Bill collectors have strict time limits on when they can call you

Under federal law, debt collectors cannot call you before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. in your time zone. They also cannot call you at work if your employer prohibits personal calls, and they cannot call repeatedly in a way that harasses you. These rules come from the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), a federal law that sets boundaries on how collectors can contact you.

The 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. window is the only time frame the law allows. If a collector calls outside those hours, that is a violation you can document and report. The time zone that matters is yours — the one where you live — not where the collector is located.

State laws sometimes add stricter rules on top of the federal ones. A few states limit calls to even narrower windows, and some require collectors to stop calling after you send a written request. Knowing your state's rules gives you more protection than the federal baseline alone.

Key Takeaways

  • Collectors cannot call before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. in your time zone under federal law, and calls outside those hours are violations you can report.
  • If you send a written request telling a collector to stop calling, they must honor it within five business days, though they may contact you once more to confirm.
  • Repeated calls in a short period, calls to your workplace when your employer forbids them, or calls after you have asked them to stop are all violations.
  • You can report violations to your state's attorney general, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, or file a lawsuit against the collector for damages.
  • Some states have their own calling restrictions that go beyond federal law, so checking your state's rules may give you stronger protections.

How to stop collectors from calling you

The simplest way to stop most calls is to send a written request. Write a letter or email to the collection agency stating that you are requesting they stop contacting you. Send it 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 contact you only once more — to confirm they received your request or to tell you they are taking a specific action like filing a lawsuit. They cannot call you repeatedly after that point. Keep a copy of your letter and the delivery receipt in case you need to prove you sent it.

If the same collector calls you again after your written request, that is a clear violation. Document the date, time, and what they said. If different collectors from the same company call you, the law treats each collector separately, so you may need to send separate requests or specify in your letter that it applies to all collectors working for that agency.

What counts as harassment or repeated calling

The FDCPA does not set a specific number of calls that makes contact illegal, but it does ban calling in a way that is intended to harass, oppress, or abuse you. Courts have found violations when collectors call multiple times per day, call very early in the morning or late at night, or call after you have told them to stop.

Calling you at work when you have told them your employer forbids personal calls is also a violation. If a collector calls your workplace, you can tell them your employer does not allow such calls, and they must stop calling there. They can still try to reach you at home or on your cell phone during allowed hours.

Calling family members, neighbors, or friends to find you is allowed under federal law, but collectors cannot tell those people you owe a debt — they can only ask for your contact information. If a collector is calling your family repeatedly or telling them details about your debt, that crosses into harassment.

State laws that go beyond federal rules

Some states have their own debt collection laws that are stricter than the FDCPA. For example, a few states do not allow calls before 9 a.m., and some ban calls on Sundays or holidays. A handful of states require collectors to identify themselves by their full name and the company name on every call, not just the first one.

New York, California, and Florida have particularly detailed state laws. New York requires collectors to send written notice before they can call you. California limits calls to two per week unless you agree to more. Florida has its own time restrictions and rules about what collectors can say.

To find your state's rules, search your state attorney general's website for "debt collection" or "FDCPA." Many state attorney general offices have fact sheets or guides specific to your state. If your state law is stricter than federal law, the stricter rule applies to you.

What to do if a collector violates the calling rules

Document every violation. Write down the date, time of day, phone number the call came from, the collector's name if they gave it, and what they said. If they called outside 8 a.m. to 9 p.m., note that. If they called after you sent a written request to stop, note that too. Keep text messages, voicemails, or call logs as evidence.

Report the violation to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) at consumerfinance.gov. You can file a complaint online, and the CFPB will forward it to the collector and their regulator. You can also report violations to your state's attorney general office, which handles consumer complaints.

You have the right to sue a collector for violations of the FDCPA. You can recover actual damages (money you lost because of the calls), statutory damages up to $1,000 per violation, and attorney fees. Many people hire a lawyer on a contingency basis, meaning the lawyer only gets paid if you win. You do not need to hire a lawyer to report to the CFPB or your state attorney general — those are free.

What collectors can and cannot say during calls

Collectors cannot threaten you, use profanity, or claim they will have you arrested or sued if that is not true. They cannot tell your employer, family, or friends about your debt unless those people are legally responsible for it. They cannot call you repeatedly in a short time to pressure you into paying.

Collectors must tell you their name and the name of the company they work for. They must tell you they are a debt collector and that any information you give them will be used to collect the debt. If you ask them to prove the debt is real, they must send you written proof within 30 days.

If you tell a collector you have a lawyer, they must contact your lawyer instead of you. If you tell them you cannot discuss the debt at that moment, they should respect that and call back at a better time. Ignoring these requests is a violation.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a bill collector call me on weekends or holidays?

Federal law does not ban weekend or holiday calls, as long as they are between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. in your time zone. However, some states do restrict calls on certain days. Check your state attorney general's website to see if your state has additional rules about weekend or holiday calling.

What if a collector calls my cell phone instead of my home phone?

Collectors can call your cell phone during the allowed hours (8 a.m. to 9 p.m. in your time zone). However, if calling your cell phone incurs charges to you, the collector must get your permission first. If they call your cell repeatedly without permission and you are being charged, that may be a violation.

Can I record a call from a debt collector?

It depends on your state. Some states allow you to record a call if at least one person on the call knows it is being recorded (you). Other states require both people to consent. Check your state's recording laws before you record. Even if you can record, it is usually better to document calls in writing instead.

What happens if I ignore a collector's calls?

Ignoring calls does not make the debt go away. The collector may file a lawsuit against you, and if they win, they can garnish your wages or put a lien on your property. However, ignoring calls is your right — you do not have to answer. If you want to stop the calls, send a written request instead.

Do the calling rules explore if I owe a payday loan or medical debt?

Yes. The FDCPA applies to most types of consumer debt, including payday loans, medical bills, credit card debt, and personal loans. The only debts it does not cover are business debts or debts owed by businesses. If you owe money as an individual consumer, the calling rules explore.