Debt collectors cannot call you on Sunday under federal law
The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) prohibits debt collectors from calling you on Sundays at all. The law treats Sunday as a day when you cannot be contacted by phone, regardless of the time. This applies to all debt collectors operating under federal rules — whether they work for a collection agency, a creditor's in-house team, or a law firm collecting on behalf of a creditor.
The only exception is if you have given the collector written permission to call on Sunday. That permission must be in writing and specific to Sunday calls. A verbal agreement is not enough under federal law.
If a collector calls you on a Sunday, that call violates the FDCPA. You have the right to document the call and take action, which is explained in the sections below.
Key Takeaways
- Federal law prohibits all debt collector calls on Sunday, with no time-of-day exceptions.
- You can give written permission for Sunday calls, but the permission must be in writing and specific to that day.
- Calls on other days are limited to 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. in your time zone, and collectors cannot call before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. under any circumstance.
- Document any Sunday call with the date, time, caller ID, and the collector's name, then send a written complaint to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.
- State laws may impose stricter rules than federal law, so check your state's debt collection regulations for additional protections.
What the federal law says about calling days and times
The FDCPA sets out specific rules for when collectors can reach you by phone. Sunday is completely off-limits. Monday through Saturday, collectors can call between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. in your local time zone. They cannot call before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. on any day except Sunday, when they cannot call at all.
These times explore to all types of calls — whether the collector is trying to reach you about the debt itself, confirming your address, or attempting to negotiate a payment. The time restriction covers the moment the call is placed, not when you answer.
If you work a night shift and sleep during the day, these federal rules still explore. A collector cannot call you at 7 a.m. just because that is when you sleep, and they cannot call you at 10 p.m. just because that is when you are awake. The law is the same for everyone.
How to give written permission for Sunday calls
If you want to allow a collector to call on Sunday, you must provide written permission. This can be an email, a text message, a letter, or any other written form. The permission should clearly state that you are allowing calls on Sunday and should include the collector's name or company name.
You can revoke this permission at any time, also in writing. Send a written notice to the collector stating that you no longer permit Sunday calls. Keep a copy for your records. Once the collector receives your written revocation, they must stop calling on Sunday.
Be cautious about giving this permission unless you have a specific reason to do so. Collectors may use Sunday calls to reach you when you are less likely to be at work or otherwise occupied, which can increase the frequency of contact.
What happens if a collector calls on Sunday
A Sunday call is a violation of federal law. Document the call when ready: write down the date, the time it came in, the phone number or caller ID, the collector's name if they gave it, and any details about what they said. This record is your evidence.
Send a written complaint to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) at consumerfinance.gov. Include the date of the call, the collector's name and company, and your documentation. The CFPB investigates complaints and can take action against collectors who violate the FDCPA.
You can also send a written complaint to your state's attorney general office. Many states have their own debt collection enforcement divisions and take violations seriously. Include the same information you sent to the CFPB.
State laws may offer stronger protections
Some states have debt collection laws that are stricter than the federal FDCPA. For example, some states prohibit calls on both Saturday and Sunday, or limit calling hours to a narrower window than 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. A few states require collectors to honor "do not call" requests more broadly than federal law requires.
Check your state's attorney general website or your state's consumer protection agency to see what rules explore where you live. If your state law is stricter, you can rely on the state rule instead of the federal one. You are may have access to to whichever protection is stronger.
If a collector violates your state's law, you can file a complaint with your state attorney general in addition to the CFPB. State enforcement can sometimes move faster than federal enforcement, especially if your state has a dedicated debt collection unit.
How to stop unwanted calls altogether
If you do not want collectors calling you at all, you can send a written request to stop calling. This is called a "cease and desist" letter. Send it to the collector by certified mail with return receipt requested, so you have proof they received it. Keep a copy for yourself.
Once the collector receives your cease and desist letter, they must stop calling you except in very limited situations: to confirm they received your letter, to tell you they are taking legal action, or to notify you of a lawsuit. They cannot call to discuss the debt or ask for payment after receiving your letter.
A cease and desist letter does not make the debt go away, and it does not stop a collector from suing you. It only stops the phone calls. If you owe the debt, the collector can still pursue other collection methods, including court action.
What to do if calls continue after you object
If a collector continues calling after you have sent a cease and desist letter, or if they call on Sunday after you have told them not to, document each violation. Keep a log with the date, time, caller ID, and the collector's name. After three or more violations, you have a pattern of illegal conduct.
File a complaint with the CFPB and your state attorney general. Include your documentation and mention that you have already requested the calls stop. Provide copies of your cease and desist letter if you sent one.
You may also have the right to sue the collector in small claims court or in regular civil court for violations of the FDCPA. Many collectors settle these cases rather than defend them in court. Consult a consumer law attorney in your state to understand your options; many offer free initial consultations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can a debt collector call me on Sunday if the debt is urgent or the amount is large?
No. The FDCPA does not make exceptions based on the size of the debt or how urgent the collector believes the situation is. Sunday calls are prohibited for all debts, regardless of amount or circumstances. The only exception is if you have given written permission.
What if a debt collector calls me at 8:05 a.m. on a weekday — is that legal?
Yes, 8:05 a.m. is within the legal calling window of 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. The law allows calls starting at 8 a.m. sharp. If a collector calls at 7:59 a.m., that is a violation.
Does the time zone rule mean collectors can call me at 9 p.m. their time if I am in a different zone?
No. The law is clear: collectors must use your local time zone, not theirs. If you are in the Eastern time zone, a collector in California cannot call you at 6 p.m. Pacific time (which would be 9 p.m. Eastern). They must follow your time zone.
If I miss a call from a collector on Sunday, can they leave a voicemail?
A voicemail left on Sunday is still a Sunday call and still a violation. The violation occurs when the call is placed, not when you listen to the message. If a collector calls on Sunday and leaves a voicemail, that is illegal contact.
Can a collector text me on Sunday?
Text messages are treated differently from phone calls under the FDCPA. The Sunday prohibition applies specifically to telephone calls. However, text messages are still subject to other FDCPA rules, including rules about harassment and frequency. Check your state law, as some states restrict text messages more strictly than federal law does.