Dealing With Debt Collectors in the United States (2026)
Reviewed by DocDraft Legal Team · United States · Last updated August 13, 2026
This is the national hub for dealing with debt collectors under United States federal law. The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA, 15 U.S.C. 1692) gives you the right to demand written validation of a debt, to tell a collector in writing to stop contacting you, and to sue a collector who harasses, deceives, or abuses you. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's Regulation F (12 CFR Part 1006), effective November 30, 2021, layers on concrete rules such as a presumptive limit on how often a collector may call and requirements for email and text contact. State pages in this cluster cover your state's statute of limitations on debt, state collection statutes, licensing, and wage-garnishment and property exemptions that limit what a collector can actually take.
What is the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA)?
The FDCPA (15 U.S.C. 1692) is the federal law governing third-party debt collectors. It bars harassment, false statements, and unfair practices, and gives you rights to validate a debt and to stop contact. It generally covers collection agencies and debt buyers, not the original creditor collecting its own debt.
How do I make a debt collector prove I owe the debt?
If you dispute the debt in writing within 30 days of receiving the collector's validation notice, the collector must stop collecting until it mails you verification of the debt. Under CFPB Regulation F, that validation notice must state the debt and describe your dispute rights, so you can respond before paying.
How often can a debt collector legally call me?
Under CFPB Regulation F (12 CFR 1006.14), a collector is presumed to violate the law if it calls you about one debt more than seven times in seven days, or within seven days after it spoke with you by phone about that debt. Collectors also cannot call before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. your local time.
What can a debt collector never do to me?
A collector cannot harass, oppress, or abuse you, use threats of violence, obscene language, or repeated calls to annoy (15 U.S.C. 1692d). It cannot lie about the amount or legal status of the debt, falsely claim to be an attorney, or threaten arrest or a lawsuit it does not intend to file (15 U.S.C. 1692e).
Relevant Laws
Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), 15 U.S.C. 1692-1692p
The core federal statute governing third-party debt collectors. It bars harassment and abuse (1692d), false or misleading representations (1692e), and unfair practices (1692f), restricts when and whom a collector may contact (1692c), and creates the debt validation right (1692g).
FDCPA Civil Liability, 15 U.S.C. 1692k
Lets a consumer sue a collector that violates the FDCPA, generally within one year of the violation, and recover actual damages, statutory damages up to $1,000 for an individual action, and reasonable attorney's fees and costs.
CFPB Debt Collection Rule (Regulation F), 12 CFR Part 1006
The CFPB rule implementing the FDCPA, effective November 30, 2021. It sets a presumptive limit of seven calls in seven days per debt (1006.14), rules for email and text contact and opt-out (1006.6), and the validation notice content (1006.34).
FDCPA Validation of Debts, 15 U.S.C. 1692g
Requires a collector to send a validation notice and gives you 30 days after receiving it to dispute the debt in writing. A timely written dispute forces the collector to stop collection until it mails you verification of the debt.
Suggested Compliance Checklist
Read the collector's validation notice and diary the 30-day deadline
Within 5 days of first contact days after startingConfirm the collector sent the Regulation F validation notice (12 CFR 1006.34) identifying the creditor, amount, and your dispute rights. Note the date you received it and calendar the 30-day window to dispute under 15 U.S.C. 1692g.
Send a written debt validation letter
Within 30 days of receiving the validation notice days after startingIf you do not recognize the debt or the amount looks wrong, mail a written dispute and request for verification within the 30-day window. This forces the collector to stop collecting until it mails you proof of the debt.
Send a cease-and-desist letter if you want contact to stop
As soon as you decide to stop contact days after startingUnder 15 U.S.C. 1692c(c), a written cease-communication letter requires the collector to stop contacting you once received, except to confirm it is stopping or to state it may pursue a specific remedy. Keep proof of mailing.
Keep a call log and save all written communications
Ongoing days after startingRecord every call date, time, caller name, and what was said, and keep all letters, emails, and texts. This evidence supports a CFPB complaint and any FDCPA lawsuit, including calls exceeding the seven-in-seven-days Regulation F limit.
File a CFPB complaint and report to the FTC if the collector broke the law
Within 1 year of any FDCPA violation days after startingSubmit a complaint at consumerfinance.gov/complaint or (855) 411-2372 and report the collector at reportfraud.ftc.gov. Because 15 U.S.C. 1692k generally requires suit within one year, consult an attorney promptly about statutory damages up to $1,000 plus fees.
| Task | Description | Document | Days after starting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Read the collector's validation notice and diary the 30-day deadline | Confirm the collector sent the Regulation F validation notice (12 CFR 1006.34) identifying the creditor, amount, and your dispute rights. Note the date you received it and calendar the 30-day window to dispute under 15 U.S.C. 1692g. | - | Within 5 days of first contact |
| Send a written debt validation letter | If you do not recognize the debt or the amount looks wrong, mail a written dispute and request for verification within the 30-day window. This forces the collector to stop collecting until it mails you proof of the debt. | debt-validation-letter | Within 30 days of receiving the validation notice |
| Send a cease-and-desist letter if you want contact to stop | Under 15 U.S.C. 1692c(c), a written cease-communication letter requires the collector to stop contacting you once received, except to confirm it is stopping or to state it may pursue a specific remedy. Keep proof of mailing. | cease-and-desist-letter | As soon as you decide to stop contact |
| Keep a call log and save all written communications | Record every call date, time, caller name, and what was said, and keep all letters, emails, and texts. This evidence supports a CFPB complaint and any FDCPA lawsuit, including calls exceeding the seven-in-seven-days Regulation F limit. | - | Ongoing |
| File a CFPB complaint and report to the FTC if the collector broke the law | Submit a complaint at consumerfinance.gov/complaint or (855) 411-2372 and report the collector at reportfraud.ftc.gov. Because 15 U.S.C. 1692k generally requires suit within one year, consult an attorney promptly about statutory damages up to $1,000 plus fees. | - | Within 1 year of any FDCPA violation |
Frequently Asked Questions
Usually no. The FDCPA (15 U.S.C. 1692) applies to third-party debt collectors, such as collection agencies and debt buyers, collecting debts owed to someone else. A creditor collecting its own debt under its own name generally is not covered by the FDCPA, though some state laws extend similar duties to original creditors. Check your state page.
Yes. Under 15 U.S.C. 1692c(c), if you notify a collector in writing to cease communication, it must stop contacting you once it receives the letter, except to confirm it is stopping or to state it may or will pursue a specific remedy like a lawsuit. A cease-communication letter stops contact but does not cancel the debt or prevent a suit.
Under CFPB Regulation F (12 CFR 1006.14), a collector is presumed to break the law if it calls you about a particular debt more than seven times within seven days, or within seven days after it had a phone conversation with you about that debt. Calls before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. your local time are also prohibited.
Yes, but Regulation F (12 CFR 1006.6) sets conditions. A collector that communicates electronically must offer you a reasonable and simple way to opt out of email or text at a specific address or number. Collectors also may not contact you at a time or place they know is inconvenient, including at work if you have told them workplace contact is not allowed.
Yes. Under 15 U.S.C. 1692k you can sue a collector that violates the FDCPA. You must generally file within one year of the violation. If you win, you may recover any actual damages, statutory damages up to $1,000, and your attorney's fees and costs. An attorney can help you evaluate whether you have a claim.
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