Debt Collectors & the FDCPA
A debt collector cannot do whatever it wants. The federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act bans harassment, threats, lies, and calls at the wrong time or place — and gives you the power to demand proof of the debt, dispute it, and make them stop contacting you.
All Debt Collectors & the FDCPA guides
- Can a Collection Agency Call You Every Day or Harass You?
Collectors can call but can't harass you. Learn FDCPA limits on call frequency, your cease-and-desist rights, and how to document and sue for violations.
- Can a Collection Agency Call Your Job, Employer, or Family Members?
Can a debt collector call your job or relatives? Federal FDCPA rules on third-party contact, work calls, and how to claim $1,000 in statutory damages.
- Can a Collection Agency Charge Interest, Add Fees, or Double Your Debt?
Can a collection agency add interest, tack on fees, or double your debt? What federal law allows, where state law caps it, and how to dispute illegal charges.
- Can a Collection Agency Collect on a Charged-Off or Deceased Person's Debt?
Yes, a collection agency can pursue charged-off and estate debt, but with strict limits. Learn your federal FDCPA rights and how state rules differ.
- Can a Collection Agency Come to Your House or Show Up at Your Job?
Can a debt collector come to your house or job? What the FDCPA allows, what's illegal intimidation, how to tell a process server apart, and how to push back.
- Can a Collection Agency Find Your Bank Account or Where You Work?
Yes, collectors can often find your bank and employer through skip-tracing and court discovery. Learn your FDCPA and FCRA rights and when a credit pull is illegal.
- Can a Collection Agency Force You to Pay or Refuse a Payment Plan?
A collection agency can't force you to pay or arrest you, and it can refuse your payment plan. Learn your FDCPA rights, validation, and settlement strategy.
- Can a Collection Agency Garnish a Joint Bank Account?
Yes, a joint bank account can sometimes be garnished for one owner's debt, but rules vary by state. Learn your protections and how to claim exemptions.
- Can a Collection Agency Garnish Social Security, Disability, or Your Pension?
Federal law shields Social Security, disability, and most pensions from ordinary debt collectors. Learn your protections and how to fight a wrongful levy.
- Can a Collection Agency Garnish Your Wages? (And How to Stop It)
A collection agency usually can't garnish your wages without first suing and winning a court judgment. Here's how garnishment works and how to stop it.
- Can a Collection Agency Hurt or Lower Your Credit Score?
Yes, a collection agency can report you to the credit bureaus and lower your score. Learn how it works under the FDCPA and FCRA, and how to fight back.
- Can a Collection Agency Freeze, Levy, or Take Money From Your Bank Account?
A collection agency usually needs a court judgment before it can freeze or levy your bank account. Learn the process, your exemptions, and how to fight back.
- Can a Collection Agency Put a Lien on Your House, Car, or Property?
A collection agency usually can't put a lien on your house, car, or property until it sues you and wins a court judgment. Here's how it works.
- Can a Collection Agency Put You in Jail for Debt?
No, you can't be jailed for owing a debt in the U.S. Learn why debtors' prisons are gone, when arrest warrants do happen, and how to report illegal jail threats.
- Can a Collection Agency Re-Age or Report an Old Debt as New?
Re-aging an old debt to make it look new is a clear FCRA and FDCPA violation. Learn how to spot date manipulation, dispute it, and when to sue.
- Can a Collection Agency Remove a Collection From Your Credit Report?
Yes, a collection agency can remove a collection from your credit report. Learn how pay-for-delete, disputes, and FCRA rights work to clean up your credit.
- Can a Collection Agency Repossess or Take Your Car?
Whether a collection agency can take your car depends on whether the debt is secured by the vehicle. Learn your rights, notice rules, and how to fight a wrongful repo.
- Can a Collection Agency Sue You? What Happens If You're Taken to Court
Yes, a collection agency can sue you over an unpaid debt. Learn the court process, statute of limitations, your defenses, and the deadline to respond.
