The FDCPA Violations Checklist: 15 Collector Behaviors Worth $1,000 Each Case

Collectors break federal law constantly because most consumers never call it out. Every violation documented is settlement leverage — or a counterclaim.

What the Law Says

The FDCPA prohibits calls before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m., contact after a cease letter, discussing your debt with third parties, false threats of arrest or suit, misrepresenting amounts, and calling your workplace after being told not to. Statutory damages run up to 1,000 dollars per case plus actual damages and mandatory attorney fees.

How to Handle It, Step by Step

1. Save every voicemail and letter; screenshot call logs showing dates and times.
2. Note third-party contacts — collectors telling your family or employer about the debt is a classic violation.
3. Record whether the collector identified itself and gave the required mini-Miranda disclosures.
4. Compile violations into a dated list with evidence attached.
5. Raise them in settlement negotiations or file suit — FDCPA cases attract contingency counsel because fees are mandatory.

Common Questions

The collector threatened to have me arrested. Can they?

No — debt is civil, not criminal, and false arrest threats are among the clearest FDCPA violations you can document.

Is one violation really worth pursuing?

One documented violation can offset hundreds of dollars in a settlement negotiation, and a pattern can zero out a small debt entirely.