What Happened
On March 19, 2026, Panama’s National Assembly approved a law that regulates debt-collection agencies and limits the times when those agencies may contact debtors by phone and email. The move, announced in local media, sets new restrictions on communications from collection firms.
What the Law Does
The approved measure places limits on calls and electronic messages from agencies that pursue overdue payments. According to the report, the law restricts such contacts to specific hours established in the legislation and clarifies that both telephone calls and emails are covered by the new rules.
Background
Stories about persistent or aggressive contact by collection agencies have prompted calls for clearer regulation in Panama and elsewhere. Lawmakers moved to craft a statutory framework aimed at setting boundaries on when and how agencies may reach out to consumers. The Assembly’s approval marks a legislative response to those concerns.
What This Means
For consumers, the law is intended to reduce intrusive or disruptive communications by debt-collection companies by confining contact to designated hours. For businesses and collection firms, the new rules require adjustments to outreach practices and schedules. The report does not provide detailed information on enforcement mechanisms, penalties, or the exact hours designated by the law; those implementation details will determine how strictly contacts are curtailed in practice.
Next Steps
After legislative approval, the law will move into its implementation phase. Consumers, companies and regulators will be watching for secondary rules or administrative guidance that specify operational details, compliance requirements and any sanctions for violations.