Worried About the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act?

Do you work for a financial institution that collects debts? If so, do you know whether the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, 15 U.S.C. 1692 (the Act) (http://www.ftc.gov/os/statutes/fdcpa/fdcpact.htm) regulates what you do? Do you fear that your collection practices might subject you or your company to liability? Relax. The Act generally does not apply to commercial foreclosures or the collection of commercial debts. (See my 11-1-06 article Just What Is Commercial Foreclosure Law? for more background.)

Personal, Family or Household Purposes. The Act focuses on obligations arising from consumer transactions. Bass v. Stolper, et al., 111 F.3d 1322 (7th Cir. 1997). Debt, for purposes of the Act, is defined as an obligation to pay money arising out of a transaction that is primarily for personal, family, or household purposes 15 U.S.C. 1692a(5). A nice article in the American Law Reports Federal explains the concept in detail: What Constitutes Debt for Purposes of Fair Debt Collection? 159 A.L.R. FED. 121 (2000). Even individual guarantors of an obligation do not fall within the scope of the Act if the guaranty is part of a commercial transaction. See the Federal Trade Commissions website (http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/credit/fdc.htm) for more discussion. My practice and blog are dedicated primarily to commercial deals, not consumer loans. If youre in the same boat, then essentially all you need to know about the Act is (1) its out there, (2) a violation of it is a bad thing, but (3) it generally doesnt apply to you.

Behave Appropriately. The legal industry has some very creative attorneys, as well as some judges inclined to protect debtors. There are gray areas in the law. Legal principles evolve, as can the interpretation of statutes like the Act. For instance, the ALR article cites a case from Mississippi in which a commercial debt essentially was transformed into a consumer debt covered by the Act when the debt collector made harsh, abusive, foul, obscene, indecent, uncouth, violent, threatening, intimidating, and harassing phone calls to the debtor. So dont be reckless. Be mindful of the spirit of the Act, which Congress designed to eliminate abusive, deceptive, and unfair debt collection practices.

As a general proposition, however, you need not sweat the details of the Act if youre confident that youre dealing with a commercial transaction. When in doubt, however, follow the Act. Or, contact your lawyer for advice. In the past few years, there has been plenty of litigation involving the application and enforcement of the Act, so recent case law exists to help you or your lawyer determine whether your actions may be regulated.

John D. Waller is a partner at the Indianapolis law firm of Wooden & McLaughlin LLP (http://www.woodmclaw.com). He publishes the blog Indiana Commercial Foreclosure Law at http://commercialforeclosureblog.typepad.com. Johns phone number is 317-639-6151, and his e-mail address is jwaller@woodmclaw.com.Real Work At Home
Wordpress Auto Blogging
Credit Rating Webmaster Mutual
Webmaster Alessandria
Digital Transcription Products In Salt Lake City
Free Unclaimed Money Websites
Search Engine Optimization New York
How To Write My Own Blogging Software Java
Virtual Assistant Ebooks
Top Paying Affiliate Programs Forex
Affiliate Pay Per Click
The Best Affiliate Programs
Secret Weapon Blogging Rob Affiliate Email
Home Based Internet Business Ideas
Money From Adsense
Adsense Marketing Google Information Adwords
Latino Tv Advertising For Doctors
Engine Optimization Search Test Tool
Business Internet Marketing Money Strategy Web
Promotion World Seo Tool Google Adsense Tool
Pay Per Click Keywords
Blogging Collaborative Pr Bosotn
Google Adsense Pay Per Click
Hispanic Television Advertising For Ophthalmologists
Web Site Promotion And Marketing
Business Computer Home Independent Internet Money
Make Money On The Internet Makemoneyontheinternet
Palm T5 Or Tx Which Is Best For Ebook
Mlm Multilevel Marketing Network Marketing
Afforbable Internet Marketing Site Web
Free Ebooks Palm
Free Ways To Make Money On The Internet Loan
Clickbank Payment
Steps How To Make Money Online
Free Visual Basic Net Book Ebook
Free Email Service For Webmasters
Free Ways To Make Easy Money
Free Download Ebooks
Algeria Seo Consultant
Torrent Search Engines
Online Internet Business Opportunity
Adwords Clickbank
Bingo Free Money Win
Wbr Ways To Make Money Online
Engine Expert Optimization Search Sweden
Revenue From Google Adsense
Work At Home Make Money
Quick Ways To Make Money 3
Free Online Ways To Make Money 3
Metasearch Pay Per Click Search Web Search Searchj
Ebook Advertising
America Blogger
Affiliate Card Credit Marketing Program
Blogging Illeagal
Free Website Advertising
Rca Ebook Reader
Free Bingo Win Money
Online Surveys To Earn Money
Company Consultant Directory Engine Marketing Search Seo
Blogger Buzz March
Contextual Advertising
Make Big Money Quick Easy
Make Fast Money Online Legally
Affiliate Web Hosting Programs 3
Work At Home Home Business Make Money On The Internet
Business Internet Marketing Solution
Atlanta Internet Marketing
Quizzes For Blogging
Panasonic Digital Fz Find Products Compare Prices Shop At
Nguoibantot Scripts Google Adsense Script
Google Adsense Ebook Adsense Secrets Http
Engine Optimization Search Services Submission
Blogger Hottest Blogging
How To Make Fast Money Online
Advertising Promotion Internet Webmaster Web Traffic Banner
Blogger Template, Single Post
Blogging Along In Real Time
Car Rental Affiliate Programs
Affiliate Business Lender Programs
Seo Marketing Bhutan
Seo Nyc
Business School Online Internet Marketing Seo Direct
Affiliate Programs Internet Marketing Internet Businesses
Advertising For Adult Webcam
Outlook 2003 Blogger
Seo Tool Optimization Site Web Internet Marketing Seo
Integration Internet Marketing Strategy
Free Online Business Magerment Courses
Free Articles Internet Marketing Strategy
Free Earn Extra Money At Home Online Information
Japan Search Engines
International Webmasters Association
Choosing A Search Engine Marketing Company Seo C
Latino Tv Commercial Advertising
Card Internet Marketing Marketing Post Strategy
Seo Marketing Ny
Seo Tips
Engine Internet Marketing Marketing Optimization Search
Engine Google Pagerank Search
Open Source Blogging Software

