How to Stop Debt Collection Calls

Carrying a lot of debt is stressful enough without dodging calls from aggressive debt collectors. If you’ve experienced this, you’re not alone: nearly one-third of Americans with credit have debt in collections, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.

Bill collectors may call at inconvenient times or in embarrassing places. It's understandable that you'd want to block collection calls at work or stop collection calls to your cell phone. The best way to stop collection calls depends on who is calling and how much contact you're willing to allow.

In late 2021, changes to debt the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) increased protection for consumers from inconvenience and embarrassment caused by debt collection calls.

Best Way to Stop Collection Calls

The most obvious way to stop debt collection calls is to simply pay what you owe. But you would not be looking for ways to stop calls from bill collectors if that was an option. There are valid reasons to want collection agencies to leave you alone:

• You're trying to stop collection calls for a family member.

• You don't think you owe the money.

• You can't afford to pay your collection account.

• You're in a debt settlement program and trying to save a lump sum to offer creditors.

• You don't want debt collection calls at work.

• You don't want debt collection calls to your cell phone.

While working out a strategy to get out of debt, you might get debt collection calls. If you want bill collectors to stop calling, you must ask them to do so in writing. This request is called a “cease and desist” letter.

Steps to take when contacted by a collector

When you first get a call from a debt collector, it can be a little scary. So first take a deep breath and remember you have ways to protect yourself. Before you respond, review the options and legal rights you have. 

Here’s what you need to do to take control of the situation:

1. Stay calm.

The debt collector should provide information about the debt they are calling about. Listen carefully and take notes. It's important to verify the legitimacy of the debt and the collector. Ask for their name, the company's name and contact information. Ask for a written debt validation notice if they haven't sent you one. It will outline the details of the debt.

2. Check the statute of limitations.

The statute of limitations is the length of time during which the collector is allowed to sue you for payment. The statute of limitations varies by state and type of debt. A quick online search or a talk with a local consumer rights attorney can clarify this for you. If the debt is past its statute of limitations, you can use this as a defense if they sue you.

3. Keep records of all our communications.

Create a file at home for any paperwork related to the debt. Create an email folder for all communication about the debt. Take notes when you have phone conversations with the collector. This documentation will be priceless. You might need it to dispute the debt. You might also need it to report the collector for any violations.

4. Consider your options.

Think about your options for managing or settling the debt. Sometimes, collectors are willing to settle for less than the full amount owed. If you choose this route, make sure to get any agreement in writing before making a payment. 

5. Request a cease and desist.

You have the right to request that the collector stop contacting you. You can send a written cease and desist letter if the calls become too frequent or aggressive. While this won’t erase the debt, it can provide some peace and quiet as you figure out your next steps. There’s a risk involved in asking the debt collector to stop contacting you. They can only contact you one more time, to let you know they won’t contact you again. That might close the door to negotiations and force them to sue you.

By taking these steps, you’ll be ready to handle debt collection calls. You'll do it with confidence and control. You’ve got this!

What not to do when contacted

Dealing with debt collectors is stressful. Don’t let yourself be pressured into making mistakes. Here’s what not to do when a collector reaches out.

1. Don’t panic or get flustered

Collectors can be persistent, but it’s important to stay calm. Getting angry or emotional won’t help. It can sometimes make things worse. Approach the situation with a clear mind and a steady voice.

2. Don’t give out personal information right away

Collectors may ask for your Social Security number. They may also ask for your bank account details or other sensitive information. They are the ones who have to prove you owe the debt, not the other way around. Verify who you’re talking to. Keep sensitive details to yourself. Scammers often pose as debt collectors to steal personal information.

3. Don’t acknowledge the debt or make promises to pay 

It's easy to feel pressured to pay immediately. That’s exactly how debt collectors want you to feel. 

Don’t acknowledge the debt, offer to pay, or make a partial payment. Your actions could inadvertently reset the clock on the statute of limitations.

If the debt is valid, take the time to assess your finances first. Think carefully about what resolution would work best for you before you open up that conversation.

4. Don’t ignore the debt collector

It might be tempting to avoid calls and letters. That can lead to more aggressive collection tactics, including lawsuits. Instead, respond promptly and assertively. Ask for written verification of the debt. Keep all communication in writing when possible.

5. Don’t forget that you have rights

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) gives you rights. You have the right to fair and respectful treatment. Debt collectors can't harass you, lie to you, or use unfair practices to collect a debt. If they cross the line, report them to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). You can also report them to your state’s attorney general.

By knowing what not to do, you’ll be better prepared to handle debt collection calls. You can do so in a way that protects your rights and helps you manage your debt well. You’re not alone in this. There are always resources and support available to help you through it.

