Harassing calls from debt buyers can be stopped by sending a written cease and desist letter via certified mail, which legally requires debt buyers to stop calling you except to confirm receipt or notify you of specific actions like lawsuits. Debt buyers are companies that purchase old debts for pennies on the dollar and must follow the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), which prohibits harassment regardless of whether they’re original creditors or third-party collectors.
Understanding who debt buyers are, what tactics they commonly use, and your legal rights to stop their calls protects you from ongoing harassment. This guide explains effective strategies to stop harassing calls from debt buyers and hold violators accountable.
What Debt Buyers Are and How They Operate
Debt buyers are companies that purchase charged-off debts from original creditors at steep discounts, typically paying 4 cents or less per dollar of debt value. These debt buyers then attempt to collect the full debt amount, keeping any money collected as profit.
The Debt Buying Business Model
Original creditors sell debts they’ve written off as uncollectible to debt buyers in bulk portfolios. Debt buyers purchase these portfolios without detailed documentation, often receiving only basic information like names, Social Security numbers, and debt amounts. This lack of documentation creates problems when debt buyers cannot verify debts they’re attempting to collect.
Common Debt Buying Companies
Major debt buyers include Midland Funding, Portfolio Recovery Associates, Cavalry Portfolio Services, LVNV Funding, and Unifund CCR. These companies operate nationwide and may use various collection agencies to pursue debts on their behalf.
Why Debt Buyers Are Aggressive
Since debt buyers paid very little for purchased debts, any amount collected represents significant profit. This economic incentive drives aggressive collection tactics, including harassing calls from debt buyers. Even recovering 20% of a debt’s face value produces massive returns on their initial investment.
For information about documenting harassment, see How to Document Debt Collection Harassment the Right Way.
Common Harassment Tactics Debt Buyers Use
Harassing calls from debt buyers often involve specific tactics designed to pressure payment through intimidation, confusion, or exhaustion. Recognizing these tactics helps you identify violations of federal law.
Excessive Call Frequency
Debt buyers or their collection agencies may call multiple times daily, sometimes calling back immediately after you hang up. This excessive frequency is a hallmark of harassing calls from debt buyers and may violate FDCPA provisions against harassment.
Calling Outside Legal Hours
Some debt buyers call before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. in your time zone, violating clear FDCPA time restrictions. These off-hours calls are designed to catch you when you’re most vulnerable and less likely to assert your rights.
Workplace Contact Despite Requests to Stop
Harassing calls from debt buyers often target your workplace even after you’ve explained that your employer prohibits personal calls. Continuing workplace contact after notification violates federal law.
Threatening Legal Action They Can’t Take
Debt buyers frequently threaten lawsuits, wage garnishment, or arrest despite lacking documentation to prove the debt or having no actual intention to sue. These false threats constitute FDCPA violations.
Refusing to Provide Validation
When debt buyers refuse to send written validation of debts or ignore your validation requests, this may violate FDCPA Section 1692g. Harassing calls from debt buyers combined with validation refusal suggests they cannot verify the debt.
For more about validation rights, see What to Do if a Debt Collector Refuses to Send a Validation Letter.
Your Legal Rights Under the FDCPA
The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act provides comprehensive protections against harassing calls from debt buyers. Understanding these rights empowers you to stop the harassment effectively.
Right to Demand Cease Communication
You have the absolute right to demand that debt buyers stop calling you. Once you send a written cease and desist letter via certified mail, debt buyers can only contact you to confirm they’re stopping communication or to notify you of specific actions like filing lawsuits.
Right to Debt Validation
Debt buyers must send you written validation notices within five days of initial contact. You have 30 days to dispute the debt in writing, after which debt buyers must provide verification before continuing collection. During verification, harassing calls from debt buyers should cease.
Protection from Harassment and Abuse
The FDCPA specifically prohibits harassing, oppressive, or abusive conduct. This includes causing your phone to ring repeatedly or continuously with intent to annoy, abuse, or harass. Harassing calls from debt buyers that fit this pattern violate federal law.
Time and Place Restrictions
Debt buyers cannot call before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. in your time zone. They also cannot call your workplace if they know your employer prohibits such contact. Violations of these restrictions make harassing calls from debt buyers actionable under the FDCPA.
Right to Sue for Violations
When debt buyers violate the FDCPA, you can sue for statutory damages up to $1,000, actual damages for harm suffered, and attorney fees. The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act creates these remedies to ensure consumers can enforce their rights.
