Debt Collection Laws Explained

The FDCPA is the primary federal law governing third-party debt collectors. It sets rules for when, how, and how often collectors can contact you, and prohibits many abusive or deceptive practices.

• Call before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. in your time zone
• Contact you at work if you've told them it's not allowed
• Use threats, obscene language, or repeated harassing calls
• Misrepresent the amount owed or falsely threaten arrest
• Contact third parties (other than to locate you) about your debt

Within 30 days of first contact, you have the right to request written validation of the debt — proof of the amount owed and that the collector has the legal right to collect it. Collectors must pause collection until they provide this.

You can send a written request telling a collector to stop contacting you. They may only contact you once more to confirm they'll stop or to notify you of specific legal actions.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau enforces the FDCPA and accepts consumer complaints. Many states also have their own debt collection laws that add further protections beyond the federal baseline.

Document every violation (dates, times, what was said), file a complaint with the CFPB and your state attorney general, and consider consulting a consumer law attorney — FDCPA violations can sometimes result in statutory damages.