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Debt Collectors & Debt Buyers Cease & Desist / Communication Limits
Generate this letterFormal Cease All Communication Request (15 U.S.C. § 1692c(c))
When to use it
Send to completely stop all telephone calls, mail, and electronic communication from a debt collector.
Preview
Bracketed fields are filled in from your account when you generate it.
[CLIENT FULL NAME]
[CLIENT ADDRESS LINE1]
[CLIENT CITY], [CLIENT STATE] [CLIENT ZIP]
Phone: [CLIENT PHONE]
Email: [CLIENT EMAIL]
Date: [TODAY]
[RECIPIENT NAME]
[RECIPIENT ADDRESS BLOCK]
RE: FORMAL NOTICE TO CEASE ALL COMMUNICATIONS PURSUANT TO 15 U.S.C. § 1692c(c)
Account Number: [ACCOUNT ACCOUNT NUMBER MASKED]
Original Creditor: [ACCOUNT ORIGINAL CREDITOR]
Collector Reference #: [ACCOUNT COLLECTOR REFERENCE]
Dear [RECIPIENT NAME],
Pursuant to my rights under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1692c(c), and CFPB Regulation F, 12 CFR § 1006.6(c), I hereby formally notify you that I refuse to pay this alleged debt and direct your agency to CEASE ALL FURTHER COMMUNICATION with me regarding the above-referenced account.
Under 15 U.S.C. § 1692c(c), upon receipt of this notice, your agency and all representatives, employees, and agents SHALL NOT COMMUNICATE FURTHER with me with respect to this debt, except strictly:
1. To advise me that your further collection efforts are being terminated;
2. To notify me that specified statutory remedies ordinarily invoked by your entity may be invoked; or
3. Where applicable, to notify me that your entity intends to invoke a specified remedy.
This prohibition applies to all communication methods, including telephone calls, cellular calls, text messages, emails, postal mail, and social media.
Please be advised that any violation of this cease communication directive will result in immediate legal action under 15 U.S.C. § 1692k for statutory damages, actual damages, court costs, and attorney's fees.
Governed by federal law, this notice is effective immediately upon receipt.
Sincerely,
[CLIENT FULL NAME]
Sent via Certified Mail, Return Receipt Requested: [LETTER CERTIFIED NUMBER]
Legal basis
15 U.S.C. § 1692c(c)12 CFR § 1006.6(c)Before you send
- Consumer wants all collection communications to halt.
Know this first
- Do not admit owing the debt or promise to make any payment, as doing so may restart or reset the statute of limitations in some state jurisdictions.
- CRITICAL LEGAL WARNING: Under 15 U.S.C. § 1692c(c), a complete cease communication notice stops all non-judicial communications. However, it does NOT discharge the underlying debt. If the debt is within the statute of limitations, forcing a collector to cease communication may increase the likelihood of a lawsuit.
Follow up
Allow about 15 days for a response.