Can a Debt Collector Call My Cell Phone?

Maybe. Debt collectors have various tools to help them find your phone number. Unfortunately for the debt collector, just because they have your cell phone number does not mean they are permitted to call it. According to federal law, if you provide your cell phone number to a creditor or debt collector–in connection with a debt, loan, credit application, etc.–then you have consented to be contacted about that debt on your cell phone. This applies to creditors as well as the debt collectors they hire to collect your debt on their behalf.

However if you have not provided your cell phone number in this way, debt collectors are typically not allowed to call your cell phone using (1) an automatic dialing system or (2) to leave you prerecorded messages. Debt collectors might still be able to make non-automated collection calls and leave you live messages, but federal law prohibits autodialed calls and artificial or prerecorded messages. An attorney can help you determine whether the debt collection calls and messages you receive on your cell phone are legal or not. mlp (205)912-8244