What Debt Collectors Can and Can't Do: Your Rights Under the FDCPA

The call comes at dinnertime, or maybe it’s a letter, or a text. It’s a debt collector, and you’re not sure what they’re allowed to do — or what you’re allowed to do back.

Here’s the good news: a federal law — the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) — plus a newer set of CFPB rules called Regulation F spell out exactly when collectors can contact you, what they have to tell you, and where the line is. Knowing those rules turns an intimidating call into a conversation you can manage.

This article covers the federal rules. Your state may add extra protections on top of them — some states have their own versions of these laws with stricter limits, so it’s worth checking what applies where you live.

Which collectors, which debts

Everything in this article comes from two federal rulebooks: the FDCPA and the CFPB’s Regulation F. Between them, they set the contact rules, the disclosures, and the dispute process described below.

Which kinds of collectors do these rules apply to, and which kinds of debts do they cover? Those are common questions, and the CFPB’s debt collection consumer tools answer them directly. If you’re not sure your situation is covered, start there.

When and where collectors can contact you

The rules put real limits on the when and where:

No calls before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. in your local time. (15 U.S.C. §1692c(a)(1))
No contact at work if the collector knows — or has reason to know — that your employer doesn’t allow those calls. (15 U.S.C. §1692c(a)(3))

That second one matters more than people realize. If taking collection calls at work could get you in trouble, telling the collector that once is often enough to invoke this protection.

The validation notice and your 30-day dispute window

Within five days of first contacting you, a collector must send a written notice that tells you:

how much you supposedly owe,
the name of the creditor, and
that you have 30 days to dispute the debt in writing. (15 U.S.C. §1692g(a))

That 30-day window is a real tool, not a formality. If you send a written dispute within it, the collector generally has to pause collection of the disputed debt until it obtains verification of the debt and mails it to you. (15 U.S.C. §1692g(b))

Two things this does not mean, said plainly:

Disputing doesn’t erase a debt you actually owe. It forces the collector to verify it before continuing to collect.
The clock is the calendar — put the dispute in writing and keep a copy. A phone call doesn’t give you the same documented protection.

Stopping or limiting contact: what a letter does and doesn’t do

If you write to a collector and tell them to stop contacting you, the law backs you up — with limits. After receiving your letter, the collector may contact you again only to:

say there will be no further contact, or
notify you of a specific action, such as filing a lawsuit. (15 U.S.C. §1692c(c))

This is the part people get wrong, so it’s worth repeating: a cease-communication letter limits contact, not the debt. The underlying obligation doesn’t disappear, and the collector can still sue you. What the letter ends is the phone calls and letters — not what you owe.

What Regulation F added: call limits, email, and texts

The FDCPA is decades old; Regulation F, in effect since November 30, 2021, updated the rules for how collection actually happens now. Two highlights:

The 7-in-7 limit. Generally, a collector may place no more than 7 telephone calls within 7 consecutive days about a particular debt — and no call within a week after a phone conversation about that debt. (12 CFR §1006.14)
Email and texts are covered too. Regulation F governs collectors’ use of email and text messages, including required disclosures, so digital contact isn’t a loophole. (12 CFR Part 1006)

One nuance to avoid absolutes on: the 7-in-7 rule has exceptions — certain court-related and other specific calls don’t count the same way. The rule text at the link below has the details.

When a collector crosses the line — and where to complain

If a collector ignores these rules — calling after 9 p.m., contacting you at work after being told not to, or refusing to pause collection after a timely written dispute — you have somewhere to go. You can file a complaint with:

the CFPB through its online complaint portal,
the FTC, and
your state attorney general.

And if you’ve been sued or have a judgment against you, skip the blog posts and talk to a licensed attorney in your state — that’s a legal situation, and this article isn’t legal advice.

The short version

Collectors can’t call before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m., and can’t call you at work if your employer forbids it.
You get a written validation notice within five days of first contact, and you have 30 days to dispute in writing — which pauses collection of the disputed debt until they verify it.
A cease-communication letter stops the contact (with narrow exceptions), not the debt.
Regulation F caps calls at generally 7 per 7 days per debt and covers email and texts too.
If a collector breaks these rules, complain to the CFPB, the FTC, or your state attorney general.

More plain-English guides live in the Debt Relief Tracker resources library. If a debt has already gone to a lawsuit and judgment, Wage Garnishment: How Much Can They Take From Your Paycheck? covers the federal caps on what can be garnished and when a court order is required.

Sources: 15 U.S.C. §1692c and §1692g (FDCPA, Cornell LII); 12 CFR Part 1006, §1006.14 (CFPB Regulation F, eCFR); CFPB debt collection consumer tools and complaint portal; FTC debt hub (consumer.ftc.gov/topics/debt).

Required disclaimers: Debt Relief Tracker is not a debt relief company and is not affiliated with any provider. This article is educational and is not financial, legal, or tax advice. If you’ve been sued or have a judgment against you, consult a licensed attorney in your state.