The Fair Credit Reporting Act gives you powerful rights over your credit data. Learn exactly what the FCRA requires credit bureaus and lenders to do — and how to enforce those rights.

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Guide 10

9 min

FDCPA Rights: What the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act Means for You

The FDCPA gives you powerful legal protections against abusive debt collectors. Here is every rule collectors must follow and exactly how to enforce your rights.

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Guide 11

7 min

Debt Collector Rules: What Collectors Must Tell You and How They Must Behave

Federal law imposes specific disclosure requirements and conduct rules on debt collectors. Here is every rule they must follow from the first contact forward.

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Guide 12

6 min

Requesting Debt Validation: Your Right Under the FDCPA Explained

You have 30 days after first contact to demand a debt collector validate the debt. Until they do, they must stop all collection activity. Here is the exact process.

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Guide 13

7 min

How to Stop Debt Collector Harassment: Cease-and-Desist Letters and FDCPA Complaints

If a debt collector is harassing you, you can stop it. A written cease-and-desist letter legally requires them to stop contacting you. Here is exactly how to do it.

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Guide 14

8 min

Statute of Limitations on Debt: When Collectors Can No Longer Sue You

The statute of limitations determines how long a collector has to sue you for a debt. After it expires, the debt is 'time-barred' and a lawsuit can be defeated. Here is every state's limit.

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Guide 15

7 min

Medical Debt Rights: New CFPB Rules and How to Fight Medical Collections

Medical debt has unique protections under federal and state law. Starting in 2025, medical debt is being removed from credit reports. Here is everything you need to know.

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Your federal consumer credit rights — at a glance

Several federal laws protect you in credit and debt situations. Each covers a different area.

Law	Full name	What it covers	Key rights it gives you
FCRA	Fair Credit Reporting Act (1970)	Credit bureaus, creditors who report, consumer reports	Dispute inaccuracies; free annual reports; limit who can see your report; opt-out of pre-screened offers
FDCPA	Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (1977)	Third-party debt collectors (not original creditors)	Cease collection contact in writing; request debt validation; sue for violations up to $1,000 statutory + actual damages
ECOA	Equal Credit Opportunity Act (1974)	Any creditor making credit decisions	Prohibits discrimination based on race, sex, religion, national origin, age, marital status, or public assistance income
TILA	Truth in Lending Act (1968)	Lenders disclosing credit terms	Requires APR disclosure, total cost of credit, billing error resolution, right of rescission on certain loans
CROA	Credit Repair Organizations Act (1996)	Companies that offer to repair credit for a fee	Must provide written contract; 3-day right to cancel; cannot charge before services completed
SCRA	Servicemembers Civil Relief Act (2003)	Active duty military	Interest rate cap at 6% on pre-service debt; protection from default judgments; stay of civil court proceedings
Dodd-Frank	Dodd-Frank Act / CFPB (2010)	Consumer financial products broadly	Created CFPB; ability to submit complaints; Bureau can take action against unfair, deceptive, or abusive practices

FDCPA — what debt collectors can and cannot do

Collectors CAN legally:

Contact you by phone, letter, email, or text
Call between 8 am – 9 pm in your local time zone
Contact your employer to verify employment only
Report the debt to credit bureaus
File a lawsuit within the statute of limitations
Contact your attorney if you have one

Collectors CANNOT legally:

Threaten violence or use obscene/abusive language
Misrepresent the debt amount, status, or identity
Threaten legal action they cannot or will not take
Threaten arrest or criminal prosecution for a civil debt
Call before 8 am or after 9 pm
Contact you at work after you say not to
Continue contact after a written cease-and-desist request
Publish your name on a 'bad debt' list

If a collector violates the FDCPA: You can sue in federal or state court within 1 year of the violation for up to $1,000 in statutory damages per lawsuit plus actual damages, attorney fees, and court costs. File a complaint with the CFPB at consumerfinance.gov/complaint.

Statute of limitations on debt — by state (selected)

After the statute of limitations expires, a collector cannot win a lawsuit against you for the debt — but the debt may still appear on your credit report and they may still contact you.

State	Written contracts	Oral contracts	Open accounts (credit cards)
California	4 years	2 years	4 years
Florida	5 years	4 years	5 years
New York	6 years	6 years	6 years
Texas	4 years	4 years	4 years
Illinois	5 years	5 years	5 years
Pennsylvania	4 years	4 years	4 years
Ohio	6 years	6 years	6 years
Georgia	6 years	4 years	6 years
North Carolina	3 years	3 years	3 years
Michigan	6 years	6 years	6 years

Statutes of limitations change. Verify current law for your state. Making a payment or acknowledging a debt in writing may restart the clock in some states.

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Common Questions — Quick Answers

→ What is a good credit score? → What factors make up my FICO score? → Does checking my score hurt it? → How long do items stay on my report? → How to get a free credit report? → Can I dispute accurate negative info? → What is pay-for-delete? → What is zombie debt? → What are my FDCPA rights? → Does a credit freeze hurt my accounts? → How long to build credit from scratch? → Is credit repair legal?

Educational content only. This page is for informational purposes and does not constitute legal, tax, or personal financial advice. Results vary. Laws and bureau processes change. Consult the CFPB, FTC, and AnnualCreditReport.com for authoritative guidance. Full disclaimer

Explore more from That.You Credit

Credit Score Guides

Ranges, factors, and improvement plans

Credit Report Disputes

Templates, timelines, and tactics

Your Consumer Rights

FCRA, FDCPA, and federal laws

Debt Relief Options

Consolidation, settlements, bankruptcy

Identity Theft

Freeze, disputes, and recovery steps

Credit Monitoring

Free tools and alert setup

Collections & Charge-offs

Zombie debt, pay-for-delete, and more

Building Credit

Secured cards, authorized users, and more

Debt Payoff Calculator

Credit Utilization Tool

Budget Planner

Balance Transfer Savings

Debt-to-Income Calculator

Emergency Fund Calculator

Common Questions — Quick Answers