Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA)
Protecting You from Harassment, Pressure, and Abuse
Debt collectors don’t have the right to threaten, mislead, or mistreat you. The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) is a federal law designed to ensure fairness and dignity in the debt collection process—and to protect you from harassment, deception, or unlawful pressure.
If you’re getting relentless calls, being contacted at odd hours, or feel intimidated by a collector’s tactics, you may have legal protections—and legal options.
What the FDCPA Prohibits
Under the FDCPA, debt collectors cannot:
Call before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m.
Contact third parties more than once when trying to locate you
Tell others that you owe a debt
Try to collect debts that are invalid, already paid, or time-barred
Threaten arrest, jail, or legal actions they can’t legally take
Even if you owe money, you still have rights. And if those rights have been violated, you may be entitled to compensation.
Your Options Under the Law
You can file an FDCPA claim as an individual or as part of a class action. In many cases, you may be eligible for:
Compensation for actual damages
Up to $1,000 in statutory damages for individuals
Up to $500,000 (or 1% of the collector’s net worth) for class actions
Coverage of your legal fees
At Dessaules Law Group, we work with you to stop the harassment, assert your rights, and seek justice if debt collectors have crossed the line.