Debt collectors follow rules.Hold them to every one.

Four federal controls every consumer already owns.

15 U.S.C. § 1692g

Validation

Dispute a debt in writing within thirty days of the collector's validation notice, and the collector must stop collecting until it mails you verification of the debt or a copy of a judgment.

15 U.S.C. § 1692c(c)

Cease

Tell a collector in writing to stop and, once it receives the letter, it may contact you only to say it is stopping or to name a specific remedy it may pursue. Anything else goes on the record.

15 U.S.C. § 1692c-e

Conduct

No calls before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. without your consent. No threats, no false statements, no discussing the debt with third parties. Each incident is documentable.

15 U.S.C. § 1692k

Damages

A collector that violates the Act is liable for your actual damages, statutory damages of up to $1,000 in an individual action, and your costs and reasonable attorney fees.

Maine residents get further reach: a debt collector must hold a Maine license to collect here at all, 32 M.R.S. § 11031, and the Maine Unfair Trade Practices Act, 5 M.R.S. § 207, reaches unfair and deceptive conduct by original creditors, not only collectors.