Very briefly, collection agencies are businesses that have been hired by someone you owe money in order to try and recover the debt. Collection agencies may call you Monday to Saturday between the hours of 7 am and 9 pm, and on Sundays from 1 pm to 5 pm. They should not be calling you outside of those hours.

Can you sue a debt collector for calling you?

Yes. The federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act specifically gives you the right to sue a debt collector for harassment. If a debt collector is found to have engaged in harassing behavior, you are entitled to up to $1,000 in damages, along with court costs and attorney fees.

Is it illegal to call a debt collector on Sunday?

It’s not a per se violation of the FDCPA to make collection calls on Sunday. But if the collector knows it’s a bad time for you, it is a violation. The federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) prohibits debt collectors and collection agencies from engaging in certain types of communications while collecting debts from consumers.

Are there any laws against debt collection agencies?

If you’re dealing with a collector, or have a debt that might soon go to collection, it’s important to know what debt collection agencies can and can’t do. The federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) (15 U.S.C. § 1692 and following) makes certain collection tactics that collection agencies use illegal, like:

Can a debt collector visit your place of work?

Again, speaking to your employer about your borrowing without your permission is against data protection laws. What’s more, unless your debt is a business loan, the company or collection agency cannot call or visit your place of work to collect payment unless you’ve given them permission.

Can a debt collector contact you if you are a minor?

Collectors are also allowed to contact your spouse, your parents (only if you are a minor), and your codebtors. But they can’t make these contacts if you have sent a letter asking them to stop contacting you. There is one other exception.