How to Stop Debt Collector Calls

Your phone rings, and it’s an unknown number. You answer, and someone is asking about a debt — maybe one you recognize, maybe one you don’t. The calls come at inconvenient times, sometimes multiple times a day. It’s stressful, it’s disruptive, and it can feel like it will never stop.

Here’s the thing: you have legal rights that control how and when debt collectors can contact you. Federal law gives you specific tools to limit — and even completely stop — those calls. Let’s walk through exactly how to use them.

Know Your Rights Under the FDCPA

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) is a federal law that regulates how third-party debt collectors can behave. It doesn’t apply to original creditors (like your credit card company collecting on their own account), but it does apply to collection agencies, debt buyers, and attorneys collecting debts on behalf of others.

Under the FDCPA, debt collectors cannot:

• Call you before 8 AM or after 9 PM in your local time zone
• Contact you at work if you tell them your employer doesn’t allow it
• Use threats, harassment, or abusive language
• Lie about who they are or the amount you owe
• Threaten legal action they don’t actually intend to take
• Discuss your debt with your neighbors, family members (other than your spouse), or coworkers
• Call repeatedly with the intent to annoy or harass you

If a collector is doing any of these things, they’re breaking the law — and you have recourse.

Step 1: Request Debt Validation

The single most important step when a collector contacts you is to request debt validation. Under the FDCPA, a collector must send you a written validation notice within five days of their first contact. This notice must include the amount owed, the name of the original creditor, and a statement that you have 30 days to dispute the debt.

Here’s what to do: within those 30 days, send a written letter requesting that the collector verify the debt. Your letter should ask them to provide:

• The exact amount owed, including a breakdown of principal, interest, and fees
• The name and address of the original creditor
• Proof that they have the legal right to collect this debt
• A copy of the original signed agreement (if one exists)

Send the letter by certified mail with return receipt requested so you have proof it was delivered.

Once the collector receives your validation request, they must stop all collection activity until they provide adequate verification. If they can’t prove the debt is valid, they can’t legally continue collecting.

This step is crucial because debt records contain errors more often than you’d expect. The amount might be wrong. The debt might not be yours. The statute of limitations might have expired. Or the debt may have already been paid but the records weren’t updated.

Step 2: Send a Cease-and-Desist Letter

If you want the calls to stop entirely, you have the right to send a cease-and-desist letter (sometimes called a “stop contact” letter). Under the FDCPA, once a collector receives this written request, they must stop contacting you — with only two exceptions. They can contact you once more to confirm they’re stopping, and they can contact you to notify you of a specific action (like filing a lawsuit).

Your cease-and-desist letter should include:

• Your full name and address
• The account number or reference number from the collector’s correspondence
• A clear statement that you are exercising your right under the FDCPA to demand they stop all further communication
• A statement that any future contact should be in writing only (optional but smart)
• The date and your signature

Send this by certified mail with return receipt requested, and keep a copy for your records. This creates a paper trail that protects you if the collector violates your request.

Step 3: Document Everything

From the very first call, start keeping records. Every interaction with a collector could become evidence if they violate the law. Document:

• Date and time of every call or contact
• The name of the person who called and the company they represent
• What was said — write down the key points immediately after the call
• Any voicemails — save them (screenshot or back up if they’re on your phone)
• All written correspondence — keep letters, emails, and texts

If a collector violates the FDCPA, these records become your evidence. They can support a complaint to regulators or even a lawsuit.

How to File Complaints

If a collector breaks the rules — calling outside allowed hours, making threats, continuing to contact you after receiving your cease-and-desist letter — you can file complaints with:

• The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) at consumerfinance.gov/complaint. The CFPB forwards your complaint to the company and tracks their response.
• Your state Attorney General’s office. Many states have their own debt collection laws that offer additional protections beyond the federal FDCPA.
• The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at reportfraud.ftc.gov. While the FTC doesn’t resolve individual cases, complaints help them identify patterns and take enforcement action against companies.

You can also consult a consumer rights attorney. Lawyers who handle FDCPA cases often work on contingency, meaning you don’t pay unless you win. If a collector has violated the FDCPA, you may be entitled to up to $1,000 in statutory damages per case, plus actual damages and attorney’s fees.

The Important Warning: Stopping Contact Doesn’t Erase the Debt

Here’s something you need to understand clearly: telling a collector to stop calling you does not make the debt go away. The debt still exists. The collector (or the original creditor) can still:

• Report the debt to credit bureaus, which will hurt your credit score
• File a lawsuit to collect the debt
• Sell the debt to another collector, who may start the process over (though your cease-and-desist applies only to the specific collector you sent it to)

A cease-and-desist letter is a tool to stop harassment, not a strategy for resolving the debt itself. You’ll still need to deal with the underlying obligation.

When to Negotiate vs. When to Stop Contact

Sometimes the smartest move is to negotiate — not avoid the calls. Consider negotiating when:

• The debt is valid and you know you owe it
• You can afford a settlement (even a partial lump sum)
• The statute of limitations hasn’t expired and you want to avoid a lawsuit
• You want the account resolved and potentially removed from your credit report

Consider stopping contact when:

• The debt isn’t yours or the amount is wrong and the collector can’t validate it
• The statute of limitations has expired and you don’t want to risk restarting it by making a payment or acknowledging the debt
• The collector is harassing you and refusing to communicate professionally
• You’re pursuing bankruptcy or another legal remedy and your attorney advises limiting contact

If you do negotiate, always get the agreement in writing before sending any money. A verbal promise from a collector isn’t worth anything.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can debt collectors contact me by text message or social media?

Yes, but with limitations. A 2021 update to the FDCPA rules (Regulation F) allows collectors to contact you by text, email, and even social media direct messages. However, they must identify themselves as debt collectors, give you a way to opt out of that communication channel, and they cannot post anything publicly visible on your social media. You can tell them in writing to stop using any of these methods.

What if a collector calls about a debt I already paid?

Request validation immediately. Send a written dispute letter within 30 days of first contact and include any proof of payment you have — bank statements, canceled checks, or confirmation letters. If the collector can’t validate the debt after your dispute, they must stop collecting.

Do these rules apply to my original creditor too?

The FDCPA specifically covers third-party debt collectors, not original creditors. However, many states have their own laws (like the Rosenthal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act in California) that extend similar protections to original creditors. Check your state’s consumer protection laws or contact your state Attorney General’s office to find out what protections apply.

Bottom Line

You have real, enforceable rights when it comes to debt collector calls. Request debt validation within 30 days of first contact, send a cease-and-desist letter if you want the calls to stop, and document every interaction. If a collector breaks the rules, file complaints with the CFPB, FTC, and your state Attorney General. Just remember that stopping the calls doesn’t resolve the debt — you’ll still need a plan for dealing with what you owe.