Debt Collectors in the US: Stop Harassment and Verify Debt

What laws protect you from debt collector harassment in the United States?

Federal law prohibits harassment, deception, and unfair practices by third-party collectors. The FDCPA and CFPB Regulation F set clear rules for contact limits, validation notices, and what collectors must do when you dispute a debt. State mini-FDCPA laws can add more protections and penalties.

• Core federal laws
  • FDCPA - 15 U.S.C. § 1692 et seq. Applies to third-party collectors and debt buyers. Bans harassment, false threats, and unfair practices. Creates a private right of action with damages.
  • CFPB Regulation F - 12 C.F.R. Part 1006. Clarifies FDCPA rules, including call frequency limits and validation notice content.
  • FCRA - 15 U.S.C. § 1681. Governs credit reporting and disputes. Requires investigation of disputes within 30 days.
  • TCPA - 47 U.S.C. § 227. Limits autodialed calls and texts to your cell phone without consent. Allows $500-$1,500 per unlawful call or text.
• Contact rules under FDCPA and Reg F
  • Time and place: No calls before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. local time. No workplace calls if your employer prohibits it or you say stop.
  • Call frequency: More than 7 call attempts in 7 days per debt, or within 7 days after a phone conversation about that debt, is presumed harassing.
  • Texts, email, and social media: Must provide easy opt-out. No public posts. Messages must identify the sender as a debt collector.
  • Third parties: Collectors cannot discuss your debt with others. They can contact third parties only once to locate you and cannot reveal the debt.
• Validation notice requirements
  • Within 5 days of first contact, the collector must send a written validation notice with the amount, creditor, and your dispute rights, plus an itemization date and how interest or fees accrued.
  • Use the tear-off dispute form if provided, or send your own letter.
• Enforcement and remedies
  • Private lawsuit: File within 1 year of the violation. Recover actual damages, up to $1,000 statutory damages, and attorney fees under the FDCPA.
  • Government complaints: File with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and Federal Trade Commission.
  • State laws: Many states have additional protections. Examples:
    • California Rosenthal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.
    • Texas Debt Collection Act.
    • New York State and NYC rules, including the NYC Department of Consumer and Worker Protection.

How do you stop harassing calls, texts, and messages immediately?

Tell the collector to stop, then send a written cease-communication letter. You can also revoke consent to call your cell phone to stop autodialed calls and texts under the TCPA.

1. Say the magic words on the phone
   • Tell the agent: Stop contacting me. Do not call my workplace. Communicate only by mail.
   • Write down the date, time, phone number, and agent name.
2. Send a written cease-communication letter
   • Cite FDCPA 15 U.S.C. § 1692c(c). State that all communication must stop except to confirm they will stop or to notify of specific legal action.
   • Mail via USPS Certified Mail with return receipt. Keep a copy and the green card or electronic receipt.
   • Note: This does not erase the debt or prevent a lawsuit. It stops the calls and texts.
3. Revoke TCPA consent for your cell phone
   • Include: I revoke any prior consent to call or text my cell phone number using an autodialer or prerecorded voice.
   • Revoke in writing and by text if they offer a reply-stop option. Save screenshots.
4. Stop workplace and third-party contact
   • Tell the collector: My employer prohibits these calls. Do not contact me at work.
   • If they call family or neighbors to locate you more than once, or reveal the debt, log it as a violation.
5. Use practical tools
   • Block numbers and use call filter apps. Save voicemails and screenshots.
   • Keep a contact log including date, time, number, message summary, and witnesses.

How do you demand verification and check if the debt is legit?

Send a written dispute and verification request within 30 days of the first written validation notice. The collector must pause collection until it mails verification.

