Personal Injury · Legal Guide
Debt Collection Harassment: Know Your Rights Under the FDCPA
Debt collectors cannot call you at all hours, threaten you, or lie to you. Federal law gives you powerful rights — and violators can be forced to pay you damages. Here's what you need to know.
If you're dealing with aggressive debt collectors, you may feel like you have no power. You're wrong. The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) imposes strict rules on debt collectors — and violations entitle you to damages.
What Debt Collectors Are Prohibited From Doing
- Calling before 8 AM or after 9 PM local time
- Calling repeatedly to annoy or harass
- Using profane or abusive language
- Threatening violence or illegal actions
- Claiming to be an attorney or government representative
- Threatening to sue on debts they cannot legally pursue
- Contacting you at work if told not to
Your Rights Under the FDCPA
- Right to request validation — within 30 days of first contact, you can demand proof the debt is valid
- Right to stop contact — send a written cease communication letter and collectors must stop (except to notify you of legal action)
- Right to sue — FDCPA violations entitle you to up to $1,000 in statutory damages, actual damages, and attorney's fees
How to Document Harassment
Keep a call log with dates, times, and notes on what was said. Save voicemails. If possible, record calls (check your state's recording laws). This documentation is your evidence for a lawsuit.