# A debt collector contacted you

Research notes for a free public help page. Checked November 14, 2026. Each fact: (source, URL, date checked) [primary/secondary]. "Not confirmed" means I could not open a primary source for it.

## (a) What the law forbids and who is covered

**Who is covered**
- The federal law is the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA, 15 U.S.C. 1692 and following). The CFPB's rule that carries it out is Regulation F, 12 CFR part 1006. The CFPB's online copy of each section says "This version is the current regulation." (CFPB, Regulation F, https://www.consumerfinance.gov/rules-policy/regulations/1006/2023-04-19/2/, Nov 14, 2026) [primary]
- It covers personal, family or household debts, not business debts. "Debt" means a consumer's obligation from a transaction for goods or services "primarily for personal, family, or household purposes," even after a judgment. (12 CFR 1006.2(h), same URL, Nov 14, 2026) [primary] The FTC adds that "Business debts are not covered by the FDCPA" and lists credit cards, car loans, medical bills, student loans and mortgages as covered household debts. (FTC, Debt Collection FAQs, updated Dec 9, 2025, https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/debt-collection-faqs, Nov 14, 2026) [primary]
- A "debt collector" is a business whose main purpose is collecting debts, or that regularly collects debts "owed or due ... to another." (12 CFR 1006.2(i)(1), Nov 14, 2026) [primary] So the law mainly covers third-party collection agencies, debt buyers and collection law firms.
- The original creditor collecting its own debt in its own name is usually NOT covered: the rule excludes "any officer or employee of a creditor while ... collecting debts for the creditor in the creditor's name." But a creditor that collects its own debts under a different name that suggests a third party is collecting IS covered. (12 CFR 1006.2(i)(1) and (i)(2), Nov 14, 2026) [primary] Some state laws do cover original creditors; that varies by state (not confirmed state by state).
- "Consumer" for contact purposes includes your spouse, a parent if you are a minor, a guardian, and the executor of a deceased person's estate. (12 CFR 1006.6(a), https://www.consumerfinance.gov/rules-policy/regulations/1006/2023-04-19/6/, Nov 14, 2026) [primary]

**When and where they can contact you**
- Calls or other contact before 8:00 a.m. or after 9:00 p.m. your local time are presumed inconvenient and not allowed, unless the collector knows otherwise. They also may not contact you at a time or place they know is inconvenient. (12 CFR 1006.6(b)(1)(i), same URL, Nov 14, 2026) [primary] You can tell a collector which times or places are inconvenient. (CFPB, What should I do when a debt collector contacts me?, last reviewed Oct 15, 2026, https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/debt-collection-en-1695/, Nov 14, 2026) [primary]
- At work: they may not contact you at work if they know or have reason to know your employer does not allow it. (12 CFR 1006.6(b)(3), Nov 14, 2026) [primary]
- If you have a lawyer for the debt and the collector knows it, they must deal with the lawyer, with narrow exceptions (for example, the lawyer does not respond in a reasonable time). (12 CFR 1006.6(b)(2), Nov 14, 2026) [primary]
- If you ask them not to use a certain channel (for example, "do not text me" or "do not email my work address"), they must not use it. (12 CFR 1006.14(h)(1), https://www.consumerfinance.gov/rules-policy/regulations/1006/14/, Nov 14, 2026) [primary]
- Emails and texts must include a clear, simple way to opt out, and they cannot charge a fee for opting out. (12 CFR 1006.6(e), Nov 14, 2026) [primary]

**Call frequency**
- They must not call "repeatedly or continuously with intent to annoy, abuse, or harass." (12 CFR 1006.14(b)(1), Nov 14, 2026) [primary]
- The rule's bright line: a collector is presumed to break the law if it calls you about a particular debt more than seven times within seven days, or calls within seven days after having a phone conversation with you about that debt. Staying under those numbers is presumed to comply. (12 CFR 1006.14(b)(2), Nov 14, 2026) [primary] Calls you agreed to in advance (for up to seven days after you agree) and calls that do not connect do not count. (12 CFR 1006.14(b)(3), Nov 14, 2026) [primary]
- Note for the page: this is a presumption, not an absolute cap. Fewer calls can still be harassment in some facts, and more calls can be rebutted. (12 CFR 1006.14(b)(2), Nov 14, 2026) [primary]

