If you’re behind in
paying your bills, you can expect
to hear from a debt collector. This
includes collection agencies,
lawyers who collect debts on a
regular basis, and companies that
buy delinquent debts and then try
to collect them.
What Are My Rights?
The Federal Trade Commission
(FTC), the nation’s consumer protection
agency, enforces the Fair
Debt Collection Practices Act,
which requires that debt collectors
treat you fairly when trying to collect
on personal, family and
household debts. This includes
money you owe on a personal
credit card account, an auto loan,
a medical bill or your mortgage.
In short:
• A debt collector may contact
you in person, by mail, telephone,
telegram or fax, but may not contact
you at inconvenient times or
places—for example, before 8 a.m.
or after 9 p.m.—unless you agree.
A
debt collector may not contact you
at work if the debt collector is aware
that your employer prohibits it.
- Debt collectors must send you
a written “validation notice”
telling you how much money you
owe within five days after they
first contact you. This notice must
also include the name of the creditor
to whom you owe the money
and how to proceed if you don’t
think you owe the money.
- If a debt collector is trying to
collect more than one debt from
you, the collector must apply any
payment you make to the debt you
select. Equally important, a debt
collector may not apply a payment
to a debt you don’t think you owe.
- If an attorney is representing
you about the debt, the debt collector must contact the attorney
rather than you. If you don’t have
an attorney, a collector may contact
other people only to find out
your address, your phone number
and where you work.
- Debt collectors may not
harass, oppress or abuse you or
any third parties they contact
about you.
- A debt collector may not lie or
mislead anyone when collecting a
debt. For example, a debt collector
may not threaten to have you
arrested.
Where Do I Report Violations?
If you think that a debt collector
has violated the law, report it
to the FTC. File your complaint at
www.ftc.gov/complaint. Your complaint
gives law enforcement a
lead to follow up on and may stop
it from happening to someone
else.
For more tips on credit and debt,
visit www.ftc.gov/MoneyMatters or
call toll-free, 1-877-FTC-HELP
(1-877-382-4357).
Dealing With Debt Collectors
Did You Know?
Consumers have rights
when it comes to debt collection.
To learn more, visit
www.ftc.gov/MoneyMatters.
Federal law requires that debt
collectors treat you fairly when
trying to collect on personal,
family and household debts.
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