Cease-and-Desist Letter
A written notice under the FDCPA that requires a debt collector to stop contacting a consumer directly.
If a collector is calling too often or at the wrong times, a cease-and-desist letter is your way of invoking a right you already have under federal law: send it, and the collector has to stop contacting you directly, other than to confirm they’ll stop, or to tell you they’re taking a specific action like filing a lawsuit.
It’s worth knowing this doesn’t do the same thing as a validation request. It doesn’t dispute the debt or make the collector prove anything — it just stops the contact. It also doesn’t stop them from pursuing the debt through other legal means, including suing you. This is the right tool when you’re not disputing that you owe the money — you just want the calls to stop.
Send it in a way you can prove — certified mail with a return receipt is the standard — and make sure it clearly names the debt and states plainly that you want contact to stop. If a collector keeps calling after receiving a valid letter like this, outside the narrow situations the law allows, that’s a violation you can actually sue over. This site’s complaint lookup tool is worth checking too — if the same company has a pattern of ignoring cease-and-desist requests, other consumers have likely already reported it.
Frequently asked
Does a cease-and-desist letter stop a collector from suing me?
No — it only stops direct contact like calls and letters. It doesn't dispute the debt or prevent the collector from pursuing it through other legal means, including filing a lawsuit.
— US Debt Compass Editorial Team
How should I send a cease-and-desist letter?
Send it in a way you can prove, such as certified mail with a return receipt, and clearly name the debt and state plainly that you want contact to stop.
— US Debt Compass Editorial Team
Sources
- 15 U.S.C. § 1692c — Communication in connection with debt collection— law.cornell.edu