**Your employer, family and others**
- A collector must not discuss your debt with anyone except you (and your spouse etc. as above), your lawyer, a credit reporting company, the creditor and the lawyers involved. (12 CFR 1006.6(d)(1), Nov 14, 2026) [primary]
- Exceptions: they can contact others only to get your location information, with your prior consent, with a court's permission, or as needed for a post-judgment remedy such as garnishment. (12 CFR 1006.6(d)(2), Nov 14, 2026) [primary] The FTC explains they can usually contact each such person only once and "can never tell them you owe a debt." (FTC, Debt Collection FAQs, Nov 14, 2026) [primary]

**Threats, lies and abuse**
- Banned: threats of violence, obscene or profane language, publishing lists of people who "refuse" to pay, and not identifying who is calling. (12 CFR 1006.14, summarized from https://www.consumerfinance.gov/rules-policy/regulations/1006/2023-04-19/14/, Nov 14, 2026) [primary]
- Banned false statements include: pretending to be a government agency, a credit bureau or a lawyer; lying about the amount or legal status of the debt; saying you will be arrested or jailed, or that your property or wages will be taken, unless that is lawful and they actually intend to do it; threatening action they cannot legally take or do not intend to take; sending papers that look like court or government documents; using a business name other than their real one; reporting credit information they know is false, including not reporting that a debt is disputed. (12 CFR 1006.18(b) and (c), https://www.consumerfinance.gov/rules-policy/regulations/1006/2023-04-19/18/, Nov 14, 2026) [primary]
- In the first contact they must say they are trying to collect a debt and any information will be used for that purpose; in later contacts they must say the message is from a debt collector. (12 CFR 1006.18(e), Nov 14, 2026) [primary]
- Unfair practices such as collecting fees or interest not allowed by the contract or law are banned by 12 CFR 1006.22. (Section title and existence confirmed at https://www.consumerfinance.gov/rules-policy/regulations/1006/2023-04-19/22/, Nov 14, 2026; detailed list not opened) [primary, partially confirmed]
- If you sue under the FDCPA and win, the collector must generally pay your attorney's fees. (CFPB, How do I get a debt collector to stop calling?, last reviewed May 14, 2024, https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/how-do-i-get-a-debt-collector-to-stop-calling-en-1411/, Nov 14, 2026) [primary]

