Pennsylvania Debt Collection Laws: What Collectors Can't Do to You

A debt collector in Pennsylvania calls you at 7:30 a.m. Another texts your boss. A third threatens to "come to your house and seize your car" for a $2,400 medical bill. All three just broke the law.

Pennsylvania consumers have legal protections that most people don't know exist. These laws set boundaries debt collectors cannot cross, no matter how much you owe or how long the debt has sat unpaid. When collectors violate these rules, you can fight back with real consequences for them.

Federal Law: The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) applies nationwide, including Pennsylvania. It covers third-party debt collectors—agencies hired to collect debts, not the original creditor. If a collection agency is calling you about an old credit card, medical bill, or personal loan, the FDCPA governs what they can and cannot do.

Time Restrictions on Contact

Debt collectors cannot contact you before 8 a.m. Or after 9 p.m. In your time zone. If you work a night shift and sleep during the day, this matters. You can tell the collector your preferred contact hours in writing, and they must comply.

Workplace Communication Limits

Once you tell a collector (verbally or in writing) that your employer prohibits personal calls at work, they must stop calling you there. If they continue, they've violated federal law. Many people skip this step because they assume collectors will ignore them. They won't,violating this rule opens them up to lawsuits.

Third-Party Disclosure Bans

Collectors cannot tell your family, friends, neighbors, or coworkers that you owe a debt. They can contact these people only to locate you, and even then, they cannot reveal why they're calling. If a collector tells your sister you owe $5,000 on a defaulted loan, that's an FDCPA violation.

Cease and Desist Requests

You can stop a debt collector from contacting you by sending a written cease communication letter. Once they receive it, they can only contact you to confirm they'll stop or to notify you of specific actions like filing a lawsuit. This does not erase the debt, but it stops the calls and letters.

Harassment and Abuse Prohibitions

Debt collectors cannot use obscene language, threaten violence, or call repeatedly to annoy you. "Repeatedly" is subjective, but courts have found that 20+ calls in a week can constitute harassment. If a collector calls you five times in one hour, document every call. That pattern matters.

False or Misleading Representations

Collectors cannot lie about who they are, how much you owe, or what they can do. Common violations include:

• Pretending to be attorneys when they're not
• Inflating your debt with fake fees
• Claiming they'll garnish your wages when they haven't sued you yet
• Threatening to arrest you (debt is not a criminal matter in Pennsylvania)
• Saying they'll "sell your debt" to pressure you into paying

If a collector threatens to take your house for a $3,000 medical bill, they're lying. Pennsylvania law allows judgment creditors to place liens on real property, but the process requires a lawsuit, a judgment, and a lien filing. A collector cannot take your home without going through the courts first.

Verification of Debt

Within five days of first contacting you, a debt collector must send a written validation notice. This notice must include the debt amount, the creditor's name, and a statement that you can dispute the debt in writing within 30 days. If you dispute the debt in writing within that window, the collector must stop collection efforts until they send you verification (like a copy of the original contract or account statements).

Most people ignore this notice. That's a mistake. Disputing a debt in writing buys you time and forces the collector to prove they have the right debt, the right amount, and the legal standing to collect it.

Pennsylvania State Law: Fair Credit Extension Uniformity Act

Pennsylvania's Fair Credit Extension Uniformity Act (FCEUA) adds another layer of protection. It applies to creditors and debt collectors operating in Pennsylvania and covers behaviors the FDCPA may not address as directly.

Prohibited Collection Practices

Under the FCEUA, debt collectors in Pennsylvania cannot:

• Communicate with you in a way that simulates legal or court documents when it's not
• Threaten criminal prosecution for unpaid consumer debts
• Use deceptive means to collect or attempt to collect debts
• Collect fees or charges unless expressly authorized by the agreement creating the debt or by law

The FCEUA also requires creditors to provide clear disclosures about payment terms and interest rates upfront. If a creditor or collector violates these provisions, you may have grounds for a civil action under Pennsylvania law.

Statute of Limitations on Debt in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania's statute of limitations for most consumer debts is four years. This clock typically starts when you miss your first payment or when the creditor declares the account in default. Once four years pass, a creditor or collector cannot sue you to collect the debt. The debt still exists, but it's legally unenforceable in court.

If a collector threatens to sue you over a seven-year-old credit card debt, they're either bluffing or breaking the law. You can raise the statute of limitations as an affirmative defense if they do sue. The case will likely be dismissed.

