Rights, in real situations
Consumer & identity
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Consumer & identity
What must a debt collector tell me?Background reading
Background reading
A collector generally must provide information identifying the creditor, the amount and how to dispute it. The notice should show the end of your 30-day dispute period.
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A collector says I owe money I do not owe. What do I send?Federal rule · specific setting
Federal rule · specific setting
For this situationA personal, family or household debt handled by a collector covered by federal debt-collection law. A bill from the original creditor may follow different rules.
Send a written dispute within the 30-day period on the debt validation notice. A covered collector must pause collection of the disputed amount until it provides verification.
What to do next
- Find the dispute deadline, creditor, amount and reference number on the notice.
- Write which debt or amount you dispute. If you already paid, include copies of payment evidence. Keep the originals.
- Send your dispute to the collector’s address on the notice. Keep a copy and delivery proof; certified mail with a return receipt provides evidence.
Words you can use
I dispute [ALL / PART