• Bill would require correct ID in debt-collections

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    Democratic Sen. Mark Leno of San Francisco said some unscrupulous debt-buyers don't care who they target.
    "They are not required to have any documentation that the person they're trying to collect from is actually the right person," Leno said. "The business model is that they just want to get you into court because it's likely you're not going to show up if you know it's not your debt ... They can take control of your life and make things miserable, and these are oftentimes innocent, if not in fact the wrong people altogether."
    "Simply what it says is, you need to prove that the debt that is owed is actually legitimate debt," said Correa.
    "If it can happen to Lou Correa, it can happen to you," warned Leno.
    Senators passed SB233 unanimously, sending it to the Assembly.
    Harris' office says a high percentage of those debt collection lawsuits result in default judgments because the consumers don't show up to defend themselves.
    The measure has no listed opposition.
    Leno said banks and legitimate debt collection companies aren't fighting the bill because they recognize that slip-shod operations are harming their industry.
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