WASHINGTON, D.C. –

The Federal Trade Commission is about to begin a series of live events throughout the country the regulator dubbed the “Debt Collection Dialogue.”

The first session is scheduled to include not only top officials from the FTC, but also the Office of the New York State Attorney General. Speakers for the two agencies will host a live event in Buffalo, N.Y., on Monday.

FTC Bureau of Consumer Protection Director Jessica Rich and New York State Attorney General Eric Schneiderman will deliver opening remarks; officials from the New York State Department of Financial Services and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau will also make presentations.

The event will be the first of several Debt Collection Dialogues the FTC will hold around the country, including Dallas and Atlanta. Officials indicated more details will be available this summer.

At each event, the FTC and its state and federal law enforcement partners will discuss recent enforcement actions, consumer complaints about debt collection practices and compliance issues. The speakers will welcome questions and comments from collection industry members and others who attend.

All of the events will be free and open to the public, according to the FTC.

“Debt Collection Dialogue – Buffalo” will run from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Burchfield Penney Art Center at SUNY Buffalo State in Buffalo, N.Y.

More information is available at www.ftc.gov/DebtCollectionDialogue.