What to do when a debt collector contacts you
Updated October 17, 2026 · General information, not legal advice
- Don’t pay and don’t share financial details yet. Stay calm. Pressure is a tactic.
- Get their details. Write down the person’s name, company name, street address, phone number, and license number. Look up the company’s contact details yourself rather than using the ones the caller gives you.
- Ask for validation information. The collector has to give it to you when they first communicate with you or within five days. It includes the creditor’s name and how much they say you owe.
- Check whether the debt is yours. Compare it with your own records and your free credit reports from AnnualCreditReport.com, the official site for free reports.
- If it isn’t yours, or the amount looks wrong, dispute it in writing within 30 days. The FTC says that once the collector gets your dispute letter, it must stop collecting until it sends you written verification. Consider certified mail with a return receipt, and keep a copy.
- If you want them to stop contacting you, the FTC says you can mail a letter asking them to stop. Keep a copy.
- Don’t ignore a real lawsuit. If you’re served with court papers, respond by the deadline. This is the time to talk to a lawyer or legal aid.
- Report scams and abuse to the FTC, the CFPB, and your state attorney general.
About old debts. Debts can become “time-barred” after a state’s statute of limitations runs out, and in some states a payment or written acknowledgment can restart the clock. The rules vary by state, so read the FTC’s section on old debts and check with legal aid before paying an old debt.
Free help
- CFPB debt collection tools and answers
- FTC Debt Collection FAQs
- U.S. Trustee Program list of approved credit counseling agencies
- Illinois residents: Illinois resources
Sources: CFPB: How do I tell if a debt collector is legitimate or a scam? and FTC: Debt Collection FAQs, and California DFPI: Beware of fake debt collectors, all checked October 17, 2026.