Glossary term
FDCPA: The Federal Debt Collection Law
Short answer
The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act is the 1977 federal law that governs third-party debt collectors — collection agencies, debt buyers, and collection law firms — and limits how they can pursue consumer debts.
Why it matters
The FDCPA bans harassment, threats, and lies. Collectors can't call before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. They can't threaten arrest or other actions they can't legally take. They can't discuss your debt with coworkers or family, and they can't misrepresent the amount you owe.
The law also creates rights you can use: debt validation, a pause that follows a timely written dispute, and the power to demand that contact stop. The CFPB's Regulation F fills in modern details, like call-frequency limits. Violations can carry statutory damages and attorney's fees, which is why many consumer attorneys handle FDCPA cases at no upfront cost. The law generally does not cover original creditors collecting their own debts, though state laws sometimes do.
Example
A collector calls Dana at work after she has said her employer bans the calls. He also tells her she'll "be arrested by Friday" over a credit card balance. Both moves are potential FDCPA violations. Dana logs each call with dates and quotes, sends a written dispute, and takes the log to a consumer attorney — whose fees the collector may end up paying.
Terms used on this page
Guides that use this term
- What Debt Collectors Cannot DoWhat the FDCPA forbids debt collectors from doing — harassment, lies, unfair fees, off-limits call times — plus how to document and report violations.
- Debt Validation: Prove the DebtWhat debt validation is, what must be in a validation notice, how the 30-day window works, and how to request validation in writing — in plain English.
- Sued for a Debt? Your First 72 HoursServed with a debt lawsuit? Why ignoring it is the costliest mistake, how response deadlines work, what debt buyers must prove, and where to get real help.
Sources
This page is based on the following official and authoritative sources. Always check the source itself for the most current rules.
Educational information — not advice
This page provides general educational information about credit, debt, and consumer protections. It is not legal advice, financial advice, or credit repair services, and reading it does not create any professional relationship. Laws, procedures, deadlines, and dollar amounts vary by state and change over time.
For advice about your specific situation, consult a licensed attorney or qualified financial professional. See our full disclaimer.