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Seek legal help. Some situations may call for the assistance of a consumer lawyer. You may sue in state or federal court within one year of violation of the law. Look for an attorney with expertise in the FDCPA and other relevant federal and state laws, and with a proven track record.

How to Complain about a Debt Collector: Tips on Suing

What can I do if a debt collector violates the law?

If you have exhausted all strategies in dealing with the debt collector as described in this guide and the collector continues to use illegal, unfair and abusive practices, you may file a complaint, sue the collector, or both. We explain how to file a complaint below, and provide tips for suing a collector at the end of this section.

Federal Trade Commission. (ftc.gov) The FTC is the government agency that enforces the FDCPA. It may bring an action in federal district court against a debt collector that violates the law. Understandably, the agency does not have the resources to bring a court action on behalf of an individual or against every collector about which it receives a complaint. But the agency can and does take action against the most egregious offenders.

The FTC's primary source of information about abusive collection practices is through consumer complaints. It offers an online complaint form on its web site, ftc.gov. The address for mailing complaints is provided in References,

To learn more about the types of debt collector complaints the FTC receives and actions it has brought against collectors, see the agency's most recent report to Congress on the FDCPA, ftc.gov/opa/2006/04/fyi0621.htm.

State Attorney General or State Office of Consumer Protection. State officials may enforce the FDCPA as well as state collection laws. Before submitting a complaint to your state officials, check to see if your state has its own collection law. When writing your complaint letter, be sure to describe a collection agency's actions that violate the FDCPA as well as those that violate the law in your state. Keep detailed notes, correspondence, and recordings of any documents or messages that may indicate the collector has violated state or federal laws.

Debt Collector Associations. The American Collectors Association is a national organization made up of member collection agencies. To become a member, a collection agency must agree to follow the FDCPA and a set of industry standards. A complaint against a member debt collector may be made through the organization's web site, acainternational.org/intcontent.aspx (click on "Contact ACA"), or by writing the Association.

Debt collectors may also be members of a statewide association. To find out whether a collector association has been organized in your state, consult the white pages of your telephone director or try an Internet search.