How to Send an Effective Cease and Desist Letter
A properly drafted cease and desist letter is your most powerful tool to stop harassing calls from debt buyers. This legal document triggers specific requirements that debt buyers must follow.
Essential Components of Your Letter
Your cease and desist letter should clearly identify you and the account in question. State explicitly that you’re demanding all phone communication cease immediately pursuant to FDCPA Section 1692c(c). Include your address for any necessary written communication.
Proper Delivery Method
Send your cease and desist letter via certified mail with return receipt requested. This proves the debt buyer received your demand and establishes the date they were notified. Keep copies of everything you send, including the certified mail receipt and the return receipt.
What to Include in the Letter
Demand that all phone calls stop immediately and state that debt buyers may only contact you in writing or to notify you of specific actions like lawsuits. Reference FDCPA Section 1692c(c) to show you understand your rights. Warn that violations after receipt may result in legal action.
Sample Language
“This letter is formal notice that I am exercising my rights under 15 U.S.C. § 1692c(c) to cease communication. You are hereby notified to STOP all telephone communication with me regarding this alleged debt. Any future contact must be in writing only. Violations of this cease communication demand will be documented and may result in legal action.”
After Sending the Letter
Once debt buyers receive your cease and desist letter, they cannot call you except to confirm they’re stopping communication or to notify you they’re filing a lawsuit or taking other specific actions. Any harassing calls from debt buyers after receiving your letter constitute clear FDCPA violations.
Demanding Debt Validation to Stop Calls
Requesting debt validation is another effective strategy to stop harassing calls from debt buyers, particularly when you don’t recognize the debt or question its validity.
The Validation Process
Send a written debt validation request within 30 days of the debt buyer’s initial contact. Demand that they provide proof of the debt, documentation showing you owe it, verification of the amount, and proof they have the legal right to collect.
Why Validation Stops Many Debt Buyers
Many debt buyers cannot adequately validate debts because they purchased them without complete documentation. When debt buyers cannot provide proper validation, harassing calls from debt buyers often stop because they realize they cannot prove the debt in court.
What Proper Validation Includes
Valid verification should include original account statements, documentation from the original creditor, proof of the chain of ownership if the debt was sold multiple times, and evidence that the debt buyer owns the specific debt they’re collecting.
Collection Must Pause During Validation
Once you dispute a debt in writing, debt buyers must cease collection activities until they verify. This means harassing calls from debt buyers should stop during the validation process. Continuing to call without providing validation may violate the FDCPA.
If Validation Is Inadequate
When debt buyers provide insufficient validation like computer printouts without supporting documentation, you can challenge this as inadequate. Send a follow-up letter explaining why the validation is insufficient and demanding proper documentation.
Documenting Harassing Calls for Legal Action
Proper documentation of harassing calls from debt buyers creates evidence needed to pursue legal claims and recover damages for FDCPA violations.
Essential Information to Record
For each call, document the date, exact time, phone number that called, name of the caller and company, duration of the call, what was said during the conversation, and any threats or false statements made.
Recording Conversations
If your state allows single-party consent recording, record harassing calls from debt buyers. These recordings provide the strongest possible evidence of violations. States requiring two-party consent include California, Florida, Pennsylvania, and several others.
Preserving Voicemails
Save all voicemails left by debt buyers. These messages often contain threats, false statements, or evidence of time-of-day violations. Voicemails with timestamps prove when calls occurred and what debt buyers said.
Tracking Call Frequency
Create a log showing patterns of excessive calling. Harassing calls from debt buyers often involve multiple calls per day over extended periods. Demonstrating this pattern strengthens claims of harassment.
Screenshots and Written Records
Take screenshots of call logs showing the frequency and timing of calls. Save any text messages or written communications. Document how the harassment has affected your life, work, and emotional well-being.
For comprehensive documentation guidance, see How to Document Debt Collection Harassment the Right Way.
Filing Complaints About Debt Buyer Harassment
Filing complaints with regulatory agencies creates official records of harassing calls from debt buyers and may trigger enforcement actions against violators.
Federal Trade Commission
File complaints with the FTC at ftc.gov/complaint or call 1-877-382-4357. The FTC tracks patterns of violations by debt buyers and can take enforcement action against companies engaging in systematic harassment.
State Attorney General
Contact your state Attorney General’s consumer protection division. Many states have specific debt collection laws providing additional protections. State regulators can investigate and prosecute harassing calls from debt buyers under state law.
Better Business Bureau
While not a government agency, BBB complaints create public records warning other consumers. Debt buyers concerned about their reputation may respond to BBB complaints more readily than to individual consumer demands.
