Debt collection calls spiked in 2025: Here's where
Coins surround a piggy bank in this arranged photograph to illustrate the theme of risk in Oradell, New Jersey, U.S., on Thursday, June 18, 2015. Photographer: Ron Antonelli/Bloomberg via Getty Images
New data from the Federal Trade Commission shows complaints about debt collection calls surged nationwide in 2025.
By the numbers:
Data shows a sharp rise in debt collection complaints nationwide, with per-capita reports jumping 200% from 2024 to 2025.
More than 400,000 Americans filed complaints in 2025, according to the FTC’s interactive map, and about half described the calls as harassing, fraudulent or threatening.
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What debts are covered by the law?
Dig deeper:
The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act protects consumers when it comes to most personal debts, including credit card balances, auto loans, medical bills, student loans, mortgages, and other household obligations. Debts incurred for business purposes, however, are not covered under the law.
Where are debt collection calls spiking?
According to date from the FTC, Texas, Georgia and Florida are among those seeing the highest number of collection calls per 100,000 people.
On the lower end of the scale, states such as Maine, New Hampshire, South Dakota and Montana are seeing fewer calls per 100,000 people.
What to know if you get a debt collection call
What you can do:
- Verify the caller’s identity: Ask for the debt collector’s name, the company they represent, and its mailing address and phone number.
- Request debt validation: Within five days of first contact, collectors are required to provide details including the amount owed, the current creditor, and information on the original creditor.
- Ignore and report threats: Scammers may threaten arrest, license suspension, or employer contact if payment isn’t immediate. Hang up and report them to the FTC at ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
- Confirm the debt independently: Contact the original creditor to determine whether the debt is yours and whether it was sold or assigned to a legitimate collection agency.
- Dispute questionable debts: If you believe you owe none or only part of the debt, file a dispute with the collector by mail or online, even if validation information was provided.
How can I stop a debt collector from contacting me?
What you can do:
You can ask a debt collector to stop contacting you by sending a written request to the collection company. Keep a copy for your records, and consider sending the letter by certified mail with a return receipt so you have proof it was received.
After the company receives your request, it may only contact you to confirm that it will stop communicating with you or to notify you of a specific action it intends to take, such as filing a lawsuit. If you are represented by an attorney, inform the collector, as it must communicate directly with your lawyer unless the attorney fails to respond within a reasonable time.
Still, it may be helpful to speak with the collector at least once—particularly if you believe the debt is not yours or you are unable to pay it right away. This can help you verify the debt and understand what is owed. To protect yourself from scams, avoid sharing personal or financial information until you have received proper validation or are confident the collector is legitimate.
The Source: The information in this story comes from data published by the Federal Trade Commission, including consumer complaint reports and figures from the agency’s interactive data map. This story was reported from Los Angeles.