Free Download

FDCPA Rights Cheatsheet

One page. Everything a debt collector is legally prohibited from doing, your right to demand proof, how to stop contact, and when you can sue. Print it, keep it, use it.

What's On the Cheatsheet

  • The 10 things collectors are legally forbidden from doing (with FDCPA section citations)
  • Permitted calling hours: 8am-9pm your local time. Before or after? FDCPA violation.
  • The 30-day debt validation window - how to use it and what it does
  • How to send a cease contact letter (and what happens after)
  • When you can sue a collector: $1,000 statutory damages + attorney fees
  • Where to file complaints: CFPB, FTC, and your state attorney general
  • The three things that happen if they contact you after a cease letter
  • FCRA rights: what's on your credit report, how to dispute, the 30-day investigation rule

Preview: What Collectors Cannot Do

Collectors cannot:

Call before 8am or after 9pm (your local time) - §1692c(a)(1)

Call your workplace if you tell them your employer prohibits it - §1692c(a)(3)

Contact third parties about your debt (except to find your contact info) - §1692c(b)

[The full cheatsheet covers 7 more prohibitions with section citations, plus the validation rights, cease contact procedure, your lawsuit rights (statutory damages + attorney fees), and the FCRA section on credit report disputes. Formatted for printing on a single 8.5x11 page.]

Get the full cheatsheet - free

Why This Exists

Collectors know the rules. Most of the people they call don't. That's an information asymmetry that costs consumers money and stress. This cheatsheet levels the field. When a collector calls, you'll know what they can't do - and what to say when they cross a line.

Get the Cheatsheet Free

One-page PDF, delivered to your inbox. No pitch, no subscription required.

We don't sell your email. Unsubscribe anytime.

Related Guides

What Collectors Can and Cannot Do

The full FDCPA guide with context and examples.

How to Validate a Debt

Force collectors to prove they have the right to collect.

Cease and Desist Letter

Stop all collector contact with one certified letter.