Documentation for Complaints
Include detailed information about the harassing calls from debt buyers, specific dates and times of calls, names of representatives who called, what violations occurred, and how the harassment has affected you.
When Debt Buyers Sue Despite Cease Letters
Some debt buyers file lawsuits even after receiving cease and desist letters. Understanding how to respond to these lawsuits protects your rights and may strengthen your counterclaims.
You Must Respond to Lawsuits
Never ignore a lawsuit even if you sent a cease and desist letter. You must file a formal answer within the deadline specified in the summons (typically 20-30 days) to avoid default judgments.
Raising FDCPA Violations as Defenses
Your answer to the lawsuit can include counterclaims for FDCPA violations if harassing calls from debt buyers continued after your cease letter. Document all contact that occurred after they received your cease demand.
Challenging Debt Buyer Documentation
Debt buyers often struggle to prove they own the debt and that you owe it. Challenge their documentation in your response and demand they prove the chain of ownership and debt validity.
Statute of Limitations Defenses
Many debts that debt buyers purchase are old and may be past your state’s statute of limitations. If the debt is time-barred, assert this defense in your answer to the lawsuit.
For information about time-barred debts, see When Debt Collectors Chase Time-Barred Debts: What You Should Know.
How The Wood Law Firm Stops Debt Buyer Harassment
When harassing calls from debt buyers violate your rights, The Wood Law Firm provides expert legal representation to stop the harassment and pursue compensation for violations. Our team has over a decade of experience fighting debt buyer abuses.
Why Choose The Wood Law Firm
At The Wood Law Firm, our mission is simple: to protect consumers from predatory practices and ensure they receive the fair treatment they deserve. We specialize in cases involving the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), and Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA). For over a decade, we have fought tirelessly to hold companies accountable and to secure justice for our clients.
Our Comprehensive Approach
Choosing The Wood Law Firm means partnering with a team that is deeply committed to your cause. We understand the stress and frustration that comes with facing unfair consumer practices, and we are here to stand by your side every step of the way. Our personalized approach, combined with our extensive experience and national reach, makes us uniquely equipped to handle your consumer protection needs.
Services for Debt Buyer Harassment Cases
We immediately send cease and desist letters to stop harassing calls from debt buyers. Our team files FDCPA lawsuits seeking statutory damages and attorney fees. We challenge debt validation when debt buyers cannot prove their claims. The firm defends against lawsuits filed by debt buyers and pursues counterclaims for harassment violations.
No Upfront Costs
We handle most FDCPA cases on a contingency basis. You pay nothing unless we recover compensation for you. Federal law requires debt buyers to pay your attorney fees when you win, making these cases accessible to all consumers.
Nationwide Representation Network
The Wood Law Firm has cultivated strong Of Counsel relationships with attorneys licensed in Arizona, California, Florida, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Washington, and West Virginia. This network ensures comprehensive representation against harassing calls from debt buyers regardless of your location.
Call The Wood Law Firm at +1 844-638-1122 for immediate assistance. Their experienced team will guide you through stopping harassment, validating debts, and pursuing compensation for any potential violations.
Meet Attorney Jeff Wood
Jeff Wood is an accomplished attorney based in Arkansas, where he is fully licensed to practice law. With over 15 years of experience, Mr. Wood specializes in consumer protection, focusing on cases involving the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), and Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA). His extensive knowledge in these areas has made him a trusted advocate for consumers facing unfair practices.
Federal Court Expertise
Though Mr. Wood is only licensed in the state of Arkansas, his legal expertise extends to multiple federal courts. He is admitted to practice in all federal courts in Arkansas, Colorado, New Mexico, and Texas, as well as the Southern District of Indiana, Eastern District of Michigan, Eastern District of Missouri, Western District of Tennessee, and Western District of Wisconsin.
Leading a Nationwide Network
The Wood Firm, under Mr. Wood’s leadership, also collaborates with a network of attorneys through Of Counsel relationships. These attorneys are licensed in various states, including Arizona, California, Florida, Louisiana, Minnesota, Missouri, Ohio, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas (state courts), Washington, and West Virginia. This extensive network allows The Wood Firm to offer comprehensive legal services across a wide geographic area, ensuring clients receive top-tier representation.
