Under FDCPA, which statement about tracing or location information is true?

• A. Collectors may disclose debt details to third parties while seeking location information if the third party is a relative.
• B. Collectors may seek location information from third parties and may disclose debt details to those parties to aid collection.
• C. Collectors may seek location information only from the debtor directly.
• D. Collectors may seek location information from third parties but cannot disclose debt details or imply debt collection to those parties.

Answer: (D)

Under FDCPA, a debt collector may contact third parties to obtain the debtor’s location information, such as an address or phone number. But they may not reveal any debt details to those third parties, nor imply that they are collecting a debt when making the inquiry. This means they can ask a relative or other third party for how to reach the debtor, but they cannot discuss the debt itself or indicate that a collection is in progress. That combination is why this statement is correct: location information can be sought from third parties, while debt details and collection implications cannot be disclosed to those parties. The other options run afoul of these rules by sharing debt information or restricting inquiries in a way FDCPA does not require.