If you are being harassed by debt collectors, you are not alone—and more importantly, you are not powerless. The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) is a powerful federal law that prohibits debt collectors from using abusive, unfair, or deceptive practices to collect from you.
In 2025, these protections are stronger than ever. This guide explains exactly what they can and cannot do, and how you can make them pay if they cross the line.
What They CAN Do
- ✓ Send you letters and emails
- ✓ Call you between 8 AM and 9 PM
- ✓ Sue you for a valid debt
- ✓ Report legitimate info to credit bureaus
What They CANNOT Do
- ✗ Threaten you with arrest or jail
- ✗ Use profane or abusive language
- ✗ Call you continuously to annoy you
- ✗ Contact your neighbors or boss about debt
Your Core Rights
Right to Stop Contact
You can send a "Cease and Desist" letter. Once they receive it, they must stop calling you immediately.
Right to Verification
If you dispute a debt in writing within 30 days, they must stop collection until they send you proof of the debt.
Right to Sue
This is the most important one. If a collector violates the FDCPA, you can sue them for $1,000 in statutory damages, plus your actual damages and attorney's fees.
They Broke the Law? We Sue Them for Free.
At Hyslip Legal, we handle FDCPA cases on a contingency basis. The abusive debt collectors pay our legal bills, not you.
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