The change, which was approved by the CFPB last year under the Trump administration, requires creditors to contact defaulters privately.

Borrowers can choose to opt out of these messages, but creditors do not need permission to contact people.

There are no rules for how many messages they are allowed to send, BBC News reports.

The rule also creates a new limit for phone calls. Seven calls can be made each week for any particular debt, but people with multiple debts may still be called dozen of times each week.

Debt collectors are also limited from contacting any consumer by phone within one week of speaking to them about a specific debt.

Mark Neeb, CEO of the debt collector trade group ACA International, said in a statement that the change represents “a small step forward in modernising communications with consumers”.