What did the collector do?
Tap each one that happened to you. Each one shows the federal rule it runs into.
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The law says a collector may not contact you at a time it should know is inconvenient. Unless it knows otherwise, the convenient time is after 8 a.m. and before 9 p.m. where you are. 15 U.S.C. 1692c(a)(1), read 2026-10-27
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A collector may not contact you at work if it knows or has reason to know your employer prohibits it. Tell them, then write it down. 15 U.S.C. 1692c(a)(3), read 2026-10-27
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The CFPB rule treats a collector as following the limit on repeated calls when it calls no more than seven times in seven days, and does not call again within seven days after you talked by phone. More calls than that are worth writing down, with dates and times. 12 CFR 1006.14(b)(2), read 2026-10-27
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The law bans saying or hinting that not paying a debt will lead to arrest or jail. 15 U.S.C. 1692e(4), read 2026-10-27
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The law bans a threat to take any action that cannot legally be taken or that is not intended to be taken. 15 U.S.C. 1692e(5), read 2026-10-27
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The law bans falsely saying or hinting that a collector is vouched for, bonded by, or tied to the United States or a state. 15 U.S.C. 1692e(1), read 2026-10-27
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If you tell a collector in writing to stop contacting you, it generally must stop, with a few narrow exceptions. A mailed letter counts when they get it. 15 U.S.C. 1692c(c), read 2026-10-27
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If you dispute the debt in writing within the 30 days, the collector must stop collecting it until it gets verification of the debt and mails it to you. 15 U.S.C. 1692g(b), read 2026-10-27
Write down the date, the time, the name they gave, and what they said. Keep it with your copies.
You can send a complaint to the CFPB at consumerfinance.gov/complaint. CFPB, read 2026-10-27
Is my benefit safe from a collector?
Answer three questions. The answer shows what the federal rules say.
- For Social Security, federal law says the payments are not subject to execution, levy, attachment, garnishment, or other legal process. 42 U.S.C. 407(a), read 2026-10-27
- The CFPB lists these as protected when paid by direct deposit: Social Security, SSI, veterans benefits, civil service and federal retirement and disability benefits, servicemember pay, military annuities and survivor benefits, federal student aid, railroad retirement, and FEMA help. CFPB, read 2026-10-27
- When a bank gets a garnishment order, it must look back two months for benefits paid by direct deposit. Two months of benefits are protected and stay in your account for you to use. CFPB, read 2026-10-27
- The Treasury rule behind this covers benefits from Social Security, Veterans Affairs, the Office of Personnel Management and the Railroad Retirement Board. The protected amount is the benefits posted in the two-month lookback, or the account balance if that is lower. 31 CFR 212.3, read 2026-10-27
- With a paper check you deposit yourself, the bank does not have to protect two months of benefits, so your whole account balance could be frozen. CFPB, read 2026-10-27
- If money is frozen, you should get a notice of garnishment that explains how to claim exemptions. The CFPB says to tell the court, the bank, and whoever is garnishing your account right away, in writing, and to get help from a lawyer. A judge decides, based partly on where the money came from. CFPB, read 2026-10-27
- Social Security and SSDI can sometimes be garnished to pay money you owe the government, such as back taxes or federal student loans, and for child or spousal support. CFPB, read 2026-10-27
- SSI is protected from garnishment even for government debts or support. CFPB, read 2026-10-27
- This check covers federal benefits only. Wages and other money follow other rules, and state law adds its own. Legal aid (below) can tell you what your state protects.
- The CFPB page names Social Security and SSDI for these debts. For your benefit, ask legal aid (below) before you assume either way.
Check the letter, then write back
The first letter, or a letter within five days of the first contact, is called a validation notice. Tap each part your letter has.
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The notice must give the amount of the debt. 15 U.S.C. 1692g(a)(1), read 2026-10-27
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The notice must name the creditor the debt is owed to. 15 U.S.C. 1692g(a)(2), read 2026-10-27
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The CFPB rule says the notice breaks down the current amount, showing interest, fees, payments, and credits since an itemization date. 12 CFR 1006.34(c)(2), read 2026-10-27
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The notice must say the collector will assume the debt is valid unless you dispute it within thirty days. 15 U.S.C. 1692g(a)(3), read 2026-10-27
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The rule puts reply boxes at the bottom of the notice, such as "This is not my debt." 12 CFR 1006.34(c)(4), read 2026-10-27
The CFPB says a collector generally must give the creditor's name, the amount, and how to dispute it, in the first contact or within five days. If they can't, it could be a scam. Ask for it in writing, and don't pay until you have it. CFPB, read 2026-10-27
Under the CFPB rule, the dispute window ends 30 days after you receive the notice. A collector may assume you got it at least five days after it was sent, not counting weekends and some holidays. 12 CFR 1006.34(b)(5), read 2026-10-27
Mail your letter well before that day, and keep proof of when you sent it.
What to do, in order
- Don't ignore it. The CFPB says ignoring a collector usually won't make them go away, and a real collector may sue. CFPB, read 2026-10-27
- Don't give bank or card numbers on the phone. The CFPB says never give sensitive financial information to a caller until you have confirmed they are real. CFPB, read 2026-10-27
- Dispute in writing within 30 days if anything is wrong. Then the collector must stop collecting until it mails you verification. The CFPB has a sample letter you can copy: "I do not owe this debt" (CFPB, Word file). 15 U.S.C. 1692g(b), read 2026-10-27
- Ask for proof. The CFPB says to ask for evidence that you are the right person and how they got the amount. CFPB, read 2026-10-27
- Keep copies of every letter you send and every one you get. CFPB, read 2026-10-27
- If court papers come, answer them. If you don't respond, the court could issue a judgment against you. A judgment can let a creditor garnish wages or freeze money in a bank account, depending on your state. CFPB, read 2026-10-27
Legal help. The Legal Services Corporation funds civil legal aid for people with low incomes, and its site finds the legal aid office near you: lsc.gov, get legal help. LSC, read 2026-10-27
If you are in danger right now, call 911.
If debt worry feels like too much, you can call or text 988 to reach the 988 Lifeline, any time, day or night. 988 Lifeline, read 2026-10-27
Protect the money you have
Where every line comes from
Each page below was read on 2026-10-27. If a page changes, its own words win. State law can add more protection.
- 15 U.S.C. 1692c: Communication in connection with debt collection (Fair Debt Collection Practices Act), read 2026-10-27
- 15 U.S.C. 1692e: False or misleading representations, read 2026-10-27
- 15 U.S.C. 1692g: Validation of debts, read 2026-10-27
- 12 CFR 1006.14: Harassing, oppressive, or abusive conduct (CFPB Regulation F), read 2026-10-27
- 12 CFR 1006.34: Notice for validation of debts (CFPB Regulation F), read 2026-10-27
- 42 U.S.C. 407: Assignment of benefits (Social Security Act), read 2026-10-27
- 31 CFR 212.3: Definitions (Garnishment of accounts containing federal benefit payments), read 2026-10-27
- CFPB: Can a debt collector take my federal benefits, like Social Security or VA payments?, read 2026-10-27
- CFPB: What should I do when a debt collector contacts me?, read 2026-10-27
- CFPB: What should I do if a creditor or debt collector sues me?, read 2026-10-27
- Legal Services Corporation: Get legal help, read 2026-10-27
- 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline, read 2026-10-27