Cranking the Volume on Your iPod or MP3 Player Can Damage Hearing

Kids have always loved listening to their favorite music, and the louder the better much to their parents dismay. In the 1980s, the portable tape recorder with headphones which came to be known as the Walkman enabled teenagers to listen to their music as loud as they wanted, anywhere they wanted, without disturbing anyone around them.

But the more modern rendition of the Walkman portable MP3 Players and iPods pose a major threat to our childrens hearing health, and to ours.

The problem is a combination of the technology of portable digital devices that creates a non-buffered crystal clear sound, and the type of headphones typically used with them, which do not have a buffer either. In December 2005, Dean Garstecki, an audiologist and professor at Northwestern University reported that more and more young people were being diagnosed with the types of hearing loss typically found in older adults. He attributed this trend to the earbud type headphones that usually accompany iPod and MP3 Players.

With the earbud headphones, the sound frequencies are not buffered as they are with the more traditional, ear cup-style headsets. Newsweek Magazine recently reported that researchers at the House Ear Institute found that listeners can unfortunately increase the volume of todays portable digital devices without the signal distortion that occurs with traditional analog audio. The older-model headphones that were popular just 15 to 20 years ago that have ear cups outside of the ears had that distortion when the volume was turned up, which functioned as a much-needed buffer to protect our hearing. Todays technology does not provide that buffer the earpiece is placed in the ear, not outside of it, and the digital devices do not create that distortion, no matter how high the volume.

In addition, people often listen to these devices while they are on the go, and have a tendency to crank the volume in an attempt to drown outside noise, further posing a risk to our hearing. Using the earbud style headphones during activities such as exercise, for example, puts the user at a greater risk. During exercise, blood, which can act as a buffer, is diverted from the ears to other parts of the body so our already vulnerable hearing is in even more jeopardy.

Headwize reports that a study conducted on music listeners using headphones revealed that while indoors with no background noise, the participants were comfortable with their music at 69 decibels. Outdoors, where the background noise was recorded at 65 decibels, participants using their headphones turned the volume up to 82 decibels and as high as 95 decibels to drown out the surrounding noise. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration guidelines limit exposure to noise at this level to no more than four hours each day. The study concluded that the participants were at risk for hearing damage and recommended avoiding continuous use of [portable stereos] in noisy conditions.

Northwestern Universitys Dean Garstecki offers more specific guidelines: His 60 percent/60 minute rule listen to MP3 Players and iPods for about an hour a day and at levels below 60 percent of maximum volume. The problem is, most of the population using headphones young music fans listen to their music for much longer than one hour per day. But, you can help minimize hearing loss, damage and problems while listening to your favorite music as long as you want to the secret is in the headphones.

Headphones such as the EX29 Extreme Isolation Noise Reduction Headphones help block out external noise allowing you to hear the fine details of your music without blowing out your ear drums. The ear cup fits over the ear, and not in it, and the headphones are lightweight, dont require batteries and can be used with your MP3 Player or iPod. With 29 decibels of isolation from outside sound, the quiet headphones block outside noise and there is no need to crank the volume of your music.

