15 USC § 1692c — Communication in connection with debt collection

fdcpa-15usc-1692c

FDCPA's communication restrictions on debt collectors. Sets the canonical 8 AM-9 PM call window, restricts communication when the consumer is represented by counsel or contact is at a workplace that prohibits it, prohibits most third-party communications, and requires cessation upon written request. Where [LENDER] handles servicing that triggers FDCPA scope (third-party collection or Reg F first-party overlay), these communication restrictions are operative.

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source:
  type: regulation
  id: fdcpa-15usc-1692c
  authority: 15 USC § 1692c — Communication in connection with debt collection
  description: |
    FDCPA's communication restrictions on debt collectors. Sets the
    canonical 8 AM-9 PM call window, restricts communication when the
    consumer is represented by counsel or contact is at a workplace that
    prohibits it, prohibits most third-party communications, and requires
    cessation upon written request. Where [LENDER] handles servicing that
    triggers FDCPA scope (third-party collection or Reg F first-party
    overlay), these communication restrictions are operative.
obligations:
  - id: fdcpa-15usc-1692c-a-restrictions-on-consumer-communication
    canonical_id: fdcpa-15usc-1692c-a-restrictions-on-consumer-communication
    section: 15 USC § 1692c(a) — Restrictions on communication with consumer
    description: |
      When [LENDER] (acting as a debt collector or under Reg F first-party
      servicing duties) communicates with a consumer about a debt,
      [LENDER] shall not communicate at unusual or known-inconvenient
      times or places (presumed window: 8 AM - 9 PM consumer-local time),
      when [LENDER] knows the consumer is represented by counsel and can
      ascertain the attorney's contact information (subject to attorney
      non-response or consent exception), or at the consumer's workplace
      when [LENDER] knows the employer prohibits such communication.
    type: refrain
    audit_question: For every consumer communication in connection with debt collection, can [LENDER] evidence that the call was within the 8 AM - 9 PM window, that no consumer-counsel intercept was bypassed, and that no workplace-prohibition was overridden?
    program_review: Do the P&Ps facilitate consumer-contact controls so collection communications fall within the presumed 8 AM–9 PM consumer-local window, route around a known consumer-counsel intercept, and honor a known employer workplace-contact prohibition?
    file_review: Start with the contact log / call notes per consumer; confirm timing, and that any counsel-known or workplace-prohibition flag was honored. The compliance person judges whether [LENDER] 'knew' representation or a workplace bar from what the file shows.
    judgment: true
    feeds: []
    workflow_phase: default_collections
    owner_role: default_servicing_analyst
    secondary_owner_role: compliance_officer
    cadence: per-collection-communication
    consequence: FDCPA private right of action (§ 1692k); CFPB enforcement under Reg F overlay; state UDAP claims.
    tags:
      - round-c
      - regulator-direct
      - fdcpa
      - servicing
      - communication-restrictions
      - promoted
    primary_source:
      tier: 1
      authority: 15 USC § 1692c(a)
      source_class: fdcpa-statute
      source_url: https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/15/1692c
      snapshot_id: d4e425ba8879b372
      fetched_at: '2026-05-24T19:33:25Z'
      content_hash: sha256:d4e425ba8879b372d4e425ba8879b372d4e425ba8879b372d4e425ba8879b372
      paragraph_quote: |
        Without the prior consent of the consumer given directly to the debt collector or the express permission of a court of competent jurisdiction, a debt collector may not communicate with a consumer in connection with the collection of any debt
      drafter_attestation: |
        Copied verbatim from snapshot d4e425ba8879b372. Substring is the
        (a) chapeau; sub-items (1)-(3) (time/place, attorney, workplace)
        paraphrased in description.
    promoted_at: '2026-05-24T20:12:06+00:00'
    promoted_from: fdcpa-15usc-1692c-roundc-v1.yaml
