Dealing With Debt Collectors in Iowa (2026)
Reviewed by DocDraft Legal Team · Iowa · Last updated August 13, 2026
This page covers dealing with debt collectors in Iowa, where the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) is reinforced by Iowa's own debt collection rules. Iowa Code 614.1 sets the statute of limitations on debt, giving creditors ten years to sue on a written contract but only five years on an unwritten or open account. Iowa's Consumer Credit Code (Iowa Code chapter 537, Article 7) prohibits unfair debt collection practices and, unlike the FDCPA, reaches creditors collecting their own debts, not just third-party agencies. Iowa also caps how much of your annual wages a single creditor can garnish under Iowa Code 642.21 and shields core property under Iowa Code 627.6. The Iowa Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division enforces these rules and takes consumer complaints.
What is the statute of limitations on debt in Iowa?
Under Iowa Code 614.1, a creditor has ten years to sue on a written contract (614.1(5)(a)) and five years on an unwritten or open account (614.1(4)). After that period runs, the debt is time-barred and a collector cannot win a lawsuit, though it may still ask you to pay.
Can my wages be garnished for consumer debt in Iowa?
Yes, but Iowa Code 642.21 caps the total a single judgment creditor can garnish in one calendar year, from $250 for lower earners up to 10 percent of earnings for those making $50,000 or more. The federal Consumer Credit Protection Act (15 U.S.C. 1671 to 1677) also limits each paycheck.
How do I stop a debt collector from contacting me in Iowa?
Send a written cease-communication letter. Under the FDCPA (15 U.S.C. 1692c(c)) the collector must stop contacting you once it receives the letter, except to confirm it is stopping or to state it may sue. Iowa's Consumer Credit Code (chapter 537) adds parallel limits on abusive contact.
What can a debt collector not do to me in Iowa?
Under Iowa Code 537.7103 and the FDCPA (15 U.S.C. 1692d, 1692e), a collector cannot harass or threaten you, use obscene language, falsely claim to be an attorney, misstate the amount owed, or tell your employer, relatives, or friends about your debt except in narrow circumstances.
Iowa's Consumer Credit Code and garnishment caps
Iowa regulates debt collection through Article 7 of its Consumer Credit Code (Iowa Code 537.7101 through 537.7103). Section 537.7103 lists prohibited debt collection practices, and a key difference from the federal FDCPA is that Iowa's rules reach creditors and their assignees collecting their own debts, not only third-party collection agencies. Debt collectors and out-of-state creditors that collect from Iowans generally must file a notification with the Iowa Attorney General before collecting. On garnishment, Iowa is protective: Iowa Code 642.21 caps the total a single judgment creditor may garnish in any one calendar year on a sliding scale (as little as $250 for low earners), and Iowa Code 627.6 exempts core property from execution. The Iowa Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division enforces the Consumer Credit Code and accepts consumer complaints about unfair collection conduct.
Relevant Laws
Iowa Statute of Limitations, Iowa Code 614.1
Sets Iowa's limitations periods on debt: ten years to sue on a written contract (614.1(5)(a)) and five years on an unwritten contract or open account (614.1(4)). After the applicable period runs, a debt is time-barred and a collector cannot obtain a judgment on it.
Iowa Consumer Credit Code, Debt Collection Practices, Iowa Code 537.7101 to 537.7103
Article 7 of Iowa's Consumer Credit Code prohibits unfair debt collection practices. Section 537.7103 lists prohibited conduct, and Iowa's rules reach creditors and assignees collecting their own debts, not only third-party collectors as under the FDCPA.
Iowa Wage Garnishment Exemption, Iowa Code 642.21
Caps the total a single judgment creditor may garnish from an employee's wages in one calendar year on a sliding scale by income, from $250 to 10 percent of earnings, and applies the federal Consumer Credit Protection Act (15 U.S.C. 1671 to 1677) to each paycheck.
Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), 15 U.S.C. 1692
The federal law governing third-party debt collectors. It bars harassment (1692d) and false or misleading representations (1692e), restricts contact (1692c), creates the debt validation right (1692g), and lets consumers sue within one year (1692k). Iowa's Consumer Credit Code adds state-level duties.
Regional Variances
Iowa statute of limitations by debt type (Iowa Code 614.1)
Written contract
Ten years. Iowa Code 614.1(5)(a) gives a creditor ten years to sue on a debt founded on a written contract, measured from when the cause of action accrued.
Oral / unwritten contract
Five years. Iowa Code 614.1(4) sets a five-year limit for actions founded on unwritten contracts, along with injuries to property and certain other claims.
Open account / credit card
Generally five years. Iowa Code 614.1 does not name open accounts or credit cards separately; they are typically treated as unwritten contracts under 614.1(4), so a five-year limit generally applies. If the account rests on a signed written agreement, the ten-year written-contract period may be argued instead.
