The CFPB rulemaking on debt collection has been further delayed. The delay comes from the CFPB formally canceling its request for approval of a survey on consumer understanding of debt collection disclosures.

It appears Bureau leadership decided to reconsider what it called Debt Collection Quantitative Disclosure Testing based on Acting Director Mick Mulvaney’s announcement last month to freeze all pending regulatory action. In August, the American Bankers Association opposed the CFPB’s request because the CFPB had sought to test materials and disclosures not made available for public comment, as required by the Paperwork Reduction Act.

The CFPB intended to use the survey to learn more about the burden collecting information inflicts on consumers, as well as the validity of the methods used including the use of automated collection techniques. The survey was considered to be the next step in developing the long-anticipated debt collection rules which have now been delayed over two years.