Under what circumstances can a licensed collections manager disclose a debtor's information to third parties?

A licensed collections manager can disclose a debtor's information to third parties primarily under two situations: when they have the debtor's consent or in certain legal circumstances. This approach is grounded in the legal and ethical frameworks governing debt collection practices, which aim to protect consumer privacy and encourage fair treatment of debtors.

When a debtor provides explicit consent, it means they understand and agree to the sharing of their information, which protects the interests of both the debtor and the collections manager. In legal circumstances, the collections manager may be compelled to share information due to court orders, regulatory requirements, or investigations into legal compliance. These frameworks ensure that disclosures are made in a controlled manner and primarily serve legitimate purposes that comply with relevant laws and regulations.

The other choices suggest practices that do not align with legal or ethical standards. Disclosing information merely because it might aid in debt recovery, releasing information to the media based on the size of the debt, or sharing details in order to sell the debt do not respect the privacy rights of the debtor and could potentially lead to breaches of consumer protection laws. Therefore, the correct answer underscores the importance of consent and legal compliance in the handling of sensitive financial information.