Can a debt collector contact me after I’ve written them a letter asking them to stop?
In Washington, a debt collector is not allowed to continue contacting you after you’ve sent them a letter asking them to stop. This is called a cease and desist letter. State laws protect consumers from harassment and abuse by debt collectors. The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) is a federal law that outlines the behaviors that debt collectors are not allowed to engage in when contacting consumers. The Federal Trade Commission enforces the FDCPA. According to the FDCPA, once a consumer has sent a cease and desist letter, the debt collector must stop all communication. The debt collector is not allowed to contact the consumer in any way, including by telephone, mail, email, or texting. However, the debt collector can still take other steps to collect the debt. For example, the debt collector may still send a letter to the consumer saying the amount owed and giving an option to pay the debt. The debt collector is also allowed to report the debt to the consumer credit agencies. In conclusion, if a consumer has written a debt collector a letter asking them to stop contacting them, the debt collector is required to stop all communication. This is according to the FDCPA, which is enforced by the Federal Trade Commission. The debt collector may still take other steps to collect the debt, such as sending a letter to the consumer or reporting the debt to the consumer credit agencies.
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