1. Act within 30 days
   • The 30-day clock starts when you receive the collector’s validation notice. If you dispute in writing within 30 days, they must cease collection until they verify and mail proof.
   • Missed the 30 days? Send the dispute anyway. They may continue collection, but they must note the dispute in credit reporting.
2. What to request in verification
   • Itemized accounting from the itemization date to today: principal, interest, fees, payments, and credits.
   • Name and address of the current creditor and the original creditor.
   • Documentation that you agreed to the debt: last billing statement, signed contract or application if available.
   • Proof of ownership or assignment if a debt buyer: chain of title with account identifiers.
   • The date of last payment or charge to help you check the statute of limitations.
   • The collector’s state license number if your state requires licensing.
3. Sample language you can use
   • I dispute this debt in its entirety. Please provide verification, including an itemized accounting, the name and address of the original creditor, the date of last payment, and documentation showing your authority to collect. Mark the account as disputed in all credit reporting.
4. Mailing and records
   • Send by Certified Mail with return receipt. Keep copies.
   • While you wait, the collector must pause calls, texts, and lawsuits about this debt until it mails verification.
5. Check your credit reports and dispute errors
   • Pull free weekly reports from Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion at AnnualCreditReport.com.
   • Dispute any inaccurate entry with each bureau. They must investigate within 30 days and delete entries not verified.

What is time-barred or zombie debt, and how do you avoid restarting the clock?

Time-barred debt is past your state’s statute of limitations for filing a lawsuit. Do not pay, promise to pay, or admit the debt until you confirm whether the limitations period has expired.

• Why it matters
  • If the debt is time-barred, a collector cannot legally sue you or threaten to sue. They can ask you to pay, but the FDCPA prohibits suing or threatening to sue on time-barred debt.
  • In many states, making a small payment or a written promise can restart the clock. Some states, like New York for consumer credit, do not allow revival by payment.
• How to check
  • Get the date of last payment or charge-off from the collector’s itemization and your records.
  • Look up your state’s statute of limitations for written contracts, open accounts, or consumer credit. Typical ranges are 3 to 6 years, but some states are longer or shorter.
• Examples of consumer credit statutes of limitations

  State	Typical SOL for consumer credit	Notes
  California	4 years	Written contracts and open accounts generally 4 years.
  Texas	4 years	Acknowledgment or payment can revive.
  Florida	5 years (written), 4 years (open)	Credit cards often treated as written or open depending on case law.
  New York	3 years	Consumer Credit Fairness Act shortened to 3 years and bars revival by payment or admission.
  Illinois	5-10 years	5 years for unwritten, 10 for written contracts.
  Ohio	6 years	Applies to written contracts and most credit card suits.
  Georgia	6 years	Written contracts 6 years.
  Arizona	6 years	Written contracts 6 years; open accounts 3 years.
  Washington	6 years	Written contracts 6 years.
  Massachusetts	6 years	Written contracts 6 years.

• Protect yourself
  • Use a verification letter that states: I do not acknowledge this debt. Provide the date of last payment. If the debt is time-barred, state that you will not pay and instruct them not to sue or threaten to sue.
  • Do not agree to settlements or make small payments until you finish your statute of limitations check.

How do you negotiate, settle, or set up a payment plan safely?

Negotiate only after verification confirms the debt and the collector’s authority. Get every term in writing before you pay and avoid giving access to your bank account.

1. Decide your goal
   • Lump-sum settlement: Many unsecured debts settle for 30-60 percent of the balance, sometimes less if the debt is old or disputed.
   • Installment plan: Lower monthly payments over time, but interest may continue unless waived.
2. Set your rules
   • Get it in writing on company letterhead: total amount, settlement amount, payment schedule, payment method, and what they will report to credit bureaus.
   • Use one-time payments via money order, debit card with limited funds, or bill pay. Avoid ACH pulls and post-dated checks.
   • Never share your full bank account access details.
3. Ask for reporting language
   • For credit cards and loans: Ask for pay-for-delete. Not guaranteed, but some collectors agree. At minimum, require they report as paid in full or settled for less than full balance.
   • Note: FICO 9 and 10, and VantageScore 3.0+, ignore paid collection accounts in score calculation.
4. Understand tax impact
   • Forgiven debt of $600 or more may be reported on Form 1099-C. You may exclude it if you were insolvent. Keep records and consult a tax professional.
5. Confirm performance
   • After payment, get a satisfaction letter. Check your credit reports within 30-60 days to confirm updates.

