FTC: Consumer Protection and the Debt Settlement Industry
When:
September 25, 2008
8:30am - 5:00pm
Where:
FTC Conference Center
601 New Jersey Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20001

and via webcast.

The Federal Trade Commission staff will hold a workshop on September 25, 2008 to explore the growth of the for-profit debt settlement industry and to analyze how its model is affecting consumers and businesses. The event is free and open to the public, and there will be no pre-registration. The workshop will assemble consumer advocates, industry representatives, both state and federal regulators, and others with pertinent expertise to discuss a wide range of topics, including regulation and legal developments, advertising and marketing of debt relief services, role of third party lead generators and other service providers, the history and development of the industry, and consumer education.

The FTC staff invites interested parties to participate by submitting comments or original research by the dates specified below.

PARTICIPATING AS A PANELIST

The FTC staff invites interested parties to submit requests to be panelists as soon as possible. Please include a statement detailing your expertise on the issues to be addressed at the workshop and your complete contact information. Panelists selected to participate will be notified by August 25, 2008. Prospective panelists should submit their materials to debtrelief@ftc.gov.



FILING A COMMENT

Any person may submit written comments on the topics to be addressed at the workshop as well as any original research, surveys, and academic papers. Comments and papers must be received on or before August 15. Please refer to the press release regarding topics on which to comment.

Please visit https://secure.commentworks.com/ftc-debtsettlementworkshop/ for all comment instructions and privacy information.



FTC PRIVACY POLICY

The Commission will consider all timely and responsive public comments, whether filed in paper or electronic form, and as a matter of discretion, we make every effort to remove home contact information for individuals from the public comments before posting them on the FTC website.

The FTC Act and other laws we administer permit the collection of the comments you file to consider and use in this proceeding as appropriate. For additional information, including routine uses permitted by the Privacy Act, see the Commission’s comprehensive Privacy Policy.


DISABILITY ACCOMODATIONS

The Conference Center is accessible to people with disabilities. If you need an accommodation related to a disability, please call Carrie McGlothin at 202-326-3388. Such requests should include a detailed description of the accommodations needed and a way to contact you if we need more information. Please provide advance notice.


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