Stop Debt Collectors With a Cease and Desist Letter (+ FREE Template)
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A cease and desist letter is a formal written request that you send a debt collector telling them to stop contacting you about a debt. Once the debt collector receives a cease and desist letter, they must stop further contact save for one final call to tell you what actions they intend to take. While sending a cease and desist letter is a good way to stop debt collectors from harassing you, it doesn’t make your debt disappear. If the debt is valid, the debt collector may choose to take legal action to recover the debt.
Written by Mae Koppes. Legally reviewed by Attorney Paige Hooper
Updated February 25, 2025
What Is a Cease and Desist Letter for Debt Collection?
A cease and desist letter is a tool you can use to tell debt collectors to stop contacting you about a debt. Once the debt collector receives a cease and desist letter, they must stop further contact, including collection calls and demand letters.
There’s one exception though: The debt collector can make one final phone call or send one final written notice. In this notice, they may:
Tell you that there will be no further contact
Tell you about any further action(s) they intend to take or are legally allowed to take (including filing a debt collection lawsuit against you
Make an offer to settle the debt for less than you owe
When Should You Send a Cease and Desist Letter?
Whether you send a cease and desist letter is up to you, but it’s important to understand when it might be helpful — and when it might not be the best option.
Generally speaking, people send cease and desist letters to:
Stop collection calls when they don’t want to negotiate or discuss the debt
Cut off contact on old debts that are past the statute of limitations
End mistaken identity issues when they’re being contacted about a debt that isn’t theirs
In some cases, a debt verification letter might be a better first step — especially if you don’t believe the debt is valid.
If You Want to Stop Collection Calls
If a debt collector keeps calling and you don’t want to negotiate or discuss the debt, you can send a cease and desist letter to stop the calls. Just be aware that this won’t make the debt go away. In some cases, stopping communication may increase the risk of a debt collection lawsuit.
If the Debt Is Past the Statute of Limitations
Debt collectors can still contact you about old debts, even if they’re too old to be sued over. If the statute of limitations has expired, you can send a cease and desist letter to stop the contact. But keep in mind that a debt collector can still try to sue you. In this case, you’d need to respond to the lawsuit and tell the court that the debt is time-barred.
Debt collectors aren’t legally allowed to threaten to sue on a time-barred debt, but some may still be aggressive in trying to collect.
If the Debt Isn’t Yours
If a debt collector contacts you about a debt that isn’t yours, and you’ve already told them this over the phone, a cease and desist letter can help stop further contact if they keep reaching out.
When You Might Want to Send a Debt Verification Letter Instead
In some cases, sending a debt verification letter first may be a better option. If you don’t believe the debt is valid, a verification letter can help you gather information before deciding your next step.
If you send a debt verification letter within 30 days of receiving the debt collector’s validation notice, they are legally required to stop collection efforts until they provide verification of the debt.
What Should You Include (and Leave Out of) a Cease and Desist Letter?
The federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) is a law that addresses unfair debt collection practices. Under the FDCPA, creditor harassment is illegal. If a debt collector continues to contact you after receiving a cease and desist letter, they are violating the FDCPA.
To best protect your rights under the FDCPA:
Make your request in writing.
Make a copy of the letter and keep it for your records.
Send the letter via certified mail with a return receipt requested.
Write a letter for each individual debt you no longer want to be contacted about (even if the debts originated from the same creditor or are held by the same debt collector).
Don’t offer additional information on the account. Just include the information (account numbers, account balances, etc.) that the collection agency has already provided in the debt validation notice or other correspondence.
Don’t acknowledge that you owe the debt. Refer to the debt as the “alleged debt.” If you acknowledge that you owe the debt, you may reset the timeline for the statute of limitations depending on your state’s laws.
What Is the FDCPA and How Does It Protect You?
The FDCPA is a federal law that protects consumers against harassment, deception, and unfair treatment by third-party debt collectors.
Importantly, this law does not apply to original creditors. This means that the information in this article regarding cease and desist letters also does not apply if your debt is still with the original creditor.
The FDCPA also only applies to personal debts (also called consumer debts), including credit card debt, auto loans, medical bills, student loans, mortgages, and other household debts. It doesn’t apply to business debts.
Free Cease and Desist Letter Template — General Demand To Stop All Contact
Use the following template to request that a debt collector stop all communication.
Date
[your name]
[your address]
[city, state, zip code]
[debt collector's name]
[debt collector's address]
[debt collector's city, state, zip code]
Re: [debt collector's account number(s) for the debt(s)]
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to my rights under the state and federal debt collection laws, including the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act (FDCPA), I hereby request that you immediately cease and desist all oral and written communication with me, along with my family and friends, regarding any and all alleged debts you maintain I owe.
Additionally, my employer prohibits me from receiving your calls or written correspondence at work, so please refrain from contacting my workplace in any manner as well.
You are hereby notified that if you do not comply with this request, I will immediately file complaints with the Federal Trade Commission, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the [your state] Attorney General's Office, and other appropriate regulatory bodies. Civil claims may be pursued.
Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.
Sincerely,
[your signature and printed name]
Cease and Desist Letter Template — Request To Stop Contact Due to an Incorrect or Mistaken Identity
If you’ve mistakenly received a debt collector letter that was intended for someone else, you can use this template to inform the debt collector and cease further contact.
Date
[your name]
[your address]
[city, state, zip code]
[debt collector's name]
[debt collector's address]
[debt collector's city, state, zip code]
Re: [debt collector's account number(s) for the debt(s)]
To Whom It May Concern:
Pursuant to my rights under the state and federal debt collection laws, including the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act (FDCPA), I hereby request that you immediately cease and desist all calls as well as oral and written contact to [your phone number and address] regarding the account of [wrong person's full name]. This is the wrong contact information for that person.
You are hereby notified that if you do not comply with this request, I will immediately file complaints with the Federal Trade Commission, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, the [your state] Attorney General's Office, and other appropriate regulatory bodies. Civil claims may be pursued.
Thank you for your cooperation in this matter.
Sincerely,
[your signature and printed name]
What Happens After You Send a Cease and Desist Letter to a Debt Collector?
After receiving your cease and desist letter, the debt collection company should cease communication. If the debt collector contacts you, they are violating the FDCPA, and this may be considered harassment. You can file a complaint with the CFPB and/or sue the debt collector.
It’s important to keep in mind that sending a cease and desist letter doesn’t erase your debt or mean you’re no longer responsible for repaying it if the debt is valid.
In fact, if the debt is valid, the collection agency may opt to sue you since it can no longer contact you to try to collect the debt in another way.
If the agency does sue you, make sure that you answer the summons and complaint so the court doesn’t award the debt collector a default judgment. With a court judgment, the collection agency may be able to garnish your wages or bank account.
Let’s Summarize…
Under the FDCPA, consumers are protected from debt collector harassment. You have the right to ask a debt collection agency to stop contacting you even if you owe the debt. If the debt collector continues to contact you after you send a cease and desist letter, they are violating federal law.
