Consumers across the country are being bombarded with intimidating and sometimes aggressive debt collection calls, and federal data shows complaints about debt collection more than doubled from 2024 to 2025.<\/p>\n
The Federal Trade Commission reports receiving more than 400,000 debt collection complaints in 2025 \u2014 a 200% spike from the previous year.\u00a0California accounted for more than 32,000 of those complaints. More than 40% involved abusive tactics or consumers being told they owed debts that were not real.<\/p>\n
Gladys Usma knows the stress firsthand.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey were calling me every single day, sometimes three times,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
Usma lost her job during the pandemic in 2020 and says she had to stop making payments on five credit cards, with the debt continuing to grow to $22,000. She says the calls became relentless.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey were calling me, ‘Your payment is due. You need to pay now,'” Usma said. \u201cIt was really stressful. I couldn\u2019t sleep.”<\/p>\n
Mathew Lab, a professor at San Diego State University and a consumer protection expert, says many of the tactics used by debt collectors cross legal lines.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey cannot make any false claims to the debtor. They cannot threat the debtor with criminal prosecution,\u201d Lab said.<\/p>\n
Lab says some collectors even contact employers.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey might call the debtors’ employer,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
That behavior is illegal under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, which prohibits third-party debt collectors from using abusive, unfair or deceptive practices when collecting personal debts.<\/p>\n
Experts say many of the calls consumers receive are not even from legitimate collectors.<\/p>\n
\u201cA huge percentage of those calls are actually fraudulent,\u201d said Sofia Martinez, a data and debt expert with Money Management International, a nonprofit organization that provides credit counseling. \u201cBut they\u2019re calling you in such an abusive and threatening way that makes you feel, ‘Oh, maybe I do owe something.'”<\/p>\n
Consumer advocates say the first step when receiving a debt collection call is to avoid giving out personal information or making any agreements. Instead, consumers should ask questions, including the company\u2019s name and contact information.<\/p>\n
\u201cIf they don\u2019t provide that information, it\u2019s a red flag that they\u2019re unlicensed,\u201d Lab said.<\/p>\n
Consumers also have the right to demand written verification of the debt and should receive a response within 30 days. Experts recommend calling the original creditor to confirm the debt is legitimate.<\/p>\n
Lab says consumers can also tell collectors to stop contacting them.<\/p>\n
\u201c’Cease and desist any further communication with me,’ and at that point they can\u2019t call at all,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
If the calls continue, complaints can be filed with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau<\/a> and the Federal Trade Commission.<\/a><\/p>\n California provides additional protections under the Rosenthal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, which applies not only to third-party collectors but also to original creditors.<\/p>\n If consumers turn to debt consolidation, experts warn to verify the company is accredited with the Department of Financial Protection and Innovation.<\/p>\n \u201cIf asking you for money upfront, be worried,\u201d Lab said.<\/p>\n Usma was able to consolidate her debt from $22,000 to $14,000 and eventually paid it off. Her advice to others facing debt is simple: make sure you\u2019re giving your money to a real company.<\/p>\n