Your FDCPA rights
Harassment & Abuse by Debt Collectors
The FDCPA prohibits debt collector harassment and abuse. Learn what counts as illegal harassment and how to stop it.
Federal Law Protects You
The FDCPA Section 806 explicitly prohibits harassment, oppression, and abuse in debt collection. These protections are federal law — violations can result in lawsuits and fines.
What do people ask about harassment & abuse by debt collectors?
What is considered harassment by a debt collector?
Under the FDCPA, harassment includes: repeated or continuous phone calls intended to annoy, abuse, or harass; using profane or obscene language; threatening violence or other illegal means; publishing your name on a "deadbeats" list; and calling without identifying themselves as a debt collector.
Can a debt collector call me multiple times a day?
There is a presumption of harassment if a collector calls more than 7 times within 7 days or within 7 days of a phone conversation about the debt. Courts look at the pattern of calls — one call per day is generally acceptable; repeated calls on the same day may constitute harassment.
What can I do if a collector harasses me?
Document every contact (date, time, caller name, what was said). Send a cease-communication letter via certified mail. File complaints with the CFPB at consumerfinance.gov/complaint, the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov, and your state attorney general. Consult a consumer law attorney — many take FDCPA cases on contingency.
Do I have to prove I was harmed to sue for harassment?
No. FDCPA statutory damages up to $1,000 are available without proving actual financial harm. You simply need to show the harassment occurred. Attorney fees are also recoverable, so many attorneys take these cases for free.
Related Resources
This information is for educational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Laws vary by state. Consult a licensed attorney for guidance specific to your situation.
Read our methodology - how this data is sourced, computed, and verified.
Related
Every figure on PlainCollector is rendered directly from federal source data, no number is typed in by an editor. This page draws directly on federal source data, no figure is typed in by an editor. See our editorial standards & corrections policy, the methodology behind these numbers, or report a data error.
| Publisher | PlainCollector |
| Sources | the CFPB Consumer Complaint Database |