Several months ago, New York City's Department of Consumer Affairs (DCA) adopted amendments related to Limited English Proficiency (LEP) consumers into its debt collection rules. The amendment was initially proposed on March 5, 2020, and a public hearing was held on April 10, 2020—just at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic scramble that led most businesses to send employees home to work. After receiving no comments, DCA moved ahead with its new rule. Only after the industry found its sea legs with the new world under COVID-19 did DCA agree to extend the grace period for enforcement of the new LEP rule to give it time to put forward an FAQ document for businesses. That extension comes to an end next week—on October 1—one big question remains unanswered.
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