O.C.G.A. § 7-3-33 (2019)
Unreasonable collection tactics
No licensee or employee or agent thereof shall willfully use any unreasonable collection tactics. Unreasonable collection tactics shall include, but not be limited to, any conduct by the licensee or any employee or agent thereof which:
(1) Causes the borrower or any member of his or her family to suffer bodily injury or physical harm;
(2) Constitutes a willful or intentional trespass by force of the borrower’s home or personal property without process of law;
(3) Holds up the borrower to public ridicule or unreasonably degrades the borrower in the presence of neighbors or business associates;
(4) Involves use of printed material which simulates or resembles a summons, warrant, or other legal process; or
(5) Although otherwise lawful, occurs at an unreasonable hour of the night. Attempts to make collections by means of personal visits, telephone calls, and the like shall be deemed to occur at an unreasonable hour of the night if they occur between the hours of 10:00 P.M. and 5:00 A.M.
History
Ga. L. 1964, p. 288, § 6; Code 1981, § 7-3-25; Ga. L. 1989, p. 14, § 7; Ga. L.
1997, p. 143, § 7; Code 1981, § 7-3-33, as redesignated by Ga. L. 2020, p. 156, § 2/SB 462.
Annotations
RESEARCH REFERENCES Am. Jur. 2d. 51 Am. Jur. 2d, Licenses and Permits, § 4 et seq. C.J.S. 47 C.J.S., Interest and Usury Consumer Credit, §§ 424, 425. ALR. Usury: expenses or charges incident to loan of money, 21 A.L.R. 797; 53 A.L.R. 743; 63 A.L.R. 823; 105 A.L.R. 795; 52 A.L.R.2d 703. Usury: expenses or charges incident to loan of money, 52 A.L.R.2d 703. Use of criminal process to collect debt as abuse of process, 27 A.L.R.3d 1202. Unsolicited mailing, distribution, house call, or telephone call as invasion of privacy, 56 A.L.R.3d 457. Liability of creditor for excessive attachment or garnishment, 56 A.L.R.3d 493.
Recovery by debtor, under tort of intentional or reckless infliction of emotional distress for damages resulting from debt collection methods, 87 A.L.R.3d 201. Validity, construction, and application of state statutes prohibiting abusive or coercive debt collection practices, 87 A.L.R.3d 786. Method employed in collecting debt due client as ground for disciplinary action against attorney, 93 A.L.R.3d 880. Validity, construction, and application of state criminal statute forbidding use of telephone to annoy or harass, 95 A.L.R.3d 411. What constitutes “debt” for purposes of Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (15 USCA § 1692a(5)), 159 A.L.R. Fed. 121.
ARTICLE 5 REGULATION BY DEPARTMENT Editor’s notes. This article was designated by Ga. L.
2020, p. 156, § 2/SB 462, effective June 30, 2020.