A debt collector keeps calling me many times a day. Is that allowed?

This notice

There may be no letter at all. Instead, your phone shows the same collector calling again and again, often from different numbers.

You may also get calls right after you already spoke with them. Some people see calls before 8 a.m., after 9 p.m., or at work.

Calls that go to voicemail still count as calls.

The rule looks at calls about one particular debt. If one company is collecting three separate debts, it may call about each one.

Texts and emails are handled differently. They do not count toward the call limit, but each one must give you a simple way to opt out of that channel.

This page is for repeated calls when you have not yet sent a written stop request. If you already sent one and contact continued, use the related stop-contact guide.

Official path

1. Identify who is calling. Ask for the company name, the debt it is collecting, and a mailing address. The rule covers debt collectors, not every lender.
2. Log every call. Write the date, time, phone number, and whether a voicemail was left. Save screenshots of your call history each week.
3. Count the calls per debt. The CFPB says a collector is presumed to break the rule if it calls more than seven times in seven days about one debt.
4. Note calls after a conversation. A collector is also presumed to break the rule if it calls within seven days after a phone conversation with you about that debt.
5. Tell the collector when and where not to call. The CFPB says collectors must follow your instructions about inconvenient times and places, such as work.
6. Send a written request if you want contact to stop or move to mail. The CFPB has sample letters for limiting or stopping contact.
7. Use the opt-out in texts and emails. Regulation F requires each electronic message to include a simple way to opt out of that channel.
8. Submit a complaint through the CFPB complaint page with your call log if the calls continue.

The seven-call figure is a presumption, not a free pass. The CFPB says seven calls packed into one day could still break the law.

There may be exceptions, such as when you agreed to more frequent calls. For student loans, several loans may count together as one debt.

What people reported

Often helps

• CFPB complaint data shows 901 complaints tagged “Frequent or repeated calls” and 587 tagged “Frequent or repeated messages” from late July to late October 2026. Resurgent, Encore, CL Holdings, and Portfolio Recovery were among the most named companies.
• A February 2025 r/Debt poster listed missed calls by date, including 10 in one day. A dated list like that is the kind of record a complaint needs.
• An April 2025 r/Debt commenter said logging each caller’s name, company, and debt, then asking for written contact only, gave them a clear record.

Often fails

• In the same February 2025 thread, a commenter pointed out that the calls came from the original card issuer, not a collection agency. The Debt Collection Rule may not reach those calls.
• Blocking numbers without keeping a list. One April 2025 poster said they had blocked about 20 numbers, and new ones kept calling.
• Counting all calls together when the collector has several separate debts. The CFPB says the limit generally applies per debt.

Template

[YOUR FULL NAME]
[YOUR ADDRESS]
[CITY, STATE ZIP]
[DATE]

[DEBT COLLECTOR NAME]
[COLLECTOR MAILING ADDRESS]

Re: Account or reference number [REFERENCE NUMBER]

To [DEBT COLLECTOR NAME]:

I am writing about calls your company has placed to me at [PHONE NUMBER] about the debt referenced above.

My records show [NUMBER] calls between [START DATE] and [END DATE]. A copy of my call log is enclosed.

Please do not call me [at work / before TIME / after TIME / at all at this number]. Please contact me only by mail at the address above.

This letter is not a statement that I owe the debt. Please keep a record of this request and update your account notes so all of your callers follow it.

Sincerely,
[YOUR FULL NAME]

Enclosure: Call log

Stop here if…

• You already sent a written stop request and calls continued; use the stop-contact guide instead.
• The collector threatens arrest, jail, or immediate legal action that sounds false; see the arrest-threat guide and report it.
• You received court papers; follow the court deadline and speak with a lawyer. Do not ignore a summons.
• You do not recognize the debt; ask for validation information before you pay.

FAQ

Do missed calls and voicemails count?

Yes. The CFPB says placing a telephone call includes calls that go to voicemail. Unanswered calls still count toward the seven-in-seven-days presumption.

Does the limit apply to texts and emails?

No. The CFPB says the call presumptions do not cover texts, emails, or social media messages. Those have other protections, such as a required way to opt out of electronic messages.

Does this rule cover my credit card company calling me?

The Debt Collection Rule covers debt collectors, such as collection agencies and debt buyers. Calls from the original lender may fall under different rules, so note who is calling before you file a complaint.

Will a complaint erase the debt?

No. Limiting or stopping calls does not cancel what you owe. The collector or creditor may still use other legal steps, including a lawsuit.