## (b) The validation notice and disputing the debt

- The collector must give you "validation information" either in its first communication or within five days after it, by mail or electronically. (CFPB, What information does a debt collector have to give me about a debt?, last reviewed Jan 29, 2024, https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/what-information-does-a-debt-collector-have-to-give-me-about-a-debt-en-331/, Nov 14, 2026) [primary]
- What the notice must contain (12 CFR 1006.34(c), https://www.consumerfinance.gov/rules-policy/regulations/1006/2023-04-19/34/, Nov 14, 2026) [primary]:
  - a statement that it is a debt collector trying to collect a debt;
  - the collector's name and the mailing address for disputes;
  - your name and mailing address;
  - for consumer financial products (like credit cards), the creditor's name as of the "itemization date," and the account number (or a shortened version);
  - the name of the creditor the debt is owed to now;
  - the itemization date and the amount on that date;
  - an itemization of interest, fees, payments and credits since that date;
  - the current amount owed;
  - the date your dispute period ends, and statements that you can dispute in writing by that date (which makes them stop collecting until they verify), that you can ask for the original creditor's name and address by that date, and that the debt will be assumed valid if you do not dispute by then;
  - for consumer financial product debts, a reference to the CFPB's debt collection website;
  - a tear-off style "How do you want to respond?" section with boxes such as "This is not my debt" and "The amount is wrong."
- The 30-day window: you have 30 days after receiving the validation information to dispute in writing. The notice itself must print the end date. (CFPB page en-331 above, Nov 14, 2026) [primary] Under the rule a consumer is assumed to receive it a set number of days after it is sent; I could not open the exact text of 12 CFR 1006.34(b)(5) to confirm the counting method (not confirmed). Use the date printed on the notice.
- After a timely written dispute, the collector "must cease collection of the debt, or any disputed portion," until it sends you verification of the debt or a copy of a judgment. If you ask in writing for the original creditor's name and address within the window, it must stop collecting until it sends that. (12 CFR 1006.38(c) and (d)(2), https://www.consumerfinance.gov/rules-policy/regulations/1006/2023-04-19/38/, Nov 14, 2026) [primary]
- A repeat dispute that is "substantially the same" as one you already sent can be answered by pointing back to the earlier response, unless you add new and material information. (12 CFR 1006.38(d)(2)(ii), Nov 14, 2026) [primary]
- During the 30 days, the collector must not do anything that overshadows or contradicts your dispute rights (for example, demanding payment "today" in a way that hides the deadline). (12 CFR 1006.38(b), Nov 14, 2026) [primary]
- Email or a web portal can count as "in writing" if the collector accepts electronic communications that way. (Reg F commentary 38-1.iii, same URL, Nov 14, 2026) [primary] Safer advice for the page: send a letter by certified mail, return receipt requested, and keep a copy. (FTC, Fake debt collectors, https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0258-fake-debt-collectors, Nov 14, 2026) [primary]
- If you dispute after the 30 days, you can still dispute, but the rule's automatic "stop collecting until verified" requirement is tied to disputes made inside the window. (12 CFR 1006.38, Nov 14, 2026) [primary] The CFPB still recommends asking even after the deadline. (CFPB en-1695, Nov 14, 2026) [primary]
- A collector who reports the debt to a credit bureau must report that it is disputed once you dispute; failing to do so is a banned false statement. (12 CFR 1006.18(c)(2), Nov 14, 2026) [primary]

## (c) Telling a collector to stop contacting you

- If you tell a collector in writing that you refuse to pay or want it to stop communicating, it generally must stop contacting you about that debt. (12 CFR 1006.6(c)(1), https://www.consumerfinance.gov/rules-policy/regulations/1006/2023-04-19/6/, Nov 14, 2026) [primary] The CFPB says the collector must stop if you ask it to stop all contact "regardless of the communications channel," but recommends doing it in writing. (CFPB, How do I get a debt collector to stop calling?, last reviewed May 14, 2024, https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/how-do-i-get-a-debt-collector-to-stop-calling-en-1411/, Nov 14, 2026) [primary]
- What they can still do after that: tell you they are ending their efforts, or tell you about specific actions they or the creditor may take, such as filing a lawsuit. (12 CFR 1006.6(c)(2), Nov 14, 2026) [primary]
- What it does NOT do: it does not erase the debt. "Stopping communication with a debt collector doesn't make the debt go away." They can still sue you or report the debt to a credit bureau. (CFPB en-1411, Nov 14, 2026) [primary]
- Practical point for the page: if you stop contact you may also miss settlement offers, so many people first dispute and ask for validation, then decide. (Plain-language guidance, not a legal rule.)
- Smaller options: you can instead tell them only certain times, places or channels are off limits (12 CFR 1006.6(b), 1006.14(h), Nov 14, 2026) [primary], or tell them to contact only your lawyer (CFPB sample letter 4, linked from https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/debt-collection-en-1695/, Nov 14, 2026) [primary].

