Debt Collection Calls: How Often Can Collectors Call, and How to Make It Stop

Key takeaways

• Under Regulation F, a debt collector is presumed to be harassing you if it calls about a particular debt more than seven times within seven days, or within seven days after a phone conversation with you about that debt.
• Calls before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. your local time are presumed inconvenient and are generally not allowed.
• You can tell a collector, in writing or verbally, not to contact you at work or through a specific channel, and they must respect it.
• A written request to stop all communication generally ends contact, though it does not erase the debt.

Constant collection calls are one of the most stressful parts of being in debt. The phone rings at work, at dinner and on weekends, sometimes from several numbers. Federal law limits how, when and how often third-party debt collectors can contact you. This guide explains the rules in plain English and gives you practical steps to take back control.

Who these rules apply to

The rules below come from the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s Regulation F. They apply to third-party debt collectors: collection agencies, debt buyers and many law firms that collect debts. They generally do not apply to an original creditor collecting its own account, although many states have similar laws that do. Massachusetts, for example, has its own debt collection regulations; see Massachusetts debt collection laws.

The 7-in-7 call frequency rule

Regulation F sets a clear benchmark. A debt collector is presumed to violate the law if it places a phone call about a particular debt:

• more than seven times within seven consecutive days, or
• within seven days after having a telephone conversation with you about that debt.

Points to know:

• The limit applies per debt. If you have several debts with the same collector, it can call about each one, although calls about multiple student loans serviced together are treated as one.
• Unanswered calls and voicemails count toward the seven calls. A conversation resets the clock for seven days.
• The presumption can be rebutted by the collector in unusual circumstances, and a collector can still violate the law with fewer calls if its conduct is harassing.
• Calls you make to the collector, and calls you agreed to in writing within the past seven days, generally do not count.

Time and place restrictions

• No calls before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. in your time zone, unless you agree.
• No calls at a time or place you have said is inconvenient. If you say “don’t call me on Sunday” or “don’t call me before noon,” they must respect it.
• No calls at work if the collector knows or has reason to know your employer prohibits such calls. Tell them, and they must stop calling you there.

Texts, emails and social media

Regulation F allows debt collectors to contact you by text message and email, but with rules:

• Every electronic message must include a clear, simple way to opt out of further messages through that channel.
• Collectors should not use a work email address you have not used to communicate with them, in most cases.
• On social media, collectors may send private messages but cannot post publicly about your debt, and must identify themselves as debt collectors before sending friend or connection requests.

You can restrict a channel at any time (“Do not text me.” “Do not email me at this address.”).

Voicemails and calls to other people

• Collectors can leave a “limited-content message” that includes a business name not indicating debt collection, a request to call back, a contact number and a way to opt out, without revealing the debt to anyone else who might hear it.
• Collectors generally cannot discuss your debt with third parties such as family, neighbors or your employer. They may contact others only to obtain your location information, usually once, and without mentioning the debt. Exceptions include your spouse, a parent if you are a minor, a guardian, and your attorney.
• After a death, collectors may speak with the person who has authority to pay debts from the estate. DebtRemediationTools.org explains this in what happens to debt when you die.

Things collectors can never do

Regardless of how often they call, collectors may not:

• Threaten violence, use obscene language or call repeatedly to annoy you
• Threaten arrest or legal action they cannot or do not intend to take
• Misstate the amount you owe, the debt’s legal status or their identity
• Threaten to sue on a debt that is past the statute of limitations. See time-barred debt
• Add unauthorized fees or interest

Our full guide to debt collector rights under the FDCPA covers these protections in detail. Older adults have additional protections around income sources; see older adults and debt.

How to reduce or stop collection calls

1. Ask for everything in writing

On the first call, ask for the collector’s name, company, mailing address and a reference number, and tell them to send the debt information in writing. You do not need to discuss details on the phone.

2. Dispute the debt in writing

If you send a written dispute within the validation period, the collector must stop collection activity, including calls, until it sends verification. Use our debt validation letter template. DebtRemediationTools.org explains how to read the validation notice in how to read a debt collection letter.

3. Restrict times, places and channels

Tell the collector (ideally in writing) which times, places and methods are not acceptable: “Do not call me at work. Do not call before 6 p.m. Contact me by mail only.”

4. Send a cease-communication letter

You can tell a collector in writing to stop communicating with you altogether. After receiving it, the collector may contact you only to confirm it is stopping, or to notify you of a specific action such as filing a lawsuit. Be aware:

• It does not cancel the debt.
• The collector could choose to sue instead. If you are sued, respond by the deadline.

A simple letter: “Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, I request that you cease all communication with me regarding account [number]. Send any required notices by mail to the address above.“

5. Keep a call log

Write down the date, time, number, collector name and what was said for every call. Save voicemails, texts and emails. A log is the best evidence if you need to file a complaint or a claim.

6. Report violations

You can file complaints with the CFPB and your state attorney general. If a collector breaks the law, you may be able to sue for actual damages plus statutory damages of up to $1,000 in an individual case, and attorney’s fees. Many consumer attorneys take these cases on that basis.

What about robocalls from creditors?

Automated calls and prerecorded messages to cell phones are also governed by the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, which generally requires consent. You can revoke consent to such calls by any reasonable means. Original creditors calling about their own accounts are covered by this law even though they are generally not covered by the FDCPA.

Frequently asked questions

Next step

If calls are overwhelming you, the most effective step is often to dispute the debt and make the collector prove it. Book a debt remediation consultation and we’ll help you take control of the conversation.

This article is for general education and is not legal advice. State laws may provide additional protections; consult a licensed attorney about specific violations.

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