The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) is a federal law that protects consumers from abusive and deceptive debt collection practices. Violations of the FDCPA can occur when a debt collector engages in any of the following activities:
- Contacting a consumer at inconvenient times, such as before 8:00 AM or after 9:00 PM
- Calling a consumer repeatedly or continuously
- Threatening to sue a consumer or garnish their wages
- Using profane or abusive language
- Disclosing a consumer’s debt to a third party
If you believe that a debt collector has violated the FDCPA, you can file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) or your state attorney general’s office. You may be able to recover damages for any harm you have suffered as a result of the violation.