## (d) Old debt and the statute of limitations

- What it means: a statute of limitations is a time limit on suing you over a debt. The debt does not disappear; "there may be a time limit on how long creditors or debt collectors can use legal action to collect a debt." Most states set three to six years, some longer. Federal student loans have no statute of limitations. (CFPB, Can debt collectors collect a debt that's several years old?, last reviewed Oct 28, 2026, https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/what-is-a-time-barred-debt-en-1423/, Nov 14, 2026) [primary]
- The legal definitions: "time-barred debt" is a debt for which the statute of limitations has expired. (12 CFR 1006.26(a), https://www.consumerfinance.gov/rules-policy/regulations/1006/2023-04-19/26/, Nov 14, 2026) [primary]
- A collector "must not bring or threaten to bring a legal action" to collect a time-barred debt (proofs of claim in bankruptcy are excluded). (12 CFR 1006.26(b), Nov 14, 2026) [primary] In most states they may still contact you by letter or phone about it, as long as they follow the law. (CFPB en-1423, Nov 14, 2026) [primary] Whether they can contact you at all depends on your state. (FTC, Debt Collection FAQs, updated Dec 9, 2025, https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/debt-collection-faqs, Nov 14, 2026) [primary]
- When the clock starts depends on the state: in some states when you miss a required payment, in others from your most recent payment. (CFPB en-1423, Nov 14, 2026) [primary]
- Restarting the clock: a partial payment, or admitting you owe the debt, even after the time has run out, "may restart the time period" in some states. (CFPB en-1423, Nov 14, 2026) [primary] The FTC says the same: in some states a payment or written acknowledgment can "revive" the debt. (FTC Debt Collection FAQs, Nov 14, 2026) [primary] Reg F itself does not address revival. (12 CFR 1006.26 text, Nov 14, 2026) [primary] Advice for the page: before paying anything on an old debt, find out your state's rule, and consider asking a lawyer or legal aid.
- If you are sued on a time-barred debt, you usually have to raise the statute of limitations yourself; a court can still enter a judgment if you do not show up. Bring proof of the date of your last payment. (CFPB en-1423; FTC Debt Collection FAQs, Nov 14, 2026) [primary]
- Credit reports are a separate clock: negative information like past-due debts can generally stay on a credit report for seven years, regardless of the state statute of limitations. (FTC Debt Collection FAQs, Nov 14, 2026) [primary] The statute itself (15 U.S.C. 1681c) was not opened in this session (not confirmed at statute level).
- State table: the CFPB and FTC do not publish a table of state limits; the CFPB says the period depends on the type of debt, your state and any state law named in your contract, and suggests a lawyer. (CFPB en-1423, Nov 14, 2026) [primary] I found no official federal table. Point readers to their state attorney general (https://www.naag.org/find-my-ag/, NAAG Public Resources page, https://www.naag.org/public-resources/, Nov 14, 2026) [secondary: NAAG is an association of AGs, not a government agency] or to legal aid.

## (e) If you are sued

- Never ignore a lawsuit. Respond, yourself or through a lawyer, "by the date specified in the court papers." Responding does not mean you admit you owe the debt, and the collector has to prove it. (CFPB, What should I do when a debt collector sues me?, last reviewed Oct 28, 2026, https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/what-should-i-do-when-a-debt-collector-sues-me-en-334/, Nov 14, 2026) [primary] (FTC Debt Collection FAQs, Nov 14, 2026) [primary]
- Default judgment: if you do not respond, the court may enter a default judgment, usually for the amount claimed plus allowed fees, interest and costs. The creditor may then be able to garnish wages, put a lien on property or freeze bank funds, depending on state law, and judgments are hard to undo. (CFPB en-334; CFPB, If a creditor sues you, https://www.consumerfinance.gov/consumer-tools/debt-collection/if-creditor-sues-you/, page dated Oct 28, 2026, Nov 14, 2026) [primary]
- Deadlines to respond vary by state and court; the CFPB gives no standard number and says to read the court papers right away. (CFPB en-334, Nov 14, 2026) [primary] Do not publish a single number of days on the page.
- Check whether the debt is past the statute of limitations; that can be a defense. (CFPB en-334, en-1423, Nov 14, 2026) [primary]
- You may be able to settle before a judgment. (CFPB en-334, Nov 14, 2026) [primary]
- Free help: legal aid offices and clinics (find one at http://lsc.gov/find-legal-aid); some lawyers who handle FDCPA cases offer free or reduced-fee help; servicemembers can use a JAG legal assistance office (https://legalassistance.law.af.mil/). CFPB lawyer-finding page: https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/how-do-i-find-a-lawyer-or-attorney-to-represent-me-in-a-lawsuit-by-a-creditor-or-debt-collector-en-1433/ (all linked from CFPB, If a creditor sues you, Nov 14, 2026) [primary; the LSC and JAG pages themselves were not opened]
- Fake lawsuits: a real lawsuit comes from a court. If unsure, call the court clerk using a number you look up yourself, not one on the papers (general advice, not from a cited source). Banned for collectors: papers that imitate court documents. (12 CFR 1006.18(c)(3), Nov 14, 2026) [primary]

