Debt collectors must prove a few key things before they can collect. Here's what they ask for — and why it matters.

Debt collectors also can't threaten to put you in jail. However, if firms have a legitimate claim, they can pursue legal action to garnish your wages to collect a debt.

1) Debt collectors can't call you at inconvenient times, "unless you agree to it." They can't call you at work, either, if you tell them (orally or in writing) "that you're not allowed to get ...

Three out of four consumers said debt collectors ignored their requests to stop calling, according to a survey released by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, which detailed “troubling ...

4 things debt collectors can't do if you owe money. If you owe money to a debt collector, they're prohibited by law from doing the following: Harass or threaten you.

1. Educate yourself about your rights.The U.S. Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has several publications designed to educate consumers about their rights under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ...

Debt collectors must comply with both federal and state laws, and ignoring state-specific regulations is a violation of your rights. The bottom line. By knowing what debt collectors can't do, ...

The debt collector must pause collection activities until they provide this verification. If you're working with a debt relief company , credit counselor or bankruptcy attorney, be sure to inform ...

Their identity as a debt collector (Mini-Miranda warning) Every time they contact you, debt collectors must identify themselves and clearly state that they are attempting to collect a debt.