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The material explains how to send the letter by certified mail with return receipt, keep records, and note that the notice does not cancel the debt. It details federal and Maine limits, reporting options to consumer protection agencies, handling multiple collectors after debt is sold, and what to say on calls. 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Use certified mail with return receipt and keep a copy for your records.","Answer",{"name":112,"@type":107,"acceptedAnswer":113},"Does a “cease communication” letter cancel the debt?",{"text":114,"@type":110},"No. The “cease communication” letter does not cancel the debt, and you may still be sued.",{"name":116,"@type":107,"acceptedAnswer":117},"What does the FDCPA restrict debt collectors from doing?",{"text":118,"@type":110},"The FDCPA prohibits abusive, unfair, or deceptive practices and limits when collectors may call. It covers personal or household debts, such as credit card bills, medical bills, and auto loans.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":78,"og:type":121,"og:title":59,"og:site_name":91,"og:description":61},"article",{"robots":123,"canonical":78},"index,follow",{"doc_id":125,"site_id":56},280440,1789548248,{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":128},{"doc_id":125,"user_id":129,"nickname":88,"user_avatar":130,"doc_module":9,"category_id":40,"category_name":41,"doc_title":59,"doc_description":61,"doc_content":131,"file_id":132,"file_url":133,"file_type":134,"file_size":135,"view_count":101,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":9,"is_downloadable":9,"audit_status":9,"page_count":76,"language":136,"language_code":57,"site_id":56,"html_lang":57,"table_of_contents":137,"faqs":138,"seo_title":139,"seo_description":61,"update_tm":126,"read_time":9},5909877438554,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/avatar/5600025385ad2bf12a7?_k=1778553567797529272","Harassment by Debt Collectors  \nIf debt collectors, also known as collection agencies, start calling you or already have, we recommend that you get their address and send each a “cease communication” letter. Legal Services for Maine Elders can provide you with a “cease communication” form letter to use.  \nA “cease communication” letter should be sent to a debt collector via certified mail, return receipt requested, and you should keep a copy of the letter for your records.  \nUnder both federal and state law, debt collectors are prohibited from continuing to seek repayment on a debt once you’ve told them not to contact you again. If a debt collector continues to bother you after you have sent them the “cease communication” letter, you should report them to the Maine Bureau of Consumer Protection by calling 1-800-332-8529, by submitting a complaint using a paper form available on the Bureau’s website, or by submitting an online complaint on the Bureau’s website. However, please be aware that your original creditor may still contact you regarding the outstanding debt.  \nDo not be surprised if more than one debt collector calls about a debt. Once you send the “cease communication” letter to the first debt collector, it may sell your debt to another debt collector. The new debt collector can start contacting you, and to stop the new debt collector, you will need to send a new \"cease communication\" letter to this new debt collector. Keep sending the letters and remember that you do not need to talk to any debt collector no matter what they tell you.  \nDebt collectors are extremely skillful at pressuring people to make payments on debts. Debt collectors will say anything to try to get money out of you and may resort to telling lies about the debt collection process and making threats. You may want to screen your calls to avoid answering calls from debt collectors. If you do answer a call from a debt collector, you may state, “I exercise my rights under federal and Maine law and demand that you immediately stop contacting me.” Then, simply hang up the phone. It may feel strange to be so abrupt with a debt collector, but any conversation on your part will encourage the debt collector to continue to try to get repayment from you. Just keep in mind that you are under no legal obligation to speak to any debt collector.  \nAt some point, you will be served with court documents. When you are, please contact our agency immediately for help by calling the Helpline number below. In the meantime, feel free to call the Helpline if you have further questions or if you would like to obtain Legal Services for Maine Elders'“cease communication” form letter.  \nTelling debt collectors to stop contacting you  \nIf debt collectors are calling you and you don’t want to speak to them, you should demand that they stop. Get their address and send each a “cease communication” letter. Legal Services for Maine Elders can provide you with a “cease communication” form letter to use, just call the Helpline at 1-800-750-5353.  \nA “cease communication” letter should be sent to a debt collector using certified mail, return receipt requested, and you should keep a copy of the letter for your own records.  \nOnce they receive your “cease communication” letter, the debt collector may call you to say that there will be no further contact or to tell you that it will be taking a specific action, such as filing a lawsuit. But, they are not allowed to talk to you about your debt. If a debt collector keeps bothering you about your debt after you have sent the “cease communication” letter, they are breaking the law, and you should report it to the Maine Bureau of Consumer Credit Protection at 1-800-332-8529. The “cease communication” letter does not cancel the debt, and you may still be sued on the debt. Remember, your original creditor may still contact you about the debt.  \nDo not be surprised if more than one debt collector calls about a debt. Once you send the“cease communic","cbCainlgJBOvYG2C","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCainlgJBOvYG2C","pdf",60154,"English","# Harassment by Debt Collectors\n## Sending a “cease communication” letter\n## Reporting continued contact\n## Handling multiple debt collectors\n## What to say when answering calls\n## Court documents and next steps\n## The Federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA)","[{\"question\":\"What should you do when a debt collector starts calling you?\",\"answer\":\"Get the debt collector’s address and send each a “cease communication” letter. Use certified mail with return receipt and keep a copy for your records.\"},{\"question\":\"Does a “cease communication” letter cancel the debt?\",\"answer\":\"No. The “cease communication” letter does not cancel the debt, and you may still be sued.\"},{\"question\":\"What does the FDCPA restrict debt collectors from doing?\",\"answer\":\"The FDCPA prohibits abusive, unfair, or deceptive practices and limits when collectors may call. It covers personal or household debts, such as credit card bills, medical bills, and auto loans.\"}]","Harassment by Debt Collectors - Cease Communication | PDF"]