What should you do if a debt collector sues you?

Do not ignore the lawsuit. File an Answer by your state deadline and force the collector to prove the debt, the amount, and that it owns the account.

1. Read the papers
   • Identify the plaintiff, account, alleged amount, and the deadline to respond. Common deadlines range from 14 to 30 days after service, depending on your state.
2. File your Answer on time
   • Deny allegations you are unsure of and demand strict proof. Raise defenses such as statute of limitations, mistaken identity, lack of standing, payment, or settlement.
   • Ask the court clerk about filing fees and fee waivers. Typical small claims filing fees run about 30 to 100 dollars.
3. Demand documents
   • Request the signed agreement or cardmember terms, account statements, itemization, and complete chain of assignment if a debt buyer sued.
   • Many cases settle or are dismissed when collectors cannot produce admissible proof.
4. Consider arbitration if your contract has a consumer arbitration clause
   • Some card agreements allow you to compel arbitration, which can increase the collector’s cost and lead to settlement.
5. Go to your hearing
   • Bring your dispute letters, records, and credit reports. If the plaintiff lacks proof, ask the judge to dismiss with prejudice.
   • If you lose, ask about appeal deadlines. If you missed your hearing due to improper service, ask about a motion to vacate the default judgment.
6. Protect wages and assets
   • Federal law caps most wage garnishments at 25 percent of disposable earnings. Some states protect more or ban garnishment for consumer debts.
   • Consider negotiating a stipulated payment plan to avoid garnishment.

How do you fix credit reporting problems related to collections?

Dispute inaccuracies with the credit bureaus and the collector. Bureaus must investigate within 30 days and delete or correct entries that are not verified.

• Pull your reports and identify issues
  • Get free weekly reports from all three bureaus.
  • Look for duplicate collections, wrong balances, paid accounts still showing open, or accounts that are not yours.
• File disputes
  • Send disputes to Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion with documents. State what is wrong and what you want corrected.
  • Send a parallel dispute to the collector demanding they correct or delete inaccurate reporting under the FCRA and FDCPA.
• Medical collections
  • The national bureaus do not report paid medical collections and do not report medical collections under $500. New medical collections do not appear for 1 year to allow insurance resolution.
• After settlement or payment
  • Ask for the collector to update to paid in full or settled. Confirm the update on your reports within 30-60 days.

Who do you report violations to, and how do you build a winning record?

Report violations to the CFPB, FTC, and your state attorney general. Keep organized evidence to support damages or settlement.

• Evidence that helps
  • Call logs, screenshots of texts, voicemails, envelopes, letters, and credit reports.
  • Certified mail receipts and return cards. Notes of emotional distress, medical visits, or lost wages from harassment.
• Where to complain
  • Consumer Financial Protection Bureau - complaint portal. The collector must respond to you and the CFPB.
  • Federal Trade Commission - records trends and coordinates enforcement.
  • State attorney general or financial regulator - many states license collectors and can fine or suspend them.
  • Local agencies - for example, New York City Department of Consumer and Worker Protection.
• Check licensing
  • Ask for the collector’s legal name and license number. Verify through your state regulator or the NMLS Consumer Access site if applicable.

How much does this cost, and what can you recover if your rights are violated?

Stopping harassment and verifying your debt costs little. If a collector breaks the law, you may recover statutory damages, your actual losses, and attorney fees.

What if the debt is not yours or is identity theft?

Dispute in writing, file an identity theft report, and demand blocking in credit reports. Collectors must stop collecting on identity theft debts when you provide proper documentation.