- Can a Collection Agency Take Your Tax Refund?
A private collection agency can't seize your federal tax refund directly, but the money is vulnerable once it lands in your bank. Here's how to protect it.
- Can a 3rd-Party Debt Collector or Debt Buyer Legally Sue You?
Yes, a third-party collector or debt buyer can sue you, but they must prove they own the debt. Learn the FDCPA standing defense and how to respond.
- Alabama Debt Collection Laws: Your Rights Beyond the FDCPA
How Alabama debt collection laws work: no state collector license, the Alabama Deceptive Trade Practices Act, a 3-year limit on card debt, and how to complain.
- Alaska Debt Collection Laws: Your Rights Beyond the FDCPA
How Alaska's collection-agency licensing law, UTPCPA, and wage-exemption rules protect debtors beyond the federal FDCPA, plus how to complain to the Alaska AG.
- Arizona Debt Collection Laws: Your Rights Beyond the FDCPA
Arizona debt collection laws explained: Prop 209's 10% wage garnishment cap, collector licensing, the statute of limitations, and how to file an Arizona AG complaint.
- Arkansas Debt Collection Laws: Your Rights Beyond the FDCPA
How Arkansas debt collection law goes beyond the FDCPA: collector licensing, wage and property exemptions, the statute of limitations, and filing a complaint with the Arkansas AG.
- California Debt Collection Laws: Your Rights Beyond the FDCPA
California debt collection laws under the Rosenthal Act and DCLA give consumers protections beyond the federal FDCPA. Learn your rights and how to file a complaint.
- Colorado Debt Collection Laws: Your Rights Beyond the FDCPA
How Colorado's Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, collector licensing, and 20% wage-garnishment cap protect you beyond the federal FDCPA, plus how to file a complaint.
- Connecticut Debt Collection Laws: Your Rights Beyond the FDCPA
Connecticut requires debt collectors to be licensed and limits wage garnishment more than federal law. Learn your rights and how to file a complaint in Connecticut.
- Delaware Debt Collection Laws: Your Rights Beyond the FDCPA
How Delaware debt collection laws protect you beyond the federal FDCPA: the 15% wage garnishment cap, the 3-year statute of limitations, and filing a complaint with the Delaware AG.
- Florida Debt Collection Laws: Your Rights Beyond the FDCPA
Florida's FCCPA gives debtors stronger rights than the federal FDCPA, covers original creditors, and requires out-of-state collectors to register. How to complain in Florida.
- Georgia Debt Collection Laws: Your Rights Beyond the FDCPA
How Georgia debt collection law works beyond the federal FDCPA: the Fair Business Practices Act, statute of limitations, wage garnishment caps, and filing a complaint with Georgia's Attorney General.
- Hawaii Debt Collection Laws: Your Rights Beyond the FDCPA
How Hawaii's collection-agency registration law (HRS Chapter 443B), its 6-year debt limit, and wage-garnishment rules protect you beyond the federal FDCPA.
- Idaho Debt Collection Laws: Your Rights Beyond the FDCPA
How Idaho debt collection law goes beyond the federal FDCPA: collection-agency licensing through the Idaho Department of Finance and filing complaints with the Idaho AG.
- Illinois Debt Collection Laws: Your Rights Beyond the FDCPA
How Illinois debt collection laws protect you beyond the federal FDCPA: collector licensing, the 15% wage-garnishment cap, and filing an Attorney General complaint.
- Indiana Debt Collection Laws: Your Rights Beyond the FDCPA
How Indiana debt collection laws protect consumers beyond the federal FDCPA, including collection-agency licensing, the 6-year statute of limitations, and AG complaints.
- Iowa Debt Collection Laws: Your Rights Beyond the FDCPA
Iowa debt collection laws under the Iowa Consumer Credit Code go beyond the federal FDCPA, covering original creditors, garnishment caps, and AG complaints.
