The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) came into practice to regulate the methods used by debt collectors in collecting debt. According to the FDCPA, a debt collector is someone who collects debts on a regular basis. This includes collection agencies, lawyers who collect debts on a regular basis and companies that buy criminal debts and then try to collect them. A debt collector can call during day time on a number agreed by you, and only request for payment. He cannot demand or disturb you in any form.  The FDCPA protects you from debt collector harassment.

A debt collector cannot harass you by calling you any time of day and night. He cannot call you at your workplace. He cannot shout or abuse you to pay the debt. If you have asked him orally or in writing not to call you, he has to stop. If you are represented by an attorney he must contact only the attorney. By calling you even after your engaging an attorney, debt collector violates the FDCPA. You can sue the debt collector for this violation. The debt collector cannot intimidate you with dire consequences like threatening to garnish your wages, or get you arrested. These violations are strictly punishable by law.