Who is covered by the fair credit reporting act?

The fair debt collection practices act applies to both "consumers" and "debt collectors."

Consumers are only covered in individual and family or household business.  Any transactions relating to a private business are not covered under the fair debt collection practices act.

Debt collectors are defined as:  "any person who uses any instrumentality of interstate commerce or the mails in any business the principal purpose of which is the collection of any debts, or who regularly collects or attempts to collect, directly or indirectly, debts owed or due or asserted to be owed or due another."

About the fair credit reporting act

The fair debt collection practices act was produced in 1978 by the government to remove corrupt practices in the collection of consumer debts.  It was created to make debt collection fair and to offer the consumer the option to obtain their credit info.  Consumers also have the right to debate any inaccuracies in their credit information.  The act also made guidelines by which all debt collectors have to handle their business.