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The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act applies to those who collect debts owed to creditors for personal, family and household debts. These include car loans, mortgages, charge accounts and money owed for medical bills. A debt collector is someone hired to collect money you owe.
Within five days after a debt collector first contacts you, the collector must send you a notice that tells you the name of the creditor, how much you owe, and what action to take if you believe you don't owe the money.
If you owe the money or part of it, contact the creditor to arrange for payment.
If you believe you don't owe the money, contact the creditor in writing and send a copy to the collection agency with a letter telling them not to contact you. A debt collector may not:
To file a complaint, contact your local consumer protection office and the Federal Trade Commission.
Third party debt collection agencies can use e-mail as a means for contacting you to collect a debt. However, your privacy could be compromised if e-mails with sensitive information (social security number, account numbers) are intercepted. If you agree to accept e-mail from a debt collection agency, ask that all e-mails are encrypted.
Page Last Reviewed or Updated: October 12, 2012