Cease and Desist Letter to Debt Collectors: Template & Guide

Debt collectors called you eight times yesterday. They phoned your boss. They texted at 10 pm. You're done.

A cease and desist letter cuts off contact. Under federal law, collectors must stop calling once you send this letter. But timing matters, and the letter won't make the debt disappear. Here's how to use this tool without shooting yourself in the foot.

What a Cease and Desist Letter Actually Does

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) gives you the right to tell a collector to stop contacting you. Send the letter, and they can only reach out twice more: to confirm they received it, or to tell you they're suing.

That's it. No more calls during dinner. No more texts at work. No more voicemails from blocked numbers.

What the letter does NOT do:

• Erase the debt
• Stop a lawsuit (they can still sue)
• Reset the statute of limitations
• Remove accurate information from your credit report

If the collector already filed a lawsuit, you need to respond to the court papers, not send this letter. Missing your answer deadline means an automatic loss.

When You Should Send This Letter

Send a cease and desist if:

• The debt is past the statute of limitations. In most states, collectors can't sue on debts older than 3-6 years. Talking to them can restart the clock. Shut it down.
• The debt isn't yours. Identity theft, wrong person, clerical error. Don't waste time arguing. Demand they prove it or stop.
• You're planning bankruptcy. Once you file, an automatic stay stops collection anyway. Use the letter to buy breathing room while you prepare.
• They're breaking the law. Calling before 8 am or after 9 pm. Contacting your workplace after you told them to stop. Threatening arrest. Document it, then cut contact.

Do NOT send this letter if you want to negotiate a settlement. Once you cease communication, you lose that option. The collector's next move will likely be a lawsuit or selling the debt to someone else.

Cease and Desist Letter Template

Use this exact format. Send via certified mail with return receipt requested. You need proof of delivery.

[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, State ZIP]
[Date]

[Debt Collector Name]
[Debt Collector Address]
[City, State ZIP]

RE: Account Number [insert number]

This letter is formal notice under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, 15 USC 1692c, that your contact regarding the alleged debt listed above must cease.

You are hereby notified to CEASE ALL CONTACT with me regarding this matter. This includes phone calls, text messages, emails, letters, and contact through third parties.

Per the FDCPA, you may contact me only to confirm receipt of this letter or to notify me of specific actions such as filing a lawsuit. Any other contact will be considered a violation of federal law.

I understand this letter does not erase any legitimate debt. I am exercising my right to end communication.

Send all future correspondence regarding this matter in writing to the address above.

Sincerely,
[Your Signature]
[Your Printed Name]

What to Include With Your Letter

Keep it clean. Do NOT:

• Explain why you can't pay
• Admit the debt is yours
• Promise future payment
• Get emotional or threatening

Just state the facts. Exercise your rights. Move on.

How to Send the Letter (This Part Matters)

Mail it certified mail, return receipt requested. Cost: around $8 at the post office. This gives you a tracking number and proof the collector received it.

Keep three copies:

1. The original letter you sent (scan it)
2. The certified mail receipt with tracking number
3. The return receipt card when it comes back signed

If the collector contacts you after they sign for the letter, you have an FDCPA violation worth up to $1,000 plus attorney fees. Your proof is airtight.

What Happens After You Send It

Most collectors stop. They close your file and move on to easier targets.

Some sell the debt to another collector. The new collector will contact you. Send them the same letter. Repeat as needed.

Some sue. If you're served with a lawsuit, respond within the deadline (usually 20-30 days). Check if bankruptcy makes sense, or file an answer in court. Do not ignore it.

If they violate the cease and desist, document everything. Note the date, time, method of contact, and what was said. You can sue them for FDCPA violations. Consumer attorneys work on contingency for these cases. You pay nothing upfront.

Common Mistakes People Make

Sending the letter to the wrong address. Use the address from their most recent written communication. If they only called, search the collector's name online for their registered agent address. It's public record.

Forgetting to include the account number. Without it, they'll claim they couldn't identify your file. They'll keep calling.

Calling to "confirm" they got the letter. Don't. You just reopened communication. Wait for the return receipt.

Sending it regular mail. No proof means no protection. Spend the $8.

Will This Hurt Your Credit?

Not directly. The debt already appears on your credit report (or it doesn't). The letter changes nothing about reporting.

But understand: if the collector was offering a pay-for-delete or settlement, that's gone. Your credit won't improve unless the debt falls off naturally (7 years from the date of first delinquency) or you pay it.

If you're considering bankruptcy anyway, your credit is already taking a hit. The cease and desist just gives you peace while you prepare.

When NOT to Send This Letter

Skip the letter if:

• You want to settle for less than you owe
• The debt is recent and you plan to pay
• You need information about the debt

In those cases, engage strategically. Request validation first. Ask for documentation. Negotiate from a position of knowledge, not silence.

Your Rights Under the FDCPA

Collectors break the law more often than you'd think. The FDCPA bans:

• Calling before 8 am or after 9 pm in your time zone
• Contacting you at work after you've told them to stop
• Calling repeatedly to annoy or harass you
• Using obscene or threatening language
• Threatening to take action they can't legally take (like having you arrested)
• Misrepresenting who they are (claiming to be attorneys or law enforcement)
• Contacting friends, neighbors, or family about your debt (except to locate you)

If they violate any of these, document it. You can sue for up to $1,000 per violation plus actual damages and attorney fees. That money comes from the collector, not the debt.

What If They Sue Anyway?

They can. The cease and desist stops contact, not lawsuits.

If you're served, you have three options:

1. Fight the lawsuit. File an answer. Make them prove the debt. About 70% of collection lawsuits result in default judgments because people don't show up.
2. Negotiate. Once sued, you can settle for a lump sum or payment plan. Get any agreement in writing before you pay a dime.
3. File bankruptcy. Chapter 7 wipes out most unsecured debt in 3-4 months. Chapter 13 creates a 3-5 year payment plan. If you're drowning in debt, bankruptcy might be your cleanest exit.

Do not ignore a lawsuit because you sent a cease and desist letter. The letter doesn't protect you in court.

If You're Considering Bankruptcy

A cease and desist buys time. Bankruptcy buys a fresh start.

Once you file, the automatic stay stops all collection activity. Calls, letters, lawsuits, wage garnishments—everything stops immediately. The collector can't contact you even if they want to.

Most people who file Chapter 7 owe between $10,000 and $50,000 in unsecured debt. The process takes about 100 days. You walk away debt-free.

Not sure if you qualify? Take our 2-minute bankruptcy screener. It'll tell you which chapter fits your situation and what to expect.

Track Every Violation

Once you send the letter, keep a log. Every contact after delivery is evidence.

Record:

• Date and time of contact
• Method (call, text, letter, email)
• Name of person who contacted you (if given)
• What they said or wrote

If they call, let it go to voicemail. Save the recording. If they text, screenshot it. If they mail something, keep the envelope and contents.

After three violations, call a consumer rights attorney. Many will take your case on contingency. You could walk away with $3,000 and the debt dismissed.