Minnesota is in the mix as officials in Washington D-C announced (Wed) the first coordinated federal-state crackdown on deceptive and abusive debt collectors. State Commerce Commissioner Mike Rothman says the initiative “sends a strong and clear message to bad actors in the debt-collection industry: Clean up your act.” Officials point to some firms using harassing and intimidating debt-collection tactics, and even companies that try to get people to pay debts they’ve already paid or don’t owe.