  - id: fdcpa-15usc-1692c-c-cease-communication-on-written-request
    canonical_id: fdcpa-15usc-1692c-c-cease-communication-on-written-request
    section: 15 USC § 1692c(c) — Ceasing communication on consumer's written refusal
    description: |
      If a consumer notifies [LENDER] in writing that the consumer
      refuses to pay the debt or that the consumer wishes communications
      to cease, [LENDER] shall stop further communication with the
      consumer about the debt, with three narrow exceptions: (1) to
      advise that further efforts are terminated, (2) to notify that
      ordinarily-invoked remedies may be invoked, and (3) to notify
      [LENDER] intends to invoke a specified remedy. Notice is complete
      on receipt when mailed.
    type: refrain
    audit_question: For every cease-and-desist letter received from a consumer, can [LENDER] evidence (a) the timestamp of receipt, (b) communication-cessation immediately thereafter, and (c) that any post-cessation communication fit one of the three §1692c(c)(1)-(3) exceptions?
    program_review: Do the P&Ps facilitate intake and flagging of a written cease-communication request so further communication stops on receipt, with only the three §1692c(c)(1)–(3) exception messages permitted afterward?
    file_review: 'Start with the notes: confirm the cease-request receipt timestamp and that communication stopped immediately. The compliance person judges whether any post-cease contact genuinely fit one of the three exceptions.'
    judgment: true
    feeds: []
    workflow_phase: default_collections
    owner_role: default_servicing_analyst
    secondary_owner_role: compliance_officer
    cadence: per-cease-and-desist-event
    consequence: FDCPA private right of action; CFPB Reg F enforcement; reputational risk.
    tags:
      - round-c
      - regulator-direct
      - fdcpa
      - servicing
      - cease-and-desist
      - promoted
    primary_source:
      tier: 1
      authority: 15 USC § 1692c(c)
      source_class: fdcpa-statute
      source_url: https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/15/1692c
      snapshot_id: d4e425ba8879b372
      fetched_at: '2026-05-24T19:33:25Z'
      content_hash: sha256:d4e425ba8879b372d4e425ba8879b372d4e425ba8879b372d4e425ba8879b372
      paragraph_quote: |
        If a consumer notifies a debt collector in writing that the consumer refuses to pay a debt or that the consumer wishes the debt collector to cease further communication with the consumer , the debt collector shall not communicate further with the consumer with respect to such debt
      drafter_attestation: |
        Copied verbatim from snapshot d4e425ba8879b372. Substring is the
        (c) chapeau; exceptions (1)-(3) paraphrased in description.
    promoted_at: '2026-05-24T20:12:06+00:00'
    promoted_from: fdcpa-15usc-1692c-roundc-v1.yaml
_promotion_history:
  - promoted_at: '2026-05-24T20:12:06+00:00'
    candidate_path: obligations\_remediation\round-c-type-a\fdcpa-15usc-1692c-roundc-v1.yaml
    candidates_promoted: 2
    candidates_skipped_existing: 0

Verbatim regulatory text (2)

Verbatim provisions from 15 USC § 1692c — Communication in connection with debt collection — each quote is a verified substring of the regulator-published source snapshot, not retyped. Quoted for reference; this is not legal advice. The operational layer (P&P updates, prompts) lives in the regulation update kits.

15 USC § 1692c(a) — Restrictions on communication with consumer

Without the prior consent of the consumer given directly to the debt collector or the express permission of a court of competent jurisdiction, a debt collector may not communicate with a consumer in connection with the collection of any debt

Source: 15 USC § 1692c(a) · source URL · snapshot d4e425ba8879b372

15 USC § 1692c(c) — Ceasing communication on consumer's written refusal

If a consumer notifies a debt collector in writing that the consumer refuses to pay a debt or that the consumer wishes the debt collector to cease further communication with the consumer , the debt collector shall not communicate further with the consumer with respect to such debt

Source: 15 USC § 1692c(c) · source URL · snapshot d4e425ba8879b372