ACA International, an association of credit and collection professionals, has created a system designed to help members prevent, reduce and resolve consumer debt collection complaints.

The ACA’s "The Path Forward: A Blueprint for Modernizing America’s Debt Collection System" is an attempt to remedy today’s laws governing consumer debt collection which "are antiquated and were created for a different time and different circumstances," according to a statement.

"The explosive growth in the use of cell phones, the internet, social media, email and other new technologies has changed how people communicate," said Valerie Hayes, ACA general counsel and vice president of legal and government affairs.

"The blueprint is a road map of public policy initiatives and industry practices achieved through active collaboration with ACA members, lawmakers and regulators to modernize a system of critical importance to our national, state and local economies," said ACA CEO Patrick Morris. "Others have offered their proposals to reform the debt collection industry, this is our plan."

"We believe the blueprint will help consumers in Massachusetts, New England and nationwide as the industry looks ahead to removing unnecessary barriers to effective communication in the debt collection process and reducing complaints," said New England Collectors Association President David Sands.

Main points from the blueprint include:

• Use Modern Technology Responsibly: Allow consumers and collectors to efficiently communicate with each other using modern technology such as email and cell phones.
• Better, Simplified Communications With Consumers: Allow consumers and collectors to better and more effectively communicate about debts.
• Advocate For Responsible Litigation In The Collection Industry: Ensure equal access to the judicial system for all classes of litigants and hold those litigants acting in bad faith accountable for their actions.
• Assure Proper Debt Documentation: Improve the flow of information by clarifying the specific debt information that must be maintained by creditors and asset buyers in order to allow debt collectors to provide documentation responsive to a consumer’s dispute regarding the amount of the debt, to whom the debt is owed or who is responsible for paying the debt.
• Adopt A Federal Seven-Year Statute Of Limitations For The Use of Litigation To Collect Debts: Impose a seven-year federal limitations period on the use of litigation to collect debt and prohibit filing or threatening to file suit on time-barred debts, while still allowing for the collection of the debt.