## (f) Money that is protected from garnishment

**Federal benefits**
- Many federal benefits are generally exempt from court-ordered garnishment by private creditors, including Social Security, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), veterans benefits and federal student aid. Exceptions: they can be taken for delinquent federal taxes, child or spousal support, and federal student loans. (FTC, Debt Collection FAQs, updated Dec 9, 2025, https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/debt-collection-faqs, Nov 14, 2026) [primary]

**The two-month bank account rule (31 CFR part 212, Treasury rule)**
- When a bank gets a garnishment order, it must look at what federal benefits were directly deposited into the account during a "lookback period" of two months before the review, and protect that amount. Covered benefits: Social Security, SSI, veterans benefits, federal Railroad Retirement, railroad unemployment and sickness benefits, Civil Service Retirement System and Federal Employee Retirement System benefits. (NCUA, Garnishment of Accounts Containing Federal Benefit Payments, modified Aug 2, 2024, https://ncua.gov/regulation-supervision/manuals-guides/federal-consumer-financial-protection-guide/deposit-related-regulations-and-statutes/garnishment-accounts-containing-federal-benefit-payments, Nov 14, 2026) [primary: federal regulator's guide]
- The protected amount is the lesser of (a) the total benefit payments deposited during the two months, or (b) the account balance when the bank reviews it. Example from the rule: $2,500 in benefits but a $1,000 balance means $1,000 is protected; $4,500 in benefits and a $5,000 balance means $4,500 is protected and $500 could be taken. (31 CFR part 212, Appendix C, https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/31/appendix-C_to_part_212, Nov 14, 2026) [primary text via Cornell LII]
- The bank must "immediately calculate and establish the protected amount," give you "full and customary access" to it, and may not freeze it. You do not have to claim an exemption first. It may not charge a garnishment fee against the protected amount. It must send you a notice. (31 CFR 212.6(a), (e), (h), https://www.law.cornell.edu/cfr/text/31/212.6, Nov 14, 2026) [primary text via Cornell LII]
- The bank must review the order within two business days of receiving it. (NCUA guide above, Nov 14, 2026) [primary]
- Exception: orders obtained by the United States, or issued by a state child support agency, that carry a "Notice of Right to Garnish Federal Benefits" are handled under the bank's normal procedures. (NCUA guide, Nov 14, 2026) [primary]
- Important limits to explain: the automatic protection is only for benefits directly deposited (the rule keys on electronic deposits; detail not quoted in this session: not confirmed at text level), only two months' worth, and money above that may be frozen; you may still claim state exemptions for the rest through the court. State unemployment benefits are NOT on the federal list above (railroad unemployment is); state law decides those (not confirmed state by state).

