What Can a Debt Collector Legally Do?

Short answer: Debt collectors can contact you, report the debt to credit bureaus and sue you. They can't harass or threaten you, lie about what you owe, call at unusual times (before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. your time, by default), or discuss your debt with most other people. You can dispute a debt and tell them to stop contacting you.

What collectors must do

• Send validation information within five days of first contact: the amount, the creditor, and how to dispute.
• Stop collecting if you dispute in writing within 30 days, until they verify the debt.
• Follow call limits: under Regulation F, more than seven calls in seven days about one debt is presumed to be harassment.

What collectors can't do

• Threaten arrest or violence.
• Claim to be lawyers or government officials.
• Add unauthorized fees.
• Tell your employer or family about the debt (they may contact others only to locate you).
• Contact you at work if they know your employer prohibits it.

Who buys debt

Card issuers often sell charged-off accounts to debt buyers for a fraction of face value. The buyer can collect the full amount, but you're entitled to the same validation and dispute rights.

How to respond

1. Don't ignore it, and don't share bank information until you've confirmed the debt.
2. Request validation and dispute anything you don't recognize.
3. Check the date of last payment against your state's statute of limitations.
4. Report violations to the CFPB or the FTC.

Sources

• CFPB, Debt collection
• FTC, Debt collection FAQs

Last reviewed October 12, 2026. This article is general information, not legal, tax or financial advice.