- Kansas Debt Collection Laws: Your Rights Beyond the FDCPA
How Kansas debt collection law works: the 3- and 5-year statutes of limitations, the 25% wage cap, the Kansas Consumer Protection Act, and how to file an AG complaint.
- Kentucky Debt Collection Laws: Your Rights Beyond the FDCPA
How Kentucky debt collection law works: no state collector licensing, the Consumer Protection Act limits, statute of limitations, garnishment caps, and how to file an AG complaint.
- Louisiana Debt Collection Laws: Your Rights Beyond the FDCPA
How Louisiana debt collection law works: prescription periods, no state collector license, LUTPCPL protections, wage garnishment limits, and filing an AG complaint.
- Maine Debt Collection Laws: Your Rights Beyond the FDCPA
How Maine debt collection laws protect you beyond the federal FDCPA, including state licensing rules, the Maine Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, and how to complain to Maine's AG.
- Maryland Debt Collection Laws: Your Rights Beyond the FDCPA
Maryland debt collection laws go beyond the federal FDCPA: the MCDCA covers original creditors, collectors must be licensed, and the AG takes complaints.
- Massachusetts Debt Collection Laws: Your Rights Beyond the FDCPA
How Massachusetts debt collection law protects you beyond the federal FDCPA: licensing, the twice-a-week call limit, wage exemptions, and how to complain to the AG.
- Michigan Debt Collection Laws: Your Rights Beyond the FDCPA
Michigan debt collection laws give consumers rights beyond the federal FDCPA, including state statutory damages, collector licensing, and AG complaints.
- Minnesota Debt Collection Laws: Your Rights Beyond the FDCPA
How Minnesota debt collection laws protect you beyond the federal FDCPA: collector licensing, wage-garnishment limits, and filing a complaint with the Minnesota AG.
- Mississippi Debt Collection Laws: Your Rights Beyond the FDCPA
How Mississippi debt collection law works: the 3-year statute of limitations, no state collector license, wage-garnishment limits, and how to complain to the AG.
- Missouri Debt Collection Laws: Your Rights Beyond the FDCPA
How Missouri debt collection laws work: the MMPA, no statewide collector license, the 10% head-of-household garnishment cap, and filing a complaint with Missouri's AG.
- Montana Debt Collection Laws: Your Rights Beyond the FDCPA
How Montana debt collection law goes beyond the FDCPA: collection-agency licensing, the 8-year written-contract limit, garnishment caps, and how to file an Attorney General complaint.
- Nebraska Debt Collection Laws: Your Rights Beyond the FDCPA
How Nebraska debt collection laws protect consumers beyond the FDCPA: collection-agency licensing, garnishment caps, the statute of limitations, and how to complain.
- Nevada Debt Collection Laws: Your Rights Beyond the FDCPA
How Nevada debt collection laws protect you beyond the federal FDCPA: collector licensing under NRS 649, medical-debt notice, garnishment caps, and how to complain.
- New Hampshire Debt Collection Laws: Your Rights Beyond the FDCPA
New Hampshire debt collection laws: how RSA 358-C, the 3-year statute of limitations, strong wage protections, and the NH Attorney General protect you beyond the FDCPA.
- New Jersey Debt Collection Laws: Your Rights Beyond the FDCPA
How New Jersey debt collection law protects consumers beyond the federal FDCPA: the Consumer Fraud Act, the 10% wage-garnishment cap, and how to file an AG complaint.
- New Mexico Debt Collection Laws: Your Rights Beyond the FDCPA
New Mexico debt collection laws: collection agencies must be licensed, the 6-year statute of limitations, wage garnishment limits, and how to file an AG complaint.
- New York Debt Collection Laws: Your Rights Beyond the FDCPA
How New York debt collection laws protect you beyond the FDCPA: a 3-year statute of limitations, DFS rules, wage and bank protections, and how to complain to the NY AG.
- North Carolina Debt Collection Laws: Your Rights Beyond the FDCPA
How North Carolina's Debt Collection Act, collection-agency licensing, and wage-garnishment ban protect consumers beyond the federal FDCPA, plus how to complain.
