Consumer Protection
You have strong rights when someone collects a debt, reports your credit, or tries to trick you out of money, no matter where you were born.
Also available in اردو, हिन्दी, বাংলা, and ਪੰਜਾਬੀ.
Three things to know
If you only read one section, read this one.
You can order a debt collector to stop contacting you. Send it in writing, and the law says they must stop.
Your credit reports are free every week at AnnualCreditReport.com. Anyone asking you to pay for them is not the official site.
No real government agency will ever call demanding payment by gift card, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency. That is always a scam.
What does the law say?
The rules, in everyday words.
Debt collectors must treat you with respect
The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, a federal law, says collectors cannot threaten you, lie to you, use abusive language, or call before 8 in the morning or after 9 at night.
You can make a collector prove the debt
If you dispute a debt in writing within 30 days of the collector's first notice, they must stop collecting until they send proof that the debt is really yours.
Credit report mistakes must be fixed
The Fair Credit Reporting Act, a federal law, gives you the right to dispute errors on your credit report. The credit bureau must investigate, usually within 30 days, and remove anything it cannot verify.
A notario is not a lawyer in the United States
In many countries a notario is a legal professional, but in the US a notary public cannot give legal advice or handle immigration cases. Charging money to do so is illegal in many states.
What can I do next?
- 1Check your credit reports for free Go to AnnualCreditReport.com, the only official free site, and request reports from all three bureaus: Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. You can check every week at no cost.
- 2Put debt disputes in writing If a collector contacts you about a debt you do not recognize, send a letter within 30 days asking for proof. Keep a copy, and use mail tracking if you can.
- 3Dispute credit report errors Write to the credit bureau that shows the mistake. Explain the error, include copies of any proof, and keep everything. The bureau must answer you, usually within 30 days.
- 4Hang up on scary calls If a caller says they are from immigration, the IRS, or the police and demands money or gift cards, hang up. Real agencies do not call to demand payment.
- 5Report what happened Reporting helps you and protects others. Tell the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov, the CFPB, or your state attorney general. It is free, and help is available in many languages.
Who can help for free?
Real people, no cost, and interpreters are available when you ask.
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)
Federal agency that takes complaints about debt collectors, credit reports, and banks, with phone help in over 180 languages.
Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
Takes reports about scams, fake government calls, and dishonest businesses. Your report helps stop scammers.
AnnualCreditReport.com
The only official source for the free credit reports the law gives you, from all three bureaus.
LawHelp.org
Connects people with free legal aid offices in every state, with information in many languages.