Qualifying
How do I stop debt collection calls?
Under the FDCPA you can send a written cease-and-desist letter to the collection agency; once they receive it, they may only contact you to confirm they're stopping or to notify you of a specific action like filing a lawsuit. This doesn't erase the debt, but it ends the calls.
The full picture
The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) gives you the right to demand that a third-party debt collector stop contacting you — in writing. This is called a cease-and-desist request. It does not cancel the debt or prevent a lawsuit, but it does legally require the collector to halt most contact. The CFPB explains this right in detail.
What a cease-and-desist letter does (and doesn't do)
- Once received, the collector may only contact you one more time: to confirm they're stopping or to notify you they're taking a specific legal action (such as filing a lawsuit).
- It does NOT eliminate the debt — the obligation still exists and can still be collected through legal channels.
- It does NOT stop a lawsuit — a collector who intends to sue can still file in court after acknowledging your request.
- It does NOT stop the original creditor — the FDCPA covers third-party collectors, not the original lender contacting you directly.
How to send the letter
- Write a brief letter stating: 'I am writing to request that you cease all further communication with me regarding [account name/number]. This is a formal request under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1692c(c).'
- Include your name, address, and the account or debt referenced.
- Send via certified mail, return receipt requested — this creates proof of delivery with a date.
- Keep a copy of the letter and the return receipt.
- Do not include payment or promise to pay in the same letter.
Before you send: weigh the consequences
A cease-and-desist letter may prompt a collector to escalate — if they intend to sue, stopping calls doesn't stop litigation. If the debt is valid, consider whether you want to negotiate a resolution before cutting off communication entirely. See how to negotiate with debt collectors for the full approach before defaulting to a cease request.
Additional FDCPA call restrictions (even without a letter)
- Collectors cannot call before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. your local time.
- If you tell a collector verbally that you are represented by an attorney, they must contact your attorney instead of you.
- If you tell them calling at work is inconvenient or that your employer prohibits it, they must stop calling your workplace.
- Collectors cannot call repeatedly to harass — the CFPB's rules set limits on call frequency.
FDCPA rules on collector contact
- Under FDCPA § 805(c), if a consumer notifies a debt collector in writing to cease communication, the collector may only contact the consumer once more — to confirm it will stop or to notify the consumer of a specific action it intends to take. — CFPB — Debt Collection
- The CFPB's 2021 debt collection rules limit collectors to no more than seven calls per week per debt to a consumer, and prohibit calling within seven days of a conversation about the debt. — CFPB — Regulation F, 12 CFR 1006.14(b)(2)(i)
- The FTC notes that sending a cease-and-desist letter does not prevent a collector from suing you — it only stops most forms of communication. — FTC — Debt Collection FAQs
- The CFPB's 2025 Consumer Response Annual Report found credit- and consumer-reporting issues made up 88% of complaint records the agency fielded in 2025, with another 387,400 collection records filed specifically about debt collectors — a reminder that filing a complaint, as described below, feeds a system regulators actively use. — CFPB — 2025 Consumer Response Annual Report
Key takeaways
- Send a written cease-and-desist to the collection agency via certified mail — that creates a legal record of delivery.
- After receiving it, the collector can only contact you once more: to confirm they're stopping or to announce specific legal action.
- A cease request stops calls but not lawsuits — if the debt is valid, consider negotiating before cutting off contact.
- Even without a letter, collectors can't call before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m., or harass you with repeated calls.
- Report violations to the CFPB and FTC — you may have grounds to sue for actual damages plus up to $1,000.
Frequently asked questions
Does a cease-and-desist letter erase the debt?
No. It does not cancel the debt or prevent a lawsuit — the obligation still exists and can still be collected through legal channels. It only legally requires the collector to halt most further contact.
How should you send a cease-and-desist letter to a debt collector?
Send it via certified mail, return receipt requested, so you have proof of delivery with a date. Keep a copy of the letter and the return receipt, and don't include payment or a promise to pay in the same letter.
Can debt collectors call you at any time of day?
No. Under the FDCPA, collectors cannot call before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. your local time, and the CFPB's 2021 rules limit them to no more than seven calls per week per debt.
What happens after a collector receives your cease-and-desist letter?
Under FDCPA § 805(c), the collector may only contact you once more — to confirm they're stopping or to notify you of a specific action they intend to take, such as filing a lawsuit.
Published 2026-05-22 · Updated 2026-09-11 · https://clearvaluelending.com/answers/how-to-stop-debt-collection-calls