Promissory note
A promissory note is a written instrument, so the ten-year written-contract limit under Iowa Code 614.1(5)(a) generally applies.: confirm whether Iowa case law or the UCC (Iowa Code chapter 554) sets a different period for negotiable instruments.
Suggested Compliance Checklist
Read the validation notice and confirm the Iowa statute of limitations
Within 5 days of first contact days after startingConfirm the collector sent the Regulation F validation notice (12 CFR 1006.34) and check the Iowa limit under Iowa Code 614.1: ten years on a written contract (614.1(5)(a)), five years on an open account (614.1(4)). Do not pay or promise to pay a time-barred debt before you verify it, since that can restart the clock.
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 under 15 U.S.C. 1692g. 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. Iowa Code 537.7103 separately bars harassing contact. Keep proof of mailing.
Confirm your Iowa wage and property exemptions
Before any judgment or garnishment days after startingReview Iowa Code 642.21 for the annual garnishment cap that applies to your income tier (from $250 up to 10 percent of earnings) and Iowa Code 627.6 for exempt personal property. Federal law (15 U.S.C. 1671 to 1677) also limits each paycheck. Know what a collector cannot reach.
File a complaint with the Iowa Attorney General and the CFPB
Within 1 year of any FDCPA violation days after startingSubmit a complaint to the Iowa Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division at iowaattorneygeneral.gov/for-consumers/file-a-consumer-complaint and to the CFPB at consumerfinance.gov/complaint. Because 15 U.S.C. 1692k generally requires suit within one year, consult an attorney promptly about damages up to $1,000 plus fees.
| Task | Description | Document | Days after starting |
|---|---|---|---|
| Read the validation notice and confirm the Iowa statute of limitations | Confirm the collector sent the Regulation F validation notice (12 CFR 1006.34) and check the Iowa limit under Iowa Code 614.1: ten years on a written contract (614.1(5)(a)), five years on an open account (614.1(4)). Do not pay or promise to pay a time-barred debt before you verify it, since that can restart the clock. | - | 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 under 15 U.S.C. 1692g. 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. Iowa Code 537.7103 separately bars harassing contact. Keep proof of mailing. | cease-and-desist-letter | As soon as you decide to stop contact |
| Confirm your Iowa wage and property exemptions | Review Iowa Code 642.21 for the annual garnishment cap that applies to your income tier (from $250 up to 10 percent of earnings) and Iowa Code 627.6 for exempt personal property. Federal law (15 U.S.C. 1671 to 1677) also limits each paycheck. Know what a collector cannot reach. | - | Before any judgment or garnishment |
| File a complaint with the Iowa Attorney General and the CFPB | Submit a complaint to the Iowa Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division at iowaattorneygeneral.gov/for-consumers/file-a-consumer-complaint and to the CFPB at consumerfinance.gov/complaint. Because 15 U.S.C. 1692k generally requires suit within one year, consult an attorney promptly about damages up to $1,000 plus fees. | - | Within 1 year of any FDCPA violation |
Frequently Asked Questions
Iowa Code 614.1 does not name credit cards specifically. An open or revolving account is generally treated as an unwritten contract with a five-year limit under 614.1(4), while a debt on a signed written agreement can carry the ten-year written-contract limit under 614.1(5)(a). Because the classification can be disputed, an Iowa attorney can confirm which period applies to your account.
Yes. Article 7 of Iowa's Consumer Credit Code (Iowa Code 537.7101 through 537.7103) prohibits unfair debt collection practices. Unlike the federal FDCPA, which mainly covers third-party collectors, Iowa's rules also reach creditors and assignees collecting their own debts. The Iowa Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division enforces these provisions.
Under Iowa Code 642.21, a single judgment creditor's total garnishment in one calendar year is capped by income: $250 if you earn under $12,000, $400 up to $16,000, $800 up to $24,000, $1,500 up to $35,000, $2,000 up to $50,000, and 10 percent of earnings at $50,000 or more. Federal law also limits each paycheck.
Debt collectors and out-of-state creditors or assignees that collect debts from Iowa consumers are generally required to file a notification with the Iowa Attorney General before collecting. The Attorney General's office maintains these filings and provides forms and FAQs for collectors and creditors on its website.: confirm exact filing requirement and any exemptions.
Yes. Under the federal FDCPA (15 U.S.C. 1692k) you can sue a collector, generally within one year of the violation, for actual damages, statutory damages up to $1,000, and attorney's fees. Iowa's Consumer Credit Code also provides remedies for prohibited collection practices. An attorney can help you evaluate whether you have a claim.
Other Iowa guides
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