Aging rock stars like the Whos Pete Townsend, who has some permanent hearing loss from years of exposure to loud music, and Mick Fleetwood, who has teamed up with Energizer batteries to promote hearing loss prevention, have brought public attention to the fact that many of us take our hearing for granted. But theres no need to turn off your music just be smarter about how you listen to it. If you are using your MP3 Player or iPod when youre exercising, in a noisy environment or you just want to hear the fine details of your music, ditch the earbud headphones and reach for a set of noise reduction ones instead. And youll be enjoying your favorite music for a long time to come.

Lee Blue is a musician, composer, and home studio recording artist. He uses Extreme Isolation headphones in his recording studio and his office to block out noise and distractions. Learn more at http://www.quietheadphones.com/.Click Management Pay Per Software Web Site Domain Name
No Fee Work At Home Jobs
Real Ways To Make Money
Search Engine Ranking Optimization Seo Training Marketing
Hispanic Tv Advertising For Physicians
Pediatric Dental Practice Internet Marketing Web Site
Power Of Gogle Adsense Make Money With Google Google Cash
Internet Marketing Promotion Advertising
Make Money On The Internet Information
Ordering Make Money On The Internet
Internet Advertising
Definition Of Spamming
Advertising Zantac Commercial
Weekly Paying Affiliate Programs With Free Affiliate Sites
Web Design Seo Internet Marketing Website Http
Internet Marketing Online Com Site Strategy
Free Runescape Money Guide
At Home Employment Make Money
Dorothy Garlock Ebook Download
Buffalo Grove Internet Marketing Strategy
Seo Consultant Seo Expert
Seo Experts
Best Free Blogging Sites
Engine Mailto Optimization Ranking Search
Affiliate Askfrogger Click Pay Per Program
Advertising Free Marketing Mlm Network
Internet Marketing Home Business Opportunity
Seo Search Engine Marketing Laos
Clickbank Store
Home Based Business Opportunity Internet Income Get Traffic
Political Blog Blogging Teen Blogger Tool Photo Blogging
Make Money Online With Affiliate Program Cash Fast Make
Work At Home Accounting Jobs
Yahoo Pay Per Click
Disadvantages Of Blogging
Years Follett Digital Ebooks Resources
Chester Tourism Attractions Internet Marketing Strategy
Easy Free Ways To Make Money
Web Affiliate Programs
Adsense Make Money From Home Google Ppc 1st Top
Free Self Hypnosis Ebooks
Bluetooth Advertising Software
Make Money On The Internet Uk
Top Ten Affiliate Programs
Organic Seo Search Engine Submission Service Seo Marketing
Free Gasolene Make Money Online Fast
Make Money Online Web Site Loan
Webmaster World
Work At Home Scams
Boosting Google Pagerank Ny
Online Bingo Free Money No Deposit
Start A Payday Loan Internet Business
Online Real Work Easy Ways To Make Money At Home
Ways For Kids To Earn Money
Hub Marketing Network Product Viral
Web Site Search Engines
Fast Earn Easy Money
How To Make Money Quick Online
How To Make Money Giving Advice Online
Make Money Internet Marketing Home Based Business Online
Network Multilevel Marketing Mlm Whos Directory
Online Affiliate Programs
Internet Marketing Ebook Web Site Promotion Internet
Spain Seo Consultant
Timbuk2 Blogger
Cash For Surveys Earn Money Taking Online Surveys Paid
Easy Ways For Teens To Make Money
Work From Home Online Business
Seo Consulting Specialists Ny
Network Marketing Mlm Multi Levelhtm
Associate Affiliate Programs Web Site
Home Business Ideas Mlm Network Marketing Internet
Kids Search Engines
Work At Home Jobs For Moms
Work From Home Make Money Online At On The Internet
Make Money Successful Online Business
Search Engine Optimization Case Study
Internet Marketing Strategy 8
Url Submission Site Web Seo Tool Search Engine Optimization
Television Advertising
27 Charlotte Internet Marketing Strategy
Google Page Rank Checker
Blogging Anniversary
Cash Payday Loan Internet Business
Free Money For The Asking
Internet Marketing Agency Make Money Online Business Course
Glaucoma Print Advertising
Pay Per Click Search Engine Traffic
Seo Consultant India Http Imtiaz Hami Search Engine
Mommy Bloggers Featured Bloggers Archives
Easy Ways To Make Lots Of Money
Make Money Work At Home Unitedpartnerprogram Com2
How To Register Domain Names To Search Engines
Make Money Online 000 Work At Home
Age Related Macular Degeneration Tv Advertising
Free Adsense Templates
Money Make On The Internet
Manhattan Seo
Free Business Banking Credit Card Credit Cards Apply Online
Network Marketing Mlm Home Businesses