Debt collectors must follow strict rules. If you're being harassed, threatened, or deceived, you have rights—and may even be owed money.
Expert information to help you understand your rights and options
Debt collectors must follow strict federal rules under the FDCPA, and many lawsuits contain fatal flaws you can exploit. Learn your rights against harassment, how to verify debts are legitimate, common defenses that defeat collection lawsuits, and when the debt may be too old to collect legally.
Every state sets time limits on how long creditors can sue to collect debts—ranging from 3 to 10 years depending on debt type and location. Learn your state statute of limitations, why paying old debt can restart the clock, and how to assert this powerful defense in court.
Getting sued by a debt collector is frightening, but ignoring the lawsuit guarantees a default judgment against you. Understand your answer deadline, how to file proper responses, affirmative defenses that may defeat the claim, and why many collection lawsuits fail when challenged.
Within 30 days of first contact, you can demand debt collectors prove the debt is valid, accurate, and legally yours. Many collectors lack proper documentation and must stop collection efforts. Learn how to write validation letters, what documentation to request, and your options when validation fails.