One warning: if you make a payment or acknowledge the debt in writing after it's passed the statute of limitations, you may restart the clock. Before you pay anything on an old debt, check the date of your last payment or account activity.

What Happens When Debt Collectors Violate the Law

If a debt collector violates the FDCPA or Pennsylvania's FCEUA, you have options. You can sue the collector in state or federal court within one year of the violation. If you win, the court can award you:

• Up to $1,000 in statutory damages per violation (you don't have to prove actual harm)
• Actual damages (lost wages, emotional distress, etc.)
• Attorney fees and court costs

Many consumer protection attorneys take FDCPA cases on contingency, meaning they only get paid if you win. That makes these cases accessible even if you're broke.

Beyond lawsuits, you can file complaints with:

• The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)
• The Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
• The Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office
• The Better Business Bureau (BBB)

These complaints won't get you money, but they create a paper trail. If enough people report the same collector, regulators may investigate and impose fines or sanctions.

What to Do If You're Being Harassed by a Debt Collector

Document Everything

Keep a log of every contact from the debt collector: date, time, method (phone, text, letter), and what was said. Save voicemails, emails, and letters. If the collector calls you at 6 a.m. Or threatens to garnish wages you don't have, you need proof.

Send a Debt Verification Letter

Within 30 days of receiving the validation notice, send a written dispute letter. Demand that the collector verify the debt and prove they have legal standing to collect it. Send this letter via certified mail with return receipt requested. Until they respond with verification, they cannot continue collection activities.

Consider Sending a Cease Communication Letter

If the harassment is unbearable, send a cease communication letter. This stops the calls and letters, but it does not stop the collector from suing you if the debt is within the statute of limitations. Use this strategically. If you're already planning to file bankruptcy or settle the debt, stopping communication may help you focus without constant interruptions.

Respond If You're Sued

If a debt collector files a lawsuit, you must respond. In Pennsylvania, you typically have 20 days to file an answer with the court. If you ignore the lawsuit, the collector wins by default and gets a judgment against you. That judgment allows them to garnish wages, levy bank accounts, or place liens on property.

You can file an answer yourself or hire an attorney. Many defenses exist: the debt is past the statute of limitations, the collector lacks proof, the amount is wrong, or you already paid. If you're overwhelmed and considering bankruptcy, use our free bankruptcy screener to see if Chapter 7 or Chapter 13 could eliminate this debt permanently.

Special Rules for Wage Garnishment in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania law limits how much creditors can garnish from your wages after winning a judgment. Under federal law, creditors can take up to 25% of your disposable earnings (income after taxes and mandatory deductions). Pennsylvania follows this rule but adds protections for lower earners.

If your weekly disposable income is less than 30 times the federal minimum wage (currently $7.25), your wages are exempt from garnishment. That threshold is $217.50 per week. If you earn less than that after taxes, judgment creditors cannot garnish your wages at all.

Certain types of income are also exempt from garnishment in Pennsylvania, including:

• Social Security benefits
• Supplemental Security Income (SSI)
• Veterans benefits
• Unemployment compensation
• Workers' compensation
• Public assistance (welfare)

If a creditor tries to garnish exempt income, you can file an exemption claim with the court. The garnishment will be lifted if the court agrees the income is protected.

When Bankruptcy May Be Your Best Option

If debt collectors are threatening lawsuits, your wages are being garnished, or you owe more than you can realistically repay, bankruptcy may be the most effective way to stop the harassment and eliminate the debt.

In Pennsylvania, Chapter 7 bankruptcy wipes out most unsecured debts (credit cards, medical bills, personal loans) in about four months. Chapter 13 bankruptcy reorganizes your debts into a 3-to-5-year repayment plan based on what you can afford, and it stops wage garnishments immediately.

Both chapters trigger an automatic stay the moment you file. This court order stops all collection activity: calls, letters, lawsuits, garnishments, and bank levies. Debt collectors who violate the automatic stay can face contempt of court charges.

Bankruptcy isn't right for everyone, but it's often the fastest way to end debt collector harassment and get a financial reset. Use our free bankruptcy screener to find out if you qualify and what your options are.

Key Takeaways

Pennsylvania consumers have strong legal protections against abusive debt collection. Collectors cannot call at all hours, lie about what they can do, or harass you into paying. If they break these rules, you can sue them for damages and attorney fees. Document every violation, respond to lawsuits, and know when to push back. If the debt is too much to handle, bankruptcy may be the fastest way to stop the calls and eliminate what you owe.