The phone calls. The letters. The stress. There’s no doubt dealing with debt collectors is a drag. Of course, they are allowed to pursue repayment of the money they’re owed. But many debt collectors stretch the rules or break them completely in pursuit of payment, leaving consumers vulnerable to scams, fraud and needless worry. The good news is, consumers have rights in these situations, too.  Keep reading to see the answers to common questions about debt collectors.

Can Debt Collectors Call Any Time?

No. Debt collectors are not allowed to call you before 8 am or after 9 pm. Recent rule changes also state they are not allowed to call more than seven times per week (once a day), per account. And if you speak to a collection agent, they are not allowed to call again until seven days after that. If you feel you are being contacted excessively, you can request the collector stop calling. They will still call to inform you of legal action. You may also submit a complaint to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

Can a Collector Contact Me on Social Media?

New rules that took effect in November 2021 allow debt collectors to contact consumers using social media. But it’s not a free-for-all. For one, debt collectors can’t post messages others can see publicly, such as posting on someone’s Facebook wall or commenting on an Instagram post. Additionally, a debt collector must inform the consumer of their identity when requesting to connect on social media. And finally, social media communication from debt collectors has the same time-of-day restrictions as phone calls.

Are Debt Collectors Allowed to Come to My Workplace?

By law, debt collectors are not allowed to publicize a consumer’s debt, so showing up in person at someone’s workplace to discuss or collect a debt is not allowed. However, they may call you at work, but are not permitted to tell your coworkers the reason they are calling. And if you ask a debt collector to stop calling you at work, they are legally required to do so.

Could I Be Arrested for Past-due Debts?

Fortunately, debtors’ prisons are a thing of the past. Debt collectors are not permitted to detain or jail consumers for non-payment or even threaten to do so. However, there is a series of events that could potentially land a consumer in jail for unpaid debt.

If a creditor or debt collector sues for non-payment and the consumer doesn’t show up in court to contest, the consumer is likely to lose by default and be ordered to pay. At that point, if the consumer ignores the court order and still doesn’t pay, the creditor or collection agency could seek an arrest warrant.

What If I Don’t Think I Owe the Debt?

Collectors cannot pursue you for a debt you don’t owe, or that belongs to someone else, like a family member or friend. If a debt collector is contacting you about a debt you don’t believe you owe, the first thing to do is check your credit report. If the debt shows on your report in error, you can initiate disputes with the three credit reporting agencies. It will be removed from your credit report while they conduct investigations and collectors are not permitted to contact you during the dispute process.

If you’re dealing with debt collectors, Take Charge America can help. Our debt management plans help you pay off credit card debt faster and eliminates your contact with debt collectors.