FDCPA Statistics
Debt collection consistently ranks as one of the top consumer-complaint categories at the CFPB and FTC.
StopAndDesist is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. This page is general information about your rights.
By the numbers
The CFPB receives 80,000+ debt-collection complaints per year. Roughly one in three U.S. adults has been contacted by a debt collector, and one in four say the collector's information was inaccurate.
Most common violations
Continued attempts to collect a debt the consumer doesn't owe, harassing communication tactics, and false or misleading representations top the list. If any of these sound familiar, a written cease and desist letter to the debt collector is the simplest way to use your §1692c(c) right to make the contact stop.
Enforcement results
The CFPB and FTC together have secured hundreds of millions of dollars in consumer restitution and civil penalties from collection firms over the past decade.
Private lawsuits
Thousands of individual FDCPA lawsuits are filed each year. Most settle quickly, often for the $1,000 statutory cap plus fees. Many of those cases begin with a paper trail, which is why consumers often start by sending a debt collector cease and desist letter and keeping proof of delivery.
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StopAndDesist provides self-help templates and is not a law firm. This page is information, not legal advice.
Frequently asked questions
Related letters, calculators, and guides
Keep going, here are the most useful pages for people who read this one.
Core protections under 15 U.S.C. §1692.
The full checklist of illegal collector behavior.
Estimate what a debt collector owes you before you send your letter.
The general-purpose C&D template with statute citations.
In-depth guides on takedowns, FDCPA, and self-help enforcement.