Can a debt collector contact me by phone or in person?

In California, debt collectors are legally allowed to contact you by phone or in person to try and collect a debt. However, there are restrictions on how and when they can do this. The federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and the California Rosenthal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (RFDCPA) protect consumers by setting rules for debt collectors. According to these laws, a collector cannot contact you at an unreasonable time (before 8 am or after 9 pm local time) or at an unusual place (such as your workplace). Additionally, they are not allowed to call you excessively with the intent to annoy, harass, or abuse you. If you have asked the debt collector to stop contacting you, they must comply. This is known as a "cease and desist letter" and it must be followed. If they continue to contact you after receiving this letter, then they could be violating the law. Additionally, if a debt collector is trying to collect on a debt that you do not owe, or if they are trying to collect a debt that is too old, then you may be protected by the law. If you feel like a debt collector has violated any of these laws, you can file a complaint with the California Attorney General’s Office. The Attorney General’s office will investigate the complaint and take appropriate legal action if necessary.

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Can a debt collector contact me by phone or in person?

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