22 — Unfair or unconscionable means
  type: do
  tags:
  - regulator-direct
  - fdcpa
  - corpus-expansion
  - tier-operative
  primary_source:
    tier: 1
    authority: 12 CFR §1006.22 — Unfair or unconscionable means (Regulation F)
    source_class: cfpb-regulation
    source_url: https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/12/1006.22
    snapshot_id: 9b7036fd6998aec5
    fetched_at: '2026-06-17T19:30:44Z'
    content_hash: sha256:ece97b6e831f7179600f4dc09caa7c47ee09e0d4a548c039539b72598258c87c
    paragraph_quote: '§ 1006.22 Unfair or unconscionable means. (a) In general. A
      debt collector must not use unfair or unconscionable means to collect or attempt
      to collect any debt , including, but not limited to, the conduct described in
      paragraphs (b) through (f) of this section. (b) Collection of unauthorized amounts.
      A debt collector must not collect any amount unless such amount is expressly
      authorized by the agreement creating the debt or permitted by law. For purposes
      of this paragraph, the term “any amount” includes any interest, fee, charge,
      or expense incidental to the principal obligation. (c) Postdated payment instruments.
      A debt collector must not: (1) Accept from any person a check or other payment
      instrument postdated by more than five days unless such person is notified in
      writing of the debt collector ''s intent to deposit such check or instrument
      not more than ten, nor less than three, days (excluding legal public holidays
      identified in 5 U.S.C. 6103(a) , Saturdays, and Sundays) prior to such deposit.
      (2) Solicit any postdated check or other postdated payment instrument for the
      purpose of threatening or instituting criminal prosecution. (3) Deposit or threaten
      to deposit any postdated check or other postdated payment instrument prior to
      the date on such check or instrument. (d) Charges resulting from concealment
      of purpose. A debt collector must not cause charges to be made to any person
      for communications by concealment of the true purpose of the communication.
      Such charges include, but are not limited to, collect telephone calls and telegram
      fees. (e) Nonjudicial action regarding property. A debt collector must not take
      or threaten to take any nonjudicial action to effect dispossession or disablement
      of property if: (1) There is no present right to possession of the property
      claimed as collateral through an enforceable security interest; (2) There is
      no present intention to take possession of the property; or (3) The property
      is exempt by law from such dispossession or disablement. (f) Restrictions on
      use of certain media. A debt collector must not: (1) Communicate with a consumer
      regarding a debt by postcard. (2) Use any language or symbol, other than the
      debt collector ''s address, on any envelope when communicating with a consumer
      by mail, except that a debt collector may use the debt collector ''s business
      name on an envelope if such name does not indicate that the debt collector is
      in the debt collection business . (3) Communicate or attempt to communicate
      with a consumer by sending an email to an email address that the debt collector
      knows is provided to the consumer by the consumer ''s employer, unless the email
      address is one described in § 1006.6(d)(4)(i) or (iii). (4) Communicate or attempt
      to communicate with a person in connection with the collection of a debt through
      a social media platform if the communication or attempt to communicate is viewable
      by the general public or the person ''s social media contacts. (g) Safe harbor
      for certain emails and text messages relating to the collection of a debt. A
      debt collector who communicates with a consumer by sending an email or text
      message in accordance with the procedures described in § 1006.6(d)(3) does not
      violate paragraph (a) of this section by revealing in the email or text message
      the debt collector ''s name or other information indicating that the communication
      relates to the collection of a debt .'
  judgment: false
