How to deal with debt collectors
The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) gives you specific, enforceable rights. Here's how to use them.
StopAndDesist is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. This page is general information about your rights.
Find the right guide for your situation
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Describe the collector, how they contact you and anything they've sent. We'll point you to the right guide and letter.
General information, not legal advice.
Get organised: your records checklist
Build your personal debt records checklist
Describe what's happening (who is collecting, how they contact you, any letters or court papers). You'll get a list of records to gather and steps to discuss with an attorney.
This is general information, not legal advice. It doesn't create an attorney-client relationship. Only a licensed attorney in your state can advise on your situation.
Request debt validation
Within 30 days of first contact, send a written request for validation. The collector must stop all collection activity until they produce proof you owe the debt.
Send a cease-communication letter
You can demand in writing that a collector stop contacting you. After receiving it, they may only contact you once more, to say they'll stop, or to notify you of a lawsuit. See how a cease and desist letter to a debt collector works and what it should say.
What collectors cannot do
- Call before 8am or after 9pm
- Contact you at work if you tell them not to
- Threaten arrest, wage garnishment, or lawsuits they can't take
- Contact family, neighbors, or coworkers about your debt
- Use profanity, threats, or repeated calls to harass
- Misrepresent the amount or legal status of the debt
How to sue
Each FDCPA violation entitles you to up to $1,000 in statutory damages, plus actual damages and attorney's fees. Most consumer-protection attorneys take these cases on contingency.
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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.
The general-purpose C&D template with statute citations.
Estimate what a debt collector owes you before you send your letter.
The full checklist of illegal collector behavior.
How to negotiate pay-for-delete and lump-sum offers.
The official channel for reporting FDCPA violations.