The FDCPA generally bars all forms of unfair, false, abusive or deceptive collection practices.

The debtor has the following rights under the law:

• The collector must cease communication with the debtor once the consumer notifies the collector in writing to cease further communication
• To dispute the debt
• To receive a written notice from the collector within five days after the initial communication from the collector.  The initial notice must state the amount of the debt, the name of the creditor to whom the debt is owed, and other important information under the law
• To dispute the debt in writing and ask for proof (“validation”) of the debt within 30 days of the consumer’s receipt of the initial written notice from the debt collector
• If the consumer disputes the debt in writing within 30 days of her receipt of the initial written communication from the collector, the collector must cease collection of the debt until the collector mails validation or verification of the debt to the consumer

This list does not contain all of the debtor’s rights under the Act.