- North Dakota Debt Collection Laws: Your Rights Beyond the FDCPA
How North Dakota's collection-agency licensing law, garnishment limits, and Attorney General consumer protection give you rights beyond the federal FDCPA.
- Ohio Debt Collection Laws: Your Rights Beyond the FDCPA
How Ohio debt collection law protects consumers beyond the federal FDCPA: the Consumer Sales Practices Act, the 6-year statute of limitations, garnishment limits, and filing a complaint with the Ohio Attorney General.
- Oklahoma Debt Collection Laws: Your Rights Beyond the FDCPA
How Oklahoma debt collection law works: no state collection-agency license, the Oklahoma Consumer Protection Act, garnishment limits, and filing an AG complaint.
- Oregon Debt Collection Laws: Your Rights Beyond the FDCPA
How Oregon's Unlawful Debt Collection Practices Act, collector registration rules, and DOJ complaint process protect consumers beyond the federal FDCPA.
- Pennsylvania Debt Collection Laws: Your Rights Beyond the FDCPA
Pennsylvania debt collection laws explained: the FCEUA, protections that beat the FDCPA, near-total wage-garnishment ban, and how to file an AG complaint.
- Rhode Island Debt Collection Laws: Your Rights Beyond the FDCPA
How Rhode Island debt collection laws protect you beyond the federal FDCPA, including the 10-year statute of limitations and how to complain to the RI Attorney General.
- South Carolina Debt Collection Laws: Your Rights Beyond the FDCPA
South Carolina debt collection laws: the state Consumer Protection Code, the broad ban on wage garnishment for consumer debt, the 3-year statute of limitations, and how to complain.
- South Dakota Debt Collection Laws: Your Rights Beyond the FDCPA
How South Dakota protects consumers from abusive debt collectors, its 6-year statute of limitations, garnishment limits, and how to complain to the SD Attorney General.
- Tennessee Debt Collection Laws: Your Rights Beyond the FDCPA
Tennessee licenses debt collectors through the state Collection Service Board. Learn your rights beyond the federal FDCPA and how to complain to the AG.
- Texas Debt Collection Laws: Your Rights Beyond the FDCPA
How Texas debt collection laws protect you beyond the federal FDCPA: the Texas Debt Collection Act, collector bonding rules, wage-garnishment ban, and how to complain to the Texas AG.
- Utah Debt Collection Laws: Your Rights Beyond the FDCPA
How Utah debt collection laws protect you beyond the federal FDCPA: statutes of limitations, wage garnishment caps, exemptions, and how to file a complaint in Utah.
- Vermont Debt Collection Laws: Your Rights Beyond the FDCPA
How Vermont debt collection law goes beyond the federal FDCPA, including CP 104, wage-garnishment limits, and filing a complaint with the Vermont AG.
- Virginia Debt Collection Laws: Your Rights Beyond the FDCPA
Virginia debt collection laws go beyond the federal FDCPA, covering original creditors too. Learn your rights and how to complain to the Virginia AG.
- Washington Debt Collection Laws: Your Rights Beyond the FDCPA
How Washington's Collection Agency Act and Consumer Protection Act protect you beyond the federal FDCPA, plus how to file a complaint with the Washington Attorney General.
- West Virginia Debt Collection Laws: Your Rights Beyond the FDCPA
West Virginia's Consumer Credit and Protection Act regulates debt collectors and original creditors, caps garnishment at 20%, and is enforced by the WV Attorney General.
- Wisconsin Debt Collection Laws: Your Rights Beyond the FDCPA
Wisconsin debt collection laws explained: the Wisconsin Consumer Act, the 15-day right-to-cure notice, collection-agency licensing, and how to file an AG complaint.
- Wyoming Debt Collection Laws: Your Rights Beyond the FDCPA
How Wyoming's Collection Agency Act, licensing rules, and Attorney General consumer protections give Wyoming residents rights beyond the federal FDCPA.