**Wages (Consumer Credit Protection Act, Title III)**
- For ordinary debts (not support, taxes or bankruptcy), the most that can be garnished from a week's pay is the lesser of 25 percent of disposable earnings, or the amount by which disposable earnings exceed 30 times the federal minimum wage. At $7.25 an hour: $217.50 a week or less, nothing can be taken; between $217.50 and $290, only the amount over $217.50; $290 or more, up to 25 percent. (DOL WHD, Fact Sheet #30, dated Dec 2024, https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/fact-sheets/30-cppa, Nov 14, 2026) [primary]
- The federal minimum wage is still $7.25 an hour. (DOL, State Minimum Wage Laws, updated Nov 5, 2026, https://www.dol.gov/agencies/whd/minimum-wage/state?lang=ar, Nov 14, 2026) [primary]
- "Disposable earnings" means pay left after legally required deductions (taxes, your Social Security and Medicare share, required retirement contributions). (DOL Fact Sheet #30, Nov 14, 2026) [primary]
- Child support and alimony: up to 50 percent if you support another spouse or child, 60 percent if not, plus 5 percent more if over 12 weeks behind. Federal and state tax debts and some bankruptcy orders are not subject to these limits. (DOL Fact Sheet #30, Nov 14, 2026) [primary]
- Your employer cannot fire you because your wages are garnished for any one debt. (DOL Fact Sheet #30, Nov 14, 2026) [primary]
- If your state's law protects more, the lower garnishment amount applies. (DOL Fact Sheet #30, Nov 14, 2026) [primary] Several states protect much more; flag "check your state."

## (g) Medical debt and credit reports

- The CFPB finalized a rule on Jan 7, 2025 to ban medical bills from credit reports used by lenders and to stop lenders using medical information. (CFPB archived press release, https://www.consumerfinance.gov/archive/newsroom/cfpb-finalizes-rule-to-remove-medical-bills-from-credit-reports/, Nov 14, 2026) [primary]
- That rule never took effect. On July 11, 2025, the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas vacated it, finding it exceeded the CFPB's authority under the Fair Credit Reporting Act. The CFPB's own archived page now says this and labels its medical debt materials "for reference only." (same CFPB archived page, Nov 14, 2026) [primary]
- On Oct 28, 2025 the CFPB issued an interpretive rule saying the FCRA preempts state laws on credit report content, and rejecting its 2022 view that states can bar medical debt from credit reports. It is non-binding guidance; courts decide whether a given state law is preempted. (Federal Register, 90 FR 48710, https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/2025/10/28/2025-19671/fair-credit-reporting-act-preemption-of-state-laws, Nov 14, 2026) [primary] So state medical debt credit-report laws (several states passed them) are under legal challenge; whether yours is enforceable today is not confirmed.
- What still applies today, voluntarily, from the three national credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion): paid medical collections are not reported (since July 1, 2022); unpaid medical collections do not appear until one year after going to collections; medical collections with an initial balance under $500 are not reported (since April 2023). (Equifax/Experian/TransUnion joint press release, Apr 11, 2023, https://investor.equifax.com/news-events/press-releases/detail/1286/equifax-experian-and-transunion-remove-medical-collections, Nov 14, 2026; Equifax education page, no date shown, https://www.equifax.com/personal/education/credit/score/articles/-/learn/can-medical-debt-impact-credit-scores/, Nov 14, 2026) [secondary: company policy, not law; can be changed]. I could not confirm a 2026 statement that the policy is unchanged.
- What to tell readers: if a paid medical collection, or one under $500, or one less than a year old, is on your report, dispute it with the credit bureau. Medical debts are covered by the FDCPA like other household debts (FTC Debt Collection FAQs, Nov 14, 2026) [primary], so all the rules above apply.
- Before paying a medical collection, ask the hospital about financial assistance or charity care; nonprofit hospitals must have a financial assistance policy (IRS rule 501(r), not opened this session: not confirmed).

