Federal Law on Collection Calls

Businesses and organizations typically use collection agencies to collect on a debt a consumer has failed to repay. Collection agencies generally receive a percentage of the debt that has been collected from a debtor.

Time Frame

Collection agencies cannot call a debtor between the hours of 8 a.m. and 9 p.m., according to FairDebtCollection.com.

Warning

Collection agencies may not abuse or threaten a debtor. Collection calls should be made to collect a deb, or gather information to locate and contact a debtor. Collectors are prohibited from using obscene language with debtors or using the telephone to harass a debtor, according to the Federal Trade Commission.

Contact

Collection agencies are permitted to call a debtor's workplace, unless the debtor notifies a collector she is not permitted to receive personal calls at her job, according to FairDebtCollection.com. Collection agencies are only permitted to contact a debtor being represented by an attorney if the attorney fails to respond to the collection agency within a reasonable time period.

Ceasing Communication

A debtor can write a collection agency and demand the collection calls cease. After receiving this written request, a collection agency may only contact the debtor to notify her that collecting efforts are being terminated or that a specific remedy is being invoked, according to the FairDebtCollection.com.

References

• Fair Debt Collection: Stop Communications
• Federal Trade Commission: Debt Collection FAQS