Know Your Consumer Rights

Do not ignore it. Court papers have response deadlines that can be as short as 20–30 days. Note the date you were served, gather any documents, and consider speaking with a consumer attorney promptly. This is general information, not legal advice.

A debt buyer is a company that purchases defaulted accounts, often for a fraction of the balance, and then attempts to collect or sue. Common debt buyers include Midland, Portfolio Recovery, LVNV, and Cavalry.

In many states, a creditor must first obtain a court judgment before garnishing wages or levying a bank account. If you receive notice of a garnishment or frozen account, time-sensitive options may exist — seek help quickly.

The FDCPA is a federal law limiting how third-party debt collectors can communicate with you — for example, prohibiting harassing calls, calls at work after you've asked them to stop, and false or misleading statements.

Yes. You can send a written request asking a debt collector to stop contacting you. Keeping a copy of that request is important. Stopping contact does not erase a legitimate debt or prevent a lawsuit.

Robocalls are automated, pre-recorded calls. Many unsolicited robocalls to cell phones without your consent may violate the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA).

You can dispute inaccurate information with the credit reporting agency and the company that furnished the information. If the error is not corrected, you may have rights under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).

Fraudulent accounts opened in your name can damage your credit. You can place a fraud alert, file an identity theft report, and dispute the fraudulent items with the credit reporting agencies.

The document that starts a lawsuit — it tells you you're being sued, by whom, and for what, and includes a deadline to respond.

A court judgment entered against you when you fail to respond to a lawsuit within the required time. It can lead to garnishment or bank levies.

The legal time limit for filing a lawsuit on a debt. It varies by state and the type of debt. This is informational only — talk to an attorney about your specific situation.

A written notice a debt collector must send within five days of first contacting you, stating the amount owed and your right to dispute it within 30 days.