prohibited collection practices

What types of debt collection practices are prohibited?
Harassment. Debt collectors may not harass, oppress, or abuse you or any third parties they contact.

For example, debt collectors may not:

use threats of violence or harm

publish a list of consumers who refuse to pay their debts (except to a credit bureau);

use obscene or profane language; or repeatedly use the telephone to annoy someone.

False statements. Debt collectors may not use any false or misleading statements when collecting a debt.

For example, debt collectors may not:

falsely imply that they are attorneys or government representatives;
falsely imply that you have committed a crime;
falsely represent that they operate or work for a credit bureau;
misrepresent the amount of your debt;
indicate that papers being sent to you are legal forms when they are not; or
indicate that papers being sent to you are not legal forms when they are.

Debt collectors also may not state that:

you will be arrested if you do not pay your debt;
they will seize, garnish, attach, or sell your property or wages, unless the collection agency or creditor intends to do so, and it is legal to do so; or
actions, such as a lawsuit, will be taken against you, when such action legally may not be taken, or when they do not intend to take such action.

Debt collectors may not:

give false credit information about you to anyone, including a credit bureau;
send you anything that looks like an official document from a court or government agency when it is not; or use a false name.

Unfair practices

Debt collectors may not engage in unfair practices when they try to collect a debt.

For example, collectors may not:

collect any amount greater than your debt, unless your state law permits such a charge

deposit a post-dated check prematurely

use deception to make you accept collect calls or pay for telegrams

take or threaten to take your property unless this can be done legally
or contact you by postcard.