Under the FDCPA, you have the right to demand a debt collector stop contacting you — and they must comply. You told them to stop. They kept calling. That's not just annoying — it's illegal, and you may be owed money.
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Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), you have an absolute right to demand that a debt collector stop contacting you. Once you make a cease-and-desist request — verbally or in writing — the collector is legally required to stop. Period. There are only two narrow exceptions allowed by law.
Federal Law
15 U.S.C. § 1692c(c) — FDCPA
“If a consumer notifies a debt collector in writing that the consumer refuses to pay a debt or that the consumer wishes the debt collector to cease further communication with the consumer, the debt collector shall not communicate further with the consumer with respect to such debt.”
The two narrow exceptions: the collector may contact you once to confirm they are stopping, or to notify you of a specific legal action they actually intend to take (like filing a lawsuit). Any contact beyond those is a federal violation — regardless of whether you owe the debt.
Even one call after a cease request may be a violation. You do not need to document dozens of calls. A single contact after you asked them to stop can entitle you to statutory damages of up to $1,000 per lawsuit, plus actual damages (emotional distress, lost time) and attorney's fees — meaning our representation typically costs you nothing out of pocket.
Phase 1
Verbal or written — the moment you request a debt collector stop contacting you, the clock starts. Document the exact date and time if possible.
Phase 2
15 U.S.C. § 1692c(c) is clear: after a cease request, a collector may only contact you to confirm they're stopping, or to notify you of a specific legal action. Any other call is a federal violation.
Phase 3
Three calls after your cease request = three FDCPA violations. Each can carry up to $1,000 in statutory damages. The violations stack.
Phase 4
Consumer Law Florida evaluates your case for free. If we take it, we pursue statutory damages, actual damages, and attorney's fees — you pay nothing unless we win.
You do NOT need to prove financial harm.
The FDCPA provides statutory damages specifically so consumers can recover without proving out-of-pocket losses. The violation itself is the harm the law recognizes.
| Evidence You Have | Case Strength |
|---|---|
| Written cease-and-desist letter sent | Very Strong |
| Certified mail with delivery confirmation | Very Strong |
| Verbal cease request (with dated note) | Strong |
| Multiple calls from different numbers | Strong |
| Calls within days of cease request | Strong |
| Voicemails after cease request | Very Strong |
The strongest evidence you can have is a written cease-and-desist letter sent by USPS Certified Mail with Return Receipt Requested. This creates a legally defensible record that the collector received your request on a specific date. Every call after that date is a clean violation.
Write a short letter stating you demand the collector stop all contact
Send via USPS Certified Mail — request Return Receipt
Keep the receipt and any tracking confirmation showing delivery
You do not need an attorney to send a cease-and-desist letter. However, if you already have evidence of violations, contact us first — we can advise you on the best strategy.
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