Alleged unlawful debt collection investigation: Bank of America, Capital One, Chase Bank, Citibank, Comerica Bank, Goldman Sachs, Navy Federal Credit Union, TD Bank and Wells Fargo

Debt collection calls and harassment: Who’s affected?

You may be able to take legal action against unlawful debt collection calls in California, Connecticut, Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania or Texas.

If you are receiving excessive or unwanted debt collection calls, you may be able to seek damages for unlawful debt collection practices. Residents of California, Connecticut, Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania and Texas have the right to hold financial institutions accountable for debt collector harassment.

Even if the calls aren’t meant for you, you may still have a case. You shouldn’t have to repeatedly explain that the person they’re looking for doesn’t live at your number. Take the first step toward protecting yourself against unlawful debt collection practices. Fill out the form to see if you qualify to take legal action.

Which lender is calling?

Numerous consumers across the U.S. have reported receiving unlawful debt collection calls from various financial institutions in recent years. Affected individuals may be eligible to seek legal recourse and potential financial compensation through participation in a debt collection lawsuit.

Individuals who have received harassing, abusive or otherwise unlawful debt collection calls from the following institutions may be eligible to join ongoing investigations into these alleged practices:

• Bank of America
• Capital One
• Chase Bank
• Citibank
• Comerica Bank
• Goldman Sachs
• Navy Federal Credit Union
• TD Bank
• Wells Fargo

Debt collection laws by state

Debt collection laws are designed to protect consumers from unfair, deceptive and abusive practices by debt collectors. While federal laws provide a baseline of protection, many states have implemented additional regulations to further safeguard residents from harassment or misleading tactics employed by debt collectors. State-specific debt collection laws and regulations ensure that individual rights are upheld and they are treated fairly throughout the collection process.

California

In California, strict debt collection regulations prohibit deceptive behaviors such as harassing or abusive calls, false or misleading statements and unauthorized contacts with third parties. Calls must be made between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m., and debt collectors cannot contact family, neighbors or others without adhering to specific qualifications.

Connecticut

Connecticut law prohibits creditors and debt collectors from claiming to be government representatives, alleging the consumer has committed a crime or using the phone to annoy or harass debtors. Unlawful practices are strictly prohibited.

Florida

Florida’s debt collection laws protect consumers by prohibiting misleading or harassing behaviors, including excessive or frequent debt collection calls that could be considered harassment. Additional violations include calling a debtor’s workplace against their employer’s policy, continuing to contact a consumer after being told to stop and calling after being informed that the debt is not owed.

Maryland

Maryland’s debt collection laws provide robust protections for consumers against abusive practices by creditors and debt collectors. The Maryland Consumer Debt Collection Act (MCDCA) prohibits both creditors and debt collectors from engaging in threatening, abusive or deceptive behaviors during debt collection efforts. Violations of the MCDCA can result in civil liability, allowing consumers to sue for actual damages, including compensation for emotional distress or mental anguish, even without accompanying physical injury.

Massachusetts

Massachusetts law prohibits a range of harassing or deceptive debt collection call practices, including calling a personal number more than twice in a seven-day period or a non-home number more than twice in a 30-day period. Calls outside of normal waking hours are also prohibited, and callers must identify themselves.

Michigan

Michigan’s laws prohibit calls before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. without the debtor’s consent. Calls to the workplace are also prohibited if the debtor has notified the collector verbally or in writing not to do so. To halt such calls, debtors should inform collectors by phone and confirm in writing via certified mail, retaining proof of the request. Violations should be reported promptly for resolution.

North Carolina

North Carolina law provides strong protections against abusive debt collection practices through the North Carolina Debt Collection Act (NCDCA) and the North Carolina Collection Agency Act (NCCAA). These laws prohibit harassment, threats, deceptive tactics and other unfair methods by both original creditors and third-party collection agencies. The NCCAA also imposes licensing requirements on collection agencies and debt buyers.

Violators can be held liable for actual damages, as well as statutory damages ranging from $500 to $4,000 per violation. In addition, consumers are protected under the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), which allows for further remedies, including statutory damages of up to $1,000 and recovery of attorney’s fees. Together, these laws give North Carolina consumers robust legal tools to challenge creditor abuse.

Pennsylvania

In the state of Pennsylvania, the Fair Credit Extension Uniformity Act prohibits unfair and deceptive acts by creditors and debt collectors, including calling a consumer at unusual places, calling at work, calling more than seven times in seven days about each particular debt or calling before 8 a.m. or after 8 p.m.

Texas

In Texas, debt collectors cannot garnish wages for repayment, and declared homesteads are protected from debt collection unless the debt is linked to the home, such as a defaulted mortgage. Collectors are prohibited from calling outside the hours of 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. or contacting debtors at work if their employer does not permit such calls.

Join a debt collection lawsuit investigation

If you experienced debt collector harassment, please share your story using the form on this page. You may be eligible to take legal action if you received excessive debt collection calls in California, Connecticut, Florida, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, North Carolina, Pennsylvania or Texas.

UPDATE: You may be eligible for payment from a $14 million Credit One Bank robocalls class action settlement.

Fill out the form on this page to see if you qualify for a free case evaluation.