## (h) How to complain

- CFPB: the online complaint portal is open as of today. It says most companies respond within 15 days (some within 60), you generally cannot file a second complaint about the same problem, credit report errors must first be disputed with the credit bureau, and you should try the company first. Phone: (855) 411-2372, TTY (855) 729-2372, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET weekdays. (CFPB, Submit a complaint, modified Oct 5, 2026, https://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/, Nov 14, 2026) [primary]
- Context on the CFPB in 2025 and 2026 (secondary sources): staff and funding have been cut sharply; in Feb 2026 the portal added a prominent notice urging people not to file until they have taken other steps; complaints are still forwarded to companies and published. (WTOP, updated May 6, 2026, https://wtop.com/news/2026/05/should-you-even-bother-making-a-complaint-to-the-cfpb/, Nov 14, 2026; FOX19, Mar 25, 2026, https://www.fox19.com/2026/03/25/cfpb-complaint-portal-changes-spark-debate-over-consumer-access/, Nov 14, 2026) [secondary] Litigation over the CFPB's size and funding was still pending as of those articles; current status not confirmed. Tell readers to file anyway and also file with their state AG.
- FTC: report at reportfraud.ftc.gov. (FTC Debt Collection FAQs and Fake debt collectors pages, Nov 14, 2026) [primary] The FTC does not resolve individual complaints (not confirmed on a page opened this session).
- State attorney general: listed first by the FTC as a place to report. (FTC Debt Collection FAQs, Nov 14, 2026) [primary] Find yours at https://www.naag.org/find-my-ag/ (NAAG, Nov 14, 2026) [secondary]. Many states also license collectors through a banking or financial regulator (not confirmed state by state).
- Keep records: dates and times of calls, names, copies of letters, certified mail receipts. (CFPB en-1695 advises keeping copies of everything, Nov 14, 2026) [primary]

## (i) Three letters you can send

Modeled on the CFPB's sample debt collection letters, which the CFPB links from its page "What should I do when a debt collector contacts me?" (last reviewed Oct 15, 2026, https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/debt-collection-en-1695/, Nov 14, 2026) [primary]. The CFPB offers: (1) I do not owe this debt, (2) I need more information about this debt, (3) I want the debt collector to stop contacting me, (4) contact me only through my lawyer, (5) here is how you can contact me. The letters are Word files (for example https://files.consumerfinance.gov/f/documents/cfpb_debt-collection-letter-2_more-information.doc) that I could not read as text in this session; the letters below are written from the rules cited above, not copied. The CFPB notes its letters "are not legal advice." Send by certified mail, return receipt requested, and keep a copy. (FTC fake debt collectors page, Nov 14, 2026) [primary]

**Letter 1: Dispute and request for validation** (send within the dispute period printed on the validation notice)

> [Your name]
> [Your mailing address]
> [Date]
>
> [Collector name and address]
>
> Re: Account or reference number [number on their notice]
>
> I am writing about the debt you say I owe. I dispute this debt. [Optional: I do not believe I owe it. / I believe the amount is wrong.]
>
> Please stop collection until you send me verification of the debt, including:
> - the name and address of the original creditor and the creditor the debt is owed to now;
> - the account number used by the original creditor;
> - the amount owed, with a breakdown of interest, fees, payments and credits;
> - a copy of any document showing I agreed to pay this debt;
> - proof that you are allowed to collect it, and whether you are licensed in my state.
>
> Until you respond, please report this debt as disputed if you report it to any credit bureau. Please contact me only in writing at the address above.
>
> This letter is not an admission that I owe this debt.
>
> [Signature]

**Letter 2: Stop contacting me**

> [Your name, address, date, collector's name and address, reference number]
>
> I am asking you to stop all communication with me about this debt, by phone, text, email, mail, social media or any other way. This request is made under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.
>
> You may contact me only to confirm that you will stop, or to tell me about a specific action you or the creditor intend to take.
>
> This letter is not an admission that I owe this debt.
>
> [Signature]

Note for readers: this stops contact, not the debt. They can still sue or report it. (CFPB en-1411, Nov 14, 2026) [primary]

**Letter 3: This debt is past the statute of limitations**

> [Your name, address, date, collector's name and address, reference number]
>
> You have contacted me about a debt. I believe this debt is past the statute of limitations in my state, so you cannot sue me or threaten to sue me over it.
>
> I am not agreeing that I owe this debt, I am not promising to pay it, and nothing in this letter is an acknowledgment of the debt.
>
> [Choose one: Please stop contacting me about this debt. / Please send me the date of the last payment on this account and the date you believe the statute of limitations ends.]
>
> If you report this debt to a credit bureau, please report it as disputed.
>
> [Signature]

Notes for readers: do not make any payment or promise to pay when sending this; in some states that can restart the clock (CFPB en-1423, Nov 14, 2026) [primary]. Check your state's limit first; if you are wrong about the date, the letter does not hurt you but it does not stop a valid lawsuit either. The CFPB does not publish a time-barred letter; this one is built from 12 CFR 1006.26(b) and the CFPB and FTC time-barred guidance cited in section (d).