How to Write a Cease and Desist Letter to a Debt Collector

Cease and desist letters are legally binding notices to debt collectors telling them to stop contacting you. You don't need a lawyer for this -- just get your debt collector’s name, address, and your account information and write a letter telling them to stop all contact, and by law, they have to do so.

In your letter, tell the debt collector to cease and desist all contact with you, your family, and your friends in reference to any alleged debt you owe. If you have not yet decided what to do about the debt, lawyers on Nolo.com advise that you do not acknowledge that you owe the money or make any offer of payment. Just tell collectors to stop communicating with you.

Also let them know that if they don’t comply with your request, you will file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and your state’s Attorney General’s office.

In your letter, make sure that you also include:

• The date

• Your name and address

• The name of the debt collection agency

• The account number on the debt

Keep a copy of your letter and it's not a bad idea to send it with delivery confirmation.

What Happens When You Send a Cease and Desist Letter to Bill Collectors?

Cease and desist letters aren't magic. Debt collectors can still contact you to let you know they’re ending all communication with you or to inform you if they plan to file a lawsuit to collect the debt.

Understand that a cease and desist letter may stop debt collectors from contacting you, but it does not wipe out your debt in any way. If the debt is legitimate, you still owe the money, and your balance continues to grow as interest and fees pile on.

What should you do about the debt? It depends. If the account is very old, you could wait for the debt to expire. Depending on your state laws, however, that could take more than 10 years. Meanwhile, your credit score could be tanking and you might even end up in court.

How to Stop Collection Calls at Work

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) does not allow bill collectors to call you at inconvenient or unusual places. So if debt collectors call you at work, all you have to say is that the calls are "inconvenient" and to stop calling. If the collector contacts you at a work email address, you can also indicate that you don't want emails at work.

Make sure to note the date and time you requested collectors stop calling you at work. Then, write them a cease and desist letter with a formal request to stop contacting you at your place of employment.

Collection Contact Through Text or Social Media

On November 20, 2021, FDCPA protections were extended to digital communication. The Act now covers contact via text, social media, and other channels that did not exist when it was first enacted.

Debt collectors may contact you through email and text messages within reason as long as they don't violate your privacy. For example, debt collectors can't communicate through a social media platform if the message is viewable by the general public or your social media contacts. And debt collectors have to tell you that they are debt collectors if they send you a private message via social media like Facebook or LinkedIn.

How to Block Collection Calls to a Cell Phone

Calls to your cell phone from a debt collector can be embarrassing and inconvenient. And they are dangerous for collectors -- if you have told a collector to stop calling you at work, and she contacts your cell phone, you might be at work, and she's probably violated the FDCPA.

Debt collectors have to stop calling your cell phone as soon as you tell them to. In fact, you can have collectors stop communications through any channel with very few exceptions.

What if Debt Collectors Are Calling the Wrong Number?

Some debt collectors buy old debts from the original creditors and try to collect. You might be subjected to annoying calls about a debt that isn't even yours.

Here’s how you stop debt collection calls for someone else’s debt:

1. Answer the phone and explain you’re not the person they’re looking for.

2. Tell them that they are calling the wrong number.

3. Send a cease and desist letter to them.

4. If they continue to call, file a complaint with the FTC.

As always, keep a record of when debt collectors call you, what you say to them, and the date on which you sent your cease and desist letter.

How to Stop Collection Calls if You're Working With a Debt Relief Company

One way to get out of debt faster and for less than you currently owe is by working with a debt relief company. Debt relief or debt settlement means negotiating an arrangement with your creditor in which it accepts less than what you owe as payment in full.

Most consumers who go through debt settlement stop making their payments to creditors. They put money aside until they have saved enough to make a settlement offer. However, creditors who are not getting paid may start calling or they might turn over the debt to a collector.

It's important to understand that the law treats calls from an original creditor like your credit card company differently than it does calls from a collection agency. Original creditors are not covered under the FDCPA and they may be able to keep calling you. It depends on the laws of the state in which you live.

If you're working with a debt relief company and are getting collection calls, the calls should stop (but are not guaranteed to) once your creditor and the debt settlement company reach an agreement.

During the settlement process, you can choose to communicate with collector calls, ignore the calls, or tell the collectors to stop calling. Your debt settlement company might be able to offer advice about debt collection calls.

There is no guarantee that working with a debt settlement company will stop all debt collection calls. But if you choose to exercise your rights, you should be able to control when and how debt collectors contact you.

Learn More

• Talk to a Creditor About Loan Forbearance: A Step by Step Guide

• Who Can Check Your Credit?

• What is a Balance Transfer?