Contact From a Debt Collector

Can a Debt Collector Swear at Me or Threaten Me?

Both Texas and federal law prohibit debt collectors from using abuse, harassment, or threats when trying to collect a debt. The information below explains what is considered to be abuse and harassment under the law.

Likewise, debt collectors cannot lie about who they are or what they can do to get you to pay a debt. You cannot be arrested for a debt.

Texas and Federal Law

Texas Constitution, Article 1, Section 18
This provision in the Texas Constitution ensures that no person shall ever be imprisoned for debt.
Texas Finance Code Chapter 392, Subchapter D
These sections of Texas law outline deceptive, threatening, and abusive behavior that debt collectors and original creditors cannot engage in. These behaviors include: falsely accusing you of a crime, using profane or obscene language, using a false name, misrepresenting that their communications are coming from an official government source.
Sections 1692d(1) and 1692d(2) in Title 15 of the U.S. Code
Under the FDCPA, third-party debt collectors cannot use profane or obscene language. They cannot threaten you with violence or other criminal acts.
Section 1692e in Title 15 of the U.S. Code
This section of the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act lists false or deceptive statements that a third-party debt collector is prohibited from using.
Section 1692f(6) in Title 15 of the U.S. Code
This section of the FDCPA states that a third-party debt collector cannot threaten to repossess property if it was not collateral for the debt in question, if it is exempt from repossession by law, or if they do not intend to actually repossess it.

Understanding the Law

The video below from Texas Appleseed discusses some common scare tactics from debt collectors.

Debt Collectors Cannot Harass, Lie, or Threaten You
This page from Texas Appleseed explains intimidation tactics that state and federal law prohibits.
Illegal Debt Collection Practices
Legal publisher Nolo explains tactics that a third-party debt collector cannot use under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.

When Can a Debt Collector Call Me?

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act prevents a debt collector from calling you in the middle of the night to annoy you. Unless the debt collector knows otherwise, the law says they should assume that convenient hours to call you are between 8am and 9pm.

Both Texas and Federal law prevent debt collectors from calling you repeatedly with the intent to harass or annoy you.

Texas and Federal Law

Section 1692c(a)(1) in Title 15 of the U.S. Code
This section of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act prohibits debt collectors from calling at odd hours.
Section 1692d(5) in Title 15 of the U.S. Code
This section of the law concerns harassment and abuse from debt collectors. It prohibits them from calling you repeatedly to annoy you.
Section 392.302 in the Texas Finance Code
This section of Texas law prevents debt collectors or original creditors from calling you repeatedly to harass you.

Can a Debt Collector Send a Text or Social Media Message?

Under new Consumer Financial Protection Bureau rules, debt collectors can now contact people via email, text, and social media. These rules went into effect on November 30, 2021. The rules put some restrictions on these kinds of messages from debt collectors, including:

They must identify themselves as debt collectors when trying to send a message or add someone as a friend.
Debt collectors cannot post to social media in ways that are visible to a person's contacts or the public.
They must give people a way to opt out of being contacted on that platform in the future.

Federal Law

Title 12, Section 1006.22 of the Code of Federal Regulations
This rule prevents debt collectors from contacting people on social media in a way that can be seen by the public or the person's contacts.
Title 12, Section 1006.18 of the Code of Federal Regulations
This rule prevents debt collectors from using "false, deceptive, or misleading representations" to contact you about a debt. In the Official Interpretations section, it states "Assume that a debt collector sends a private message, in connection with the collection of a debt, requesting to be added as one of the consumer's contacts on a social media platform marketed for social or professional networking purposes. A debt collector makes a false representation or implication if the debt collector does not disclose his or her identity as a debt collector in the request."

Understanding the Law

Can a debt collector contact me through social media?
This FAQ from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau explains the rules debt collectors must follow when contacting people through social media.

Can a Debt Collector Contact Me at Work?

A debt collector can call you at work unless they "have a reason to know" that your employer prohibits these kinds of calls.

New Consumer Financial Protection Bureau rules allow debt collectors to contact people by email. They cannot contact you at an email address that they know is provided to you by your employer. Debt collectors may be able to use your work address if one of the following applies and you did not ask them to stop using that email address afterward:

You used that email address to contact the debt collector or the creditor about the debt;
You provided the email address directly to the debt collector or creditor; or
A prior debt collector contacted you at that email address.

If a debt collector contacts you by email, they must include in the message a way to opt out of future emails to that address.

Federal Law

Section 1692c(b) in Title 15 of the U.S. Code
This section of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act discusses the ways that a debt collector can communicate about a debt - and with whom. In particular, it prohibits calling at a debtor's work, or talking to anyone but the debtor, attorneys for either party, or credit reporting agencies about the debt.
Title 12, Section 1006.6 of the Code of Federal Regulations
These federal rules put limitations on a debt collector's ability to email you at your work email address.

Understanding the Law

Can a debt collector call me at work to collect a debt?
This page from the legal publisher Nolo explains the laws surrounding a debt collector's ability to call you while at work.

Can a Debt Collector Talk to My Friends or Family About My Debt?

Debt collectors are prohibited by law from discussing the details of your debt with anyone but you, your spouse, your parent (if you are a minor), a credit reporting agency, the creditor, or the attorneys for the parties involved.

If the debt collector is contacting other people in order to find contact information for you, they cannot state that you owe a debt.

Federal Law

Section 1692b in Title 15 of the U.S. Code
This section of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act puts strict limitations on what a debt collector can say when communicating with someone who is not the debtor.

What Can I Do About Debt Collectors Who Break These Laws?

If a debt collector violates one of the laws listed above, there are a few things you can do. Both the federal law and the Texas law allow you to sue the debt collector. Violations of the Texas law are criminal offenses. You can also file complaints with several state and federal agencies listed below.

Texas and Federal Law

Section 392.402 of the Texas Finance Code
This section creates criminal penalties for violations of Texas's debt collection laws.
Section 392.403 of the Texas Finance Code
This section allows someone to sue an original creditor or third-party debt collector who has violated Texas's debt collection laws.
Section 1692k in Title 15 of the U.S. Code
This section of the FDCPA allows people to sue third-party debt collectors who violated the law.
Section 1692l in Title 15 of the U.S. Code
This section of the FDCPA allows the Federal Trade Commission to enforce federal debt collection laws.

File a Complaint

Debt Collection Practices - Office of the Consumer Credit Commissioner
Report violations of Texas's debt collection laws by original creditors to the Office of the Consumer Credit Commissioner.
File a Consumer Complaint with the Texas Attorney General
Report violations of Texas's debt collection laws by third-party debt collectors to the Texas Attorney General's Consumer Protection division.
File a Complaint with the Federal Trade Commission
The Federal Trade Commission accepts complaints regarding the collection practices of third-party debt collectors.