Knowing your rights during debt collection can protect you from harassment, misinformation and costly mistakes.

Before you hand over money to a debt collector, take these steps to protect both your finances and your rights.

DAVENPORT, Fla. – Debt collection calls are reaching new highs across the U.S. in 2025, with a significant number of those calls flagged as abusive or threatening. “We’re going to arrest you. We’re ...

Angelica Leicht is the senior editor for the Managing Your Money section for CBSNews.com, where she writes and edits articles on a range of personal finance topics. Angelica previously held editing ...

The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) enforces the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) in the United States. The FDCPA prohibits debt collectors from using abusive, unfair, or deceptive practices ...

The fake debt collector scam has been around for at least two decades. It’s resurfaced now with a frightening vengeance. With this scam, the operators claim to be collecting a debt that they say you ...

According to the Federal Trade Commission, there has been a 150% increase in debt collection calls per capita this year.

A Georgia debt collector is barred for life from the debt collection business after federal regulators say he harassed people into paying him debts they never owed. According to a new Federal Trade ...

The Federal Trade Commission says that Florida is one of the highest-ranking states for debt collection calls. At least ...

Angelica Leicht is the senior editor for the Managing Your Money section for CBSNews.com, where she writes and edits articles on a range of personal finance topics. Angelica previously held editing ...

Could your debt be reduced or forgiven? Take our financial relief quiz. Find my match Could your debt be reduced or forgiven? Take our financial relief quiz. Before a debt collector can pursue you for ...

One of the nation’s largest debt collectors launched tens of thousands of lawsuits in Arizona since 2022, according to 12 News, even as it was issued millions of dollars in penalties for consumer ...