• Immediate steps
  • Send a dispute and identity theft affidavit to the collector. Include a copy of your FTC identity theft report and a police report if available.
  • Place a free fraud alert or security freeze with all three bureaus.
• FCRA identity theft protections
  • When you provide an identity theft report, credit bureaus must block the fraudulent tradeline within 4 business days pending investigation.
  • Request the collector’s records of the account application and transactions to help your police report.

How does bankruptcy stop collection, and what does it cost?

Filing bankruptcy triggers an automatic stay that stops all collection, lawsuits, garnishments, and calls. Chapter 7 wipes most unsecured debts; Chapter 13 creates a 3-5 year repayment plan.

• Automatic stay
  • Goes into effect when you file. Collectors must stop all contact and legal action.
• Chapters at a glance
  • Chapter 7: Quick discharge in about 4-6 months for eligible filers. Filing fee about $338. Typical attorney fees $1,200 - $2,500.
  • Chapter 13: Repayment plan over 3-5 years. Filing fee about $313. Typical attorney fees $3,000 - $5,000, often paid through the plan.
• When it makes sense
  • Massive unsecured debt, repeated lawsuits, or garnishments you cannot pay. Protects you from aggressive collection while you reset.

What are the most common collector violations to watch for?

Repeated calls, threats, and false statements are red flags. If you spot any of these, document them and consider a complaint or legal action.

• Harassment or abuse
  • Profanity, threats of violence, repeated ringing to annoy, or calling before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m.
• False or misleading statements
  • Threats of arrest or criminal charges, misrepresenting the amount owed, implying they are attorneys or government officials when they are not.
• Unfair practices
  • Collecting unauthorized fees, depositing post-dated checks early, or threatening actions they cannot legally take.
• Time-barred debt issues
  • Suing or threatening to sue after the statute of limitations expires.
• Credit reporting abuses
  • Failing to mark an account as disputed, reporting inaccurate balances, or re-aging a debt to keep it on your report longer.

When should you hire a lawyer or expert?

Hire help if you are sued, face garnishment, spot serious legal violations, or have complex debt issues. A consumer protection or bankruptcy lawyer can often make the calls stop and improve your outcome.

• Situations that justify counsel
  • You were served with a lawsuit or have a default judgment.
  • You suspect time-barred debt or the wrong person but the collector will not correct it.
  • High-dollar balances, multiple collectors, or evidence of identity theft.
  • Persistent harassment, illegal calls, or credit reporting errors causing job or housing issues.
  • Considering Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 bankruptcy.
• What a lawyer can do
  • Send demand letters that stop contact, negotiate settlements, defend lawsuits, and file FDCPA/TCPA claims to recover damages and fees.
  • Assess statute of limitations and evidentiary gaps in the collector’s case.
• Where to find help
  • CFPB and state AG websites list rights and complaint portals.
  • Legal aid organizations and pro bono clinics for low-income consumers.
  • National Association of Consumer Advocates member directory.

What are your next steps to stop harassment and verify your debt today?

Act quickly, in writing, and keep records. These moves stop most harassment and put you in control.

1. Start a contact log and save every voicemail, text, and letter.
2. Tell the collector by phone to stop calling, then send a certified cease-communication and TCPA revocation letter.
3. Send a written dispute and verification request within 30 days of the validation notice. Ask for itemization, original creditor, last payment date, and proof of ownership.
4. Pull free weekly credit reports and dispute any inaccurate or duplicate collections with each bureau.
5. Check the statute of limitations using the last payment date and your state’s rules before you discuss payment.
6. If the debt is verified and within limitations, decide on a settlement or payment plan. Get all terms in writing before paying.
7. If sued, file an Answer before the deadline and demand proof. Consider legal help immediately.
8. Report violations to the CFPB and your state attorney general. Consider an FDCPA or TCPA claim if the conduct was illegal.