Real Client Success Stories
Lisa’s Midland Funding Victory
Lisa received 8-12 harassing calls from debt buyers daily for two months about a debt she didn’t recognize. Midland Funding refused to provide validation despite her written requests. After documenting 156 calls in 60 days, Lisa contacted The Wood Law Firm. Attorneys sent cease and desist letters and filed FDCPA claims for excessive calling and validation refusal. The case settled for $12,500, all calls stopped immediately, and Midland could not provide adequate documentation proving Lisa owed the debt.
Marcus’s Portfolio Recovery Case
Portfolio Recovery Associates called Marcus at work 4-6 times daily despite his employer’s prohibition on personal calls. The harassing calls from debt buyers continued for three weeks, nearly costing Marcus his job. The Wood Law Firm documented the workplace harassment and filed suit. Marcus received a $9,000 settlement for workplace contact violations, and Portfolio Recovery withdrew their collection attempt entirely.
Jennifer’s Time-Barred Debt Success
LVNV Funding purchased a seven-year-old debt and began harassing calls from debt buyers threatening lawsuits. Jennifer verified the debt was past her state’s statute of limitations. The Wood Law Firm sent letters asserting the time-barred defense and demanding cessation of harassment. When calls continued, the firm filed FDCPA claims. Jennifer recovered $8,500 for harassment on a time-barred debt she never had to pay.
Taking Action Against Debt Buyer Harassment
When harassing calls from debt buyers disrupt your life, taking documented legal action stops the harassment and may result in compensation for violations.
Immediate Steps to Take
Send a cease and desist letter via certified mail demanding that all phone contact stop. Request debt validation if you question the debt’s validity. Document every call, including dates, times, and what was said. Stop providing personal information to debt buyers until they validate the debt.
What to Bring to Your Consultation
Contact The Wood Law Firm at +1 844-638-1122 prepared to discuss when harassing calls from debt buyers started, how frequently they call, whether you’ve sent cease or validation letters, what the debt buyer claims you owe, and whether you recognize the debt.
What We’ll Do for You
Our experienced team will send immediate cease and desist demands to stop harassing calls from debt buyers. We’ll file debt validation requests challenging inadequate documentation. The firm pursues FDCPA lawsuits seeking damages and attorney fees. We defend against debt buyer lawsuits with counterclaims for harassment.
Protection from Ongoing Harassment
If harassing calls from debt buyers continue while you’re pursuing legal action, The Wood Law Firm can seek emergency relief. We’ll document ongoing violations that increase potential damages and strengthen your case.
For information about credit score protection, see Can a Debt Collector Ruin Your Credit Score Without Telling You?.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I stop harassing calls from debt buyers?
Stop harassing calls from debt buyers by sending a written cease and desist letter via certified mail demanding all phone contact cease. Debt buyers can only call after that to confirm they’re stopping or to notify you of specific actions.
Do debt buyers have to follow the FDCPA?
Yes, debt buyers must follow the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act just like any other debt collectors. They cannot harass, abuse, threaten, or use deceptive practices when collecting debts.
Can debt buyers call me multiple times daily?
Debt buyers calling multiple times daily may be engaging in harassment that violates the FDCPA. Excessive calling intended to annoy, abuse, or harass you is prohibited, regardless of how many times they actually call.
What if debt buyers won’t validate the debt?
If debt buyers refuse to validate debts or provide inadequate validation, you can demand proper documentation, file complaints with the FTC and state regulators, and consult with an attorney about FDCPA violation claims.
Can I sue debt buyers for harassing calls?
Yes, you can sue debt buyers for harassing calls that violate the FDCPA. You may recover statutory damages up to $1,000, actual damages, and attorney fees paid by the debt buyer if you prevail.
Do cease letters work with debt buyers?
Cease and desist letters are legally binding on debt buyers. Once they receive your written demand to stop calling, they can only contact you to confirm receipt or notify you of specific actions, like lawsuits.
What if debt buyers call after my cease letter?
If harassing calls from debt buyers continue after they receive your cease and desist letter, this constitutes a clear FDCPA violation. Document these calls and contact an attorney about pursuing legal action.
Can debt buyers report debts to credit bureaus?
Debt buyers can report debts to credit bureaus if they follow proper procedures. However, they must report accurate information and investigate disputes. Improper reporting may violate the Fair Credit Reporting Act.
Should I pay debt buyers to stop harassment?
Don’t pay debt buyers just to stop harassment. First, verify the debt is valid and you actually owe it. Send validation demands and cease letters before considering payment on potentially invalid debts.
How long do I have to sue for debt buyer harassment?
The FDCPA statute of limitations is one year from the violation date. However, ongoing harassment may extend this period. Consult with an attorney promptly to preserve your rights.
