The CFPB recently did a settlement for $24 million against Portfolio Recovery. The consent order is a interesting read.
https://www.consumerfinance.gov/enforcement/actions/portfolio-recovery-associates-llc/
It provides helpful, copy and pastable federal statutes and CFPB verbiage such as "unsubstantiated debt", what a delightful phrase!
It appears to indicate that a debt collector is required to actually verify the debt or debt amount. This is news to me as I thought they only needed to send a quick boilerplate recitation of the amount and original creditor in response to a dispute. This suggests that an effort is required to determine whether or not the amount claimed due is accurate. It even appears to indicate that in the absence of verification it's unlawful to collect said debt.
I was slightly impressed at first until I recognized that $24 million is peanuts in the world of debt collection and the peanuts are split down the middle meaning the consumers get $12 million.
It didn't mention the number of affected consumers but let's say a ballpark of 80,000 so they'll each get a whopping $150. Portfolio Recovery rakes in $1.3 billion a year making the $24 million settlement less than 2%. And it's a one time thing in response to years of malfeasance and legal violations so it comes to less than 1%. Just the price of doing business, not exactly a deterrent.
CFPB, I don't want to discourage you, you're headed in the right direction but don't forget we can do math.