## (j) Signs the "collector" is a scam

- They want payment for a debt you do not recognize. (FTC, Fake debt collectors, page modified Nov 26, 2025, https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0258-fake-debt-collectors, Nov 14, 2026) [primary]
- They refuse to give a mailing address or phone number. (same, Nov 14, 2026) [primary]
- They pressure or scare you by threatening to report you to police or have you arrested. (same, Nov 14, 2026) [primary] Real collectors are banned from saying you will be arrested. (12 CFR 1006.18(b)(3); FTC Debt Collection FAQs, Nov 14, 2026) [primary]
- They will not send, or cannot give, validation information (creditor name, amount, how to dispute). The CFPB: "If the debt collector doesn't or can't provide this information, it could be a scam." (CFPB en-1695, last reviewed Oct 15, 2026, Nov 14, 2026) [primary]
- They ask for sensitive financial information before you have confirmed they are real. The CFPB says never give it until you have confirmed they are legitimate. (same, Nov 14, 2026) [primary]
- Common sense additions (not from a cited source, flag as general advice): demands for gift cards, wire transfers, crypto or payment apps; claims to be from a court, sheriff or the IRS by phone. Check the debt with the original creditor or your free credit reports at AnnualCreditReport.com (URL not opened in this session: not confirmed).
- What to do: ask for the validation information in writing, do not respond to threats ("Hang up and report them"), and report to your state attorney general, the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov and the CFPB at cfpb.gov/complaint. (FTC fake debt collectors page, Nov 14, 2026) [primary]

## What I could not confirm

- The exact counting rule for the 30-day validation period in 12 CFR 1006.34(b)(5) (assumed-receipt days). The CFPB says the notice prints the end date; tell readers to use that date.
- The text of the CFPB's sample letters (.doc files would not open as text). My letters are written from the regulation, not copied.
- That the credit bureaus' voluntary medical debt policy (paid, under $500, one-year wait) is unchanged in 2026; sources are a 2023 joint press release and an undated Equifax page.
- Whether any particular state's medical-debt credit reporting ban is enforceable after the July 2025 court ruling and the CFPB's Oct 2025 preemption interpretive rule.
- Current status of the litigation over the CFPB's size and funding (secondary sources through May 2026 only). The complaint portal itself was open and modified Oct 5, 2026.
- The 7-year credit reporting limit at statute level (15 U.S.C. 1681c not opened; FTC page states it).
- An official table of state statutes of limitations for debts (none found from CFPB or FTC).
- The detailed list in 12 CFR 1006.22 (unfair practices), and the electronic-deposit detail of 31 CFR 212 (only sections 212.6 and Appendix C, plus the NCUA guide, were opened).
- Whether state unemployment benefits are protected from garnishment in each state; state wage garnishment limits that are stricter than federal.
- That the FTC does not resolve individual complaints; AnnualCreditReport.com and the hospital financial assistance (501(r)) points.

## What is most likely to go stale

1. CFPB complaint portal access and rules (staff cuts, Feb 2026 warning screens, possible further downsizing by court order).
2. Medical debt on credit reports: the vacated rule, the Oct 2025 preemption interpretation, state laws in litigation, and the bureaus' voluntary policy.
3. The federal minimum wage ($7.25), which sets the $217.50 weekly garnishment floor; any change moves those numbers.
4. Regulation F: the current CFPB has been revisiting rules; check that 12 CFR 1006 is unchanged before publishing.
5. CFPB "Ask CFPB" pages and URLs (some slugs redirect; reviewed dates range from 2024 to Oct 2026).
6. The FDCPA statute, the 31 CFR 212 bank account rule and the CCPA garnishment limits are stable and least likely to change.