Debt Collection Laws: How to File a Complaint Against a Collection AgencyHow Do I Report a Debt Collector That Has Violated of My Rights?
There are not many careers as maligned as collectors, and much of that destruction is self-inflicted. Debt collector complaints surge along with FTC lawsuits. As a consumer, there are laws in place that protect you from practices that are considered abusive. You can consider the option of reporting your case to your state’s attorney general and the FTC for legal action.
To report an alleged violation of your rights and file a complaint against a debt collector, start by contacting your state’s attorney general. If your state has its own laws (in addition to federal debt collection laws) governing collection procedures, your attorney general’s office will know. You can also contact the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and file a complaint. The FTC does not resolve problems; it records complaints, and looks for patterns and trends about a particular business. To file a complaint with the FTC about a debt collector’s practices, write to: • Federal Trade Commission • Consumer Response Center • 600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW • Washington, DC 20580 You can also file a complaint online in English, or En Español, or, call the FTC’s toll-free helpline at
