Debt collectors can call between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. in your time zone, Monday through Friday, unless you tell them to stop or a court has ordered them not to contact you

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) sets the hours when debt collectors are allowed to call. They cannot call before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. your local time. They also cannot call on weekends or holidays unless you have given them permission to do so. These rules explore to phone calls, text messages, and emails.

If a debt collector calls outside these hours, that is a violation of federal law. You have the right to stop them from calling at all by sending a written request. Once they receive your letter, they must stop contacting you except to confirm they will stop or to tell you they are taking legal action.

The time zone that matters is yours, not theirs. If you live in Pacific time and a collector calls at 10 a.m. Pacific, that is legal even if it is noon Eastern time where they are located.

Key Takeaways

  • Debt collectors can only call between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. in your time zone on weekdays, and cannot call weekends or holidays without your permission.
  • Calls before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m., or on weekends and holidays, are violations of the FDCPA and you can document them as evidence.
  • You can stop all calls by sending a written cease-and-desist letter, which the collector must honor within a few days of receiving it.
  • If a collector ignores the time restrictions or your cease-and-desist letter, you can file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau or sue for damages.

How to send a cease-and-desist letter

A cease-and-desist letter is a written request telling the debt collector to stop contacting you. It does not have to be long or formal. You can write it yourself on plain paper or use a template. The letter should include your name, account number (if you know it), and a clear statement that you are asking them to stop calling.

Send the letter by certified mail with return receipt requested. This creates proof that the collector received it. Keep a copy for yourself. Once they receive the letter, they must stop calling within a few days, except to tell you they are stopping or to notify you of a lawsuit.

Sending a cease-and-desist letter does not make the debt go away. It only stops the calls. If the debt is real, the collector can still sue you. But if they call after receiving your letter, that is a separate violation you can report.

What counts as a violation of calling hours

A violation happens when a collector calls before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. your time, or on a weekend or holiday without your permission. It also happens if they call your workplace when they know your employer does not allow personal calls, or if they call repeatedly in a short period to harass you.

Leaving a voicemail after 9 p.m. counts as a call. Sending a text message outside the allowed hours also counts. If you receive multiple calls in one day from the same collector, that can be harassment even if each call is during allowed hours.

The collector cannot claim they did not know your time zone. They are responsible for finding out and calling at the right time. If they call at 9:15 p.m. your time, that is a violation even if they thought it was 8:15 p.m. somewhere else.

How to document violations for a complaint

Write down the date, time, and phone number of every call that breaks the rules. Note what the caller said and whether they left a message. If you have caller ID, take a screenshot. If the call came as a text message, save it.

Keep this record for at least a few months. If you decide to file a complaint or pursue a case, you will need this information to prove the violations happened. The more specific your record, the stronger your complaint will be.

You can also ask the collector to identify themselves and the company they work for during the call. Write down their name and the company name. This helps you file a complaint against the right entity later.

Where to report calling violations

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) takes complaints about debt collector violations. You can file a complaint on their website at consumerfinance.gov. Include the dates and times of the calls, the collector's name and number, and what they said.

You can also file a complaint with your state's attorney general office. Many states have their own laws about debt collection that are stricter than the FDCPA. Your state attorney general can investigate and take action.

If violations are serious or repeated, you may have the right to sue the collector in small claims court or civil court. You can recover actual damages (money you lost because of the calls) and statutory damages (a set amount the law allows). Some collectors have to pay your attorney fees if you win.

When collectors can call despite the time rules

If you give a debt collector permission to call at a different time, they can do so. This permission should be in writing, but some collectors may claim you gave verbal permission. Be careful about what you agree to on the phone.

If a court has issued a judgment against you in a debt case, the collector may have more leeway to contact you, but they still cannot harass you or ignore a cease-and-desist letter. The time restrictions still explore unless a judge has specifically ordered otherwise.

If you contact the collector first and ask them to call you at a specific time, they can call at that time. But this does not override the cease-and-desist letter. If you send a cease-and-desist letter, all calls must stop regardless of when you previously asked them to call.

What happens if you ignore the calls

Ignoring calls from a debt collector does not make the debt disappear. If the debt is real and the collector is licensed to pursue it, they can eventually sue you. A lawsuit is different from a phone call — it is a legal action that can result in a judgment against you and wage garnishment or bank account levies.

However, ignoring calls is not illegal, and you have no obligation to answer. You can let them go to voicemail. You can also tell them to contact your attorney if you have one, and they must stop calling you and contact your attorney instead.

If you believe the debt is not yours or is incorrect, you have the right to dispute it. Send a written dispute to the collector within 30 days of their first contact. They must stop collection efforts while they investigate your dispute.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a debt collector call me on Sunday?

No, unless you have given them written permission to do so. Sundays are holidays under the FDCPA, and collectors cannot call on any day off without your consent. If they call on Sunday without permission, that is a violation you can report to the CFPB or your state attorney general.

What if a debt collector calls at 8:59 p.m.?

That is legal. The rule allows calls until 9 p.m. A call at 8:59 p.m. is within the allowed window. A call at 9:01 p.m. is a violation. If you are unsure of the exact time, your phone's call log will show it.

Do I have to answer if a debt collector calls during allowed hours?

No. You never have to answer a call from a debt collector. You can let it go to voicemail or hang up. Answering does not obligate you to pay or admit the debt is yours. You can also tell them to contact you only by mail.

Can a debt collector text me at 10 p.m.?

No. Text messages are treated the same as phone calls under the FDCPA. A text sent at 10 p.m. is a violation of the time rules. You can report it and include it in your complaint to the CFPB.

What if I send a cease-and-desist letter but they keep calling?

Document every call after they receive the letter with the date and time. Each call is a separate violation. File a complaint with the CFPB and your state attorney general. You may also have grounds to sue for damages. Keep your certified mail receipt as proof they received the letter.