After you stop making payments on your bills, your creditors and lenders will probably hand your debts off to a third-party debt collector to get you to pay. If there’s one thing debt collectors are known for, it’s their harassing phone calls made to intimidate consumers into paying these debts. Fortunately, there are federal debt collection laws that prohibit these calls from debt collectors. If you’ve been getting calls from debt collectors, it’s important to know your rights under federal law so you can stop harassing calls from debt collectors.
What the Law Says About Debt Collector Calls
The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) is the federal law that dictates what debt collectors can and cannot do. Under the FDCPA, debt collectors can only call you at certain times:
Debt collectors can call you between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. your time.
They can call you at work as long as they don’t know and don’t have reason to believe your employer doesn’t approve.
Because the FDCPA considers it harassment, debt collectors can’t call you repeatedly. They also are not allowed to use obscene, profane, or abusive language. When they call, they can’t make certain threats against you, especially those they cannot and do not plan to take. This includes threats to sue you, garnish your wages, or have you arrested. If the debt collector acts outside these rules, it is in violation of federal law.
How to Respond to Collection Calls
When a debt collector calls you, be prepared for several questions from them trying to get you to admit to owing the debt. Don’t admit anything. Instead, here are some things you can safely say to a debt collector depending on your situation:
Who is calling please? You can confirm the name of the debt collector and the agency he or she works for.
I don’t believe I owe this debt.
Send me information about this debt so I can confirm whether I owe this debt.
May I have your mailing address and phone number?
My mailing address is: You can give your correct mailing address so the collector can send you proof of the debt.
My employer does not approve of me receiving these calls at work.
This is an inconvenient time for you to call, please call at…give the time you prefer the debt collector to call you.
I need to get that in writing. After making an agreement to pay.
Prevent Debt Collector Calls
You can permanently stop a debt collector’s calls by sending a cease and desist letter. Your letter can look something like this:
Dear Debt Collector:
I am writing to request that you cease and desist communicating with me about the debt with account number: XXXXXXX and any other debts you claim I owe. If you do not comply with this request I will pursue civil and legal action pursuant to my rights under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. This includes, but is not limited to reporting you to the Federal Trade Commission and my state Attorney General.
Sincerely, Your Name
Permanently End Debt Collector Calls
A cease and desist letter will work for a single debt collector. Since collection accounts often change collectors, you could end up sending multiple cease and desist letters for the same debt.
Because the FDCPA considers it harassment, debt collectors can’t call you repeatedly. They also are not allowed to use obscene, profane, or abusive language. When they call, they can’t make certain threats against you, especially those they cannot and do not plan to take. This includes threats to sue you, garnish your wages, or have you arrested. If the debt collector acts outside these rules, it is in violation of federal law.
Prevent Debt Collector Calls