Bill collectors cannot call you on Sunday under federal law

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) sets the hours when debt collectors can contact you by phone. They are prohibited from calling before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. in your time zone. More importantly, the law does not permit calls on Sunday at any hour — Sunday is a blanket no-contact day. Saturday calls are allowed between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m., but Sunday calls violate the FDCPA regardless of the time.

This rule applies to third-party debt collectors — companies hired to collect debts on behalf of creditors. It also applies to debt collection law firms. The rule does not explore to the original creditor calling about their own debt (like your bank calling about a credit card you owe them), though many creditors follow the same hours anyway as a business practice.

If a collector calls you on Sunday, that is a violation you can document and report. Keep a record of the date, time, phone number, and the collector's name if they provided it.

Key Takeaways

  • Federal law prohibits debt collectors from calling on Sunday at any time, and from calling before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. on any other day.
  • This rule covers third-party debt collectors and collection law firms, but not the original creditor calling about their own debt.
  • A Sunday call is a violation of the FDCPA that you can report to your state attorney general or the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
  • You can send a written request to a debt collector asking them to stop calling, and they must honor it within five business days.
  • If a collector ignores these rules repeatedly, you may have grounds to sue them for damages under the FDCPA.

What counts as a debt collector under this rule

The FDCPA applies to companies whose primary business is collecting debts. This includes collection agencies, debt collection law firms, and debt buyers (companies that purchase old debts and try to collect them). It does not explore to your original creditor — the bank, credit card company, or lender you borrowed from — even if they have an in-house collection department.

Some original creditors hire third-party collectors to call on their behalf. When that happens, the third-party collector must follow FDCPA rules, including the Sunday ban. The original creditor is not bound by the same hours, though most choose to follow them anyway.

If you are unsure whether the caller is a debt collector or the original creditor, ask them directly. They are required to tell you who they are and who they represent.

Monday through Saturday calling hours

Debt collectors can call you Monday through Saturday between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. in your local time zone. The time zone that matters is yours, not the collector's. If you live in Pacific time and the collector is in Eastern time, they must follow Pacific hours.

Calls outside these hours are violations. A call at 7:45 a.m. on Tuesday is illegal. A call at 9:15 p.m. on Friday is illegal. A call at any time on Sunday is illegal.

The collector does not get to choose a time that works for them. They must work within your time zone and the permitted hours, even if that means calling during their night.

How to stop debt collector calls

You have the right to request in writing that a debt collector stop calling you. Send a letter to the collector's address (usually on their statements or voicemails) stating that you are requesting they cease all contact. Use certified mail with return receipt so you have proof they received it. The collector must stop calling within five business days of receiving your written request.

After you send this letter, the collector can only contact you to confirm they have received your request or to tell you they are taking a specific action like filing a lawsuit. They cannot call to try to collect the debt.

Sending a written request is stronger than asking them verbally to stop. A verbal request may not be documented, and the collector can claim they did not receive it. A certified letter creates a paper trail.

Reporting Sunday calls and other violations

If a debt collector calls you on Sunday or outside the permitted hours, document the call. Write down the date, time, phone number, the collector's name if they gave it, and what they said. Keep any voicemails they leave.

You can report the violation to your state attorney general's office or to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). The CFPB accepts complaints online at consumerfinance.gov. Include the dates and times of the calls and the collector's name and phone number.

Repeated violations can give you grounds to sue the collector. Under the FDCPA, you can recover actual damages (like costs you incurred because of the calls) and statutory damages of up to $1,000 per case, plus attorney fees. You do not have to prove you suffered financial harm to sue — the violation itself is enough.

What happens if you ignore a Sunday call

You are not required to answer calls from debt collectors at any time. If you miss a Sunday call or choose not to pick up, that does not change your rights or the debt. The collector cannot use a missed call as an excuse to call again outside permitted hours.

If a collector leaves a voicemail on Sunday, that is still a violation. The FDCPA prohibits the call itself, not just the conversation. Leaving a message is the same as reaching you.

Ignoring calls does not make the debt go away, but it also does not give the collector permission to break the rules. You can ignore the calls and still report the violations separately.

State laws that may be stricter than federal law

Some states have their own debt collection laws that are stricter than the FDCPA. For example, some states prohibit calls on both Saturday and Sunday, or limit calling hours further. Check your state attorney general's website to see if your state has additional protections.

If your state law is stricter than federal law, the stricter rule applies to you. A collector must follow whichever rule gives you more protection. If federal law allows Saturday calls but your state does not, the collector cannot call you on Saturday.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a debt collector text me on Sunday?

The FDCPA does not explicitly cover text messages the way it covers phone calls, but many states treat texts as equivalent to calls and explore the same hours and day restrictions. Some states have specific laws about debt collection texts. Check your state attorney general's website or send the collector a written request to stop all contact, which covers calls and texts.

What if the debt collector says they did not know it was Sunday?

It does not matter. The collector is responsible for knowing what day it is and what time zone you are in. Ignorance is not a defense under the FDCPA. A Sunday call is a violation whether the collector made a mistake or did it on purpose.

Can a debt collector call me on Sunday if I gave them permission?

No. The FDCPA does not allow you to waive the Sunday ban or the calling hours, even if you agree to it. The law is absolute on this point — no calls on Sunday, period. Any agreement you make to allow Sunday calls is not enforceable.

Do I have to pay the debt if they called me on Sunday?

A violation of calling hours does not erase the debt. You still owe the money. However, the violation is a separate legal issue you can report and potentially sue over. You can owe the debt and also have a claim against the collector for breaking the law.

What if a debt collector calls from a blocked number on Sunday?

It is still a violation. The fact that the number is blocked does not change the rule. If you can identify the caller (through voicemail, your phone bill, or by asking them), you can report it. If you cannot identify them, document what you can — the time, date, and what they said — and report it to the CFPB.