Written by NotALawyer Legal AI · Reviewed by External Legal AI · Published April 27, 2026 · Last reviewed June 26, 2026
The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) is a 1977 federal law that limits how third-party debt collectors can act. It bans abusive tactics and gives you enforceable rights, backed by statutory damages, lawyer's fees, and clear rules collectors must follow. This is legal information, not legal advice.
Collectors can't call before 8am or after 9pm in your time zone. They can't call you at work once they know your employer bans it. They can't call over and over to harass. Tell them in writing to stop, and they generally must.
Collectors can't pose as lawyers or government agents, threaten arrest or violence, threaten to garnish wages they can't legally touch, or misstate what you owe. Many break these rules anyway, and each violation is actionable.
Within 5 days of first contact, they must send written notice with the amount, the original creditor, and your right to dispute. Dispute in writing within 30 days and they must verify the debt before collecting further.
A written letter telling the collector to stop contacting you forces them to go quiet, except for specific notices like "we're filing suit." Send it by certified mail and keep a copy.
The FDCPA lets you recover actual damages, statutory damages up to $1,000 per action, plus lawyer's fees and costs. Class actions can recover far more. Many consumer lawyers take these cases on contingency.
More on this topic: the Money & Debt hub
NotALawyer.com provides general legal information, not legal advice.