The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act is a federal law that regulates how debt collectors can contact you when trying to collect a debt. This law is in Chapter 41, Subchapter V in Title 15 of the U.S. Code.

Section 1692c(c) states that a debt collector must stop contacting the consumer if the consumer askes them in writing to cease all contact. There are only a few circumstances in which they can continue to contact you:

• to confirm that they will stop contacting you in the future; or
• to tell you that they plan to take a specific action, like filing a lawsuit.

Several organizations have created sample letters that consumers can use to ask a debt collector to stop contact. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has one, as does the National Consumer Law Center.

The Federal Trade Commission’s Debt Collection FAQs article recommends sending the letter by certified mail and keeping a copy of the letter for your personal records.

Related FAQs & Guides

FAQs

• What is the statute of limitation on debt?
• Can debt collectors call my work? Can they call my family or boss?

Guides

• Debt Collection