While it felt like debt collectors were calling more aggressively last year, the data bears this out. Complaints skyrocketed.
According to Data from the Federal Trade Commission reported by FOX News AffiliatesBetween 2024 and 2025, collection fee complaints increased 200% per capita, with more than 400,000 Americans filing complaints. About half of these complaints involved calls that were harassing, fraudulent or threatening.
400,000+Americans filed complaints
~50%Called intimidating or fraudulent
Where the complaints were the highest
According to the FTC’s interactive complaint map, collection complaints per capita were highest in:
- Texas — highest complaint rate per capita
- Georgia – second highest
- Florida – third highest
The lowest per capita rates were in Maine, New Hampshire, South Dakota and Montana.
Your rights when a debt collection agency calls
The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) gives you specific, enforceable rights. Most people don’t know them.
- Request debt validation: Within five days of initial contact, the debt collector must provide written verification of the debt: who you owe, how much, and the original creditor
- Written dispute: Send a written dispute by registered mail within 30 days of initial contact. This forces the collector to stop until he has verified the debt
- Send a termination letter: You can demand in writing that a debt collection agency stop calling. They must comply (with limited exceptions for legal notices)
- Check the collector’s identity: Ask for their company name, address and license number; legitimate collectors will provide these
- Confirm the debt independently: Please contact the original creditor directly to verify the amount and status
- Do not share bank account or financial information on the phone until you have verified the debt
- Don’t assume the caller is legitimate; Phantom debt collection fraud is common
- Don’t be intimidated by threats of jail time, arrest, or wage garnishment; these are often illegal tactics
- Don’t restart the statute of limitations by paying off an old debt without understanding the consequences
A debt collector’s job is to create urgency and fear. Your job is to slow down, verify, and make an informed decision. Those are two very different things.–Steve Rhode
What the FDCPA Covers (and Doesn’t)
Protected by FDCPA
- Credit card debt
- Car loans
- Medical bills
- Student loans
- Mortgage debt
- Personal loans
NOT protected by FDCPA
- Business-related debts
- Debts to original creditors collecting their own debts (in most cases)
What to do now
- If you are being harassed: Report the collector to the FTC reportfraud.ftc.gov
- If you cannot pay: Take the Find Your Path quiz to explore all your options, including those the collector doesn’t tell you about
- If the fault is not yours: Dispute it in writing and demand validation. You are legally protected
- If the debt is old: Check your state’s statute of limitations before making any payment or acknowledgment
Key Takeaways
- Debt collection complaints rose 200% per capita by 2025, with more than 400,000 Americans filing FTC reports
- About half of the complaints described harassing, fraudulent or threatening calls
- Texas, Georgia and Florida had the highest complaint rates per capita
- You have the right to demand debt validation, dispute it in writing and order debt collectors to stop calling
- Phantom debt scams are real: never pay without written verification
- Don’t restart the statute of limitations by paying off an old debt without understanding the consequences
(Sources: FTC Consumer Sentinel Network | FOX News | CFPB FDCPA 2025 Annual Report)
Frequently asked questions
Why have debt collection complaints increased so much in 2025?
The 200% per capita increase reflects a combination of rising consumer debt, the end of debt collection moratoriums during the pandemic, and increased economic pressures sending more accounts to collections. When more debts enter the pipeline, both the number of collection calls and the number of complaints increase.
What should I do if a debt collection agency is harassing me?
Document every conversation (date, time, what was said). Send a written termination letter via registered mail. Report the collector to the FTC at reportfraud.ftc.gov and to your attorney general. You may also have grounds for a private lawsuit under the FDCPA.
Can a debt collection agency threaten to have me arrested?
No. Threatening arrest for unpaid consumer debt is illegal under the FDCPA. Debt is a civil matter and not a criminal one. If a collector threatens arrest, jail time, or criminal charges, he or she is likely violating federal law and you should report it immediately.
How do I know if a collection agency is legitimate?
Ask for their business name, address, phone number and state license number. Request a written debt validation within five days of the first contact. Contact the original creditor to confirm that the debt exists and that the amount is correct. Never share financial information until you have independently verified the collector and the debt.
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