What are your rights when a debt collector contacts you?

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act governs third-party collectors and gives you specific rights. Within five days of first contact they must send a validation notice stating the amount, the creditor, and your right to dispute. If you dispute the debt in writing within thirty days, they must stop collection until they provide verification. You can also send a written request to cease contact entirely, after which they may only tell you what action they intend to take. Recording these requests in writing and keeping copies is what makes the rights enforceable.

The prohibited conduct list is worth knowing because violations are common. Collectors cannot call before 8am or after 9pm your time, contact you at work after you tell them not to, use profane or threatening language, threaten arrest or legal action they cannot or do not intend to take, discuss your debt with third parties other than your spouse or attorney, or misrepresent themselves as attorneys or government officials. Updated rules also govern electronic contact frequency and require an opt-out in email and text communications. Violations can be reported to the CFPB, the FTC, and your state attorney general, and the statute allows private suits with statutory damages.

Two things to verify before paying anything. First, that the debt is actually yours and the amount is correct, since debts are sold repeatedly and records degrade, and debt buyers pursue people with similar names and long-settled balances routinely. Second, whether the statute of limitations has expired, which varies by state and debt type and generally runs three to six years. A time-barred debt can still be requested but cannot be successfully sued on, and critically, making a partial payment or acknowledging the debt in writing can restart the clock in some states, which is a trap that collectors of very old debt are specifically working toward. Scam collectors are also widespread, so verify the collector's identity independently before providing any bank or card information.