Define: Collection

No, debt collectors are prohibited from contacting consumers before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m., unless the consumer has given explicit permission to do so.

Yes, debt collectors are allowed to contact consumers at their workplace unless the consumer has informed them in writing that such communication is not permitted.

No, debt collectors are prohibited from discussing a consumer’s debt with anyone other than the consumer, their spouse, or their attorney. This includes friends, family members, and coworkers.

No, debt collectors are not allowed to threaten consumers with legal action unless they actually intend to take such action and it is permitted by law.

No, once a consumer has requested in writing that a debt collector cease communication, the debt collector must comply and can only contact the consumer to confirm the cessation of communication or to inform them of any legal action being taken.

Debt collectors are generally not allowed to add any fees or charges to the original debt unless it is expressly permitted by the agreement between the consumer and the original creditor, or by applicable state law.

If a consumer is represented by an attorney regarding a specific debt, debt collectors are generally required to communicate with the attorney instead of the consumer.

If a consumer disputes a debt in writing within 30 days of receiving the initial communication from the debt collector, the debt collector must cease collection efforts until they have provided verification of the debt.

In some cases, if a debt collector obtains a judgment against a consumer, they may be able to garnish the consumer’s wages. However, there are limits on the amount that can be garnished, and certain types of income, such as Social Security benefits, are generally exempt from garnishment.