“The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) released a report, A snapshot of debt collection complaints submitted by older consumers, highlighting debt collection as a top complaint for older Americans, many of whom say they struggle with debt in retirement. According to the report, some of the debt collection issues older Americans complain about include collectors: hounding about medical debt, attempting to collect on debts of deceased family members, and illegally threatening to garnish federal benefits. The CFPB is issuing a consumer advisory today to help older Americans deal with harassing debt collectors.

“It is increasingly common for older Americans to carry debts into their retirement years, and consumers living on fixed incomes often struggle to pay off these debts,” said CFPB Director Richard Cordray. “Older Americans deserve to be treated with the respect they have earned.”