The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) was enacted in 1977 after Congress found that abusive debt collection practices were widespread, causing serious harm to consumers. The law sets clear limits on what third-party debt collectors can and cannot do.

Violations are not just technical infractions — they entitle you to sue for statutory damages of up to $1,000, plus actual damages and attorney's fees. In many cases, a qualified attorney can take your case at no cost to you.

Here are ten things debt collectors are flatly prohibited from doing.

Debt collectors may only contact you between 8:00 AM and 9:00 PM in your local time zone. Calls outside those hours are a per-call violation of the FDCPA.

If you tell a debt collector — verbally or in writing — that your employer does not permit personal calls at work, they must stop calling you there. Continuing to call after that notice is a violation.

The FDCPA specifically prohibits conduct whose natural consequence is to harass, oppress, or abuse. This includes:

• Repeated or continuous calls intended to annoy or harass
• Threatening violence or harm
• Using obscene or profane language
• Publishing your name on a "deadbeat list"

Debt collectors cannot lie to you. Prohibited false statements include:

• Claiming to be an attorney when they are not
• Misrepresenting the amount you owe
• Falsely claiming you have committed a crime
• Threatening legal action they have no intention of taking
• Claiming to be a government agency or law enforcement

You cannot be arrested for failing to pay a consumer debt. Any collector who threatens you with arrest or criminal prosecution for an unpaid credit card, medical bill, or personal loan is lying — and violating the FDCPA.

With very limited exceptions, debt collectors may not discuss your debt with anyone other than you, your spouse, or your attorney. They may contact third parties only to locate you — and even then, they generally cannot reveal that they are a debt collector.

If you send a written request asking the collector to stop contacting you, they must stop — with two narrow exceptions: they may contact you once to confirm they are ceasing communication, and they may notify you of a specific action they intend to take (such as filing a lawsuit). Any other contact after your written request is a violation.

Collectors can only collect what you actually owe under the original contract, plus any interest, fees, or charges expressly authorized by that agreement or permitted by law. Adding unauthorized fees or inflating the balance is a violation.

If a collector accepts a post-dated check from you, they cannot deposit it before the date on the check. Doing so is a violation — and may also constitute bank fraud.

The FDCPA contains a broad prohibition on "unfair or unconscionable" collection practices. Courts have applied this to conduct like:

• Collecting debts that are time-barred (past the statute of limitations) without disclosing that fact
• Threatening to take property they have no legal right to take
• Communicating with you by postcard (which exposes your debt to anyone who sees it)

Document everything. Save voicemails, text messages, and letters. Note the date, time, and content of every call.

Do not ignore it. FDCPA claims have a one-year statute of limitations from the date of the violation. Waiting too long can cost you your right to sue.

Consult an attorney. FDCPA cases are often handled on a contingency basis — meaning you pay nothing unless you win. The law requires the collector to pay your attorney's fees if you prevail.

If a debt collector has crossed any of these lines, I would be glad to review your situation at no charge. Learn more about FDCPA representation or schedule a free consultation.

Sana Chriss is a consumer protection attorney and former Director of Consumer Affairs at the National Credit Union Administration (NCUA). She represents Georgia consumers in FDCPA debt collection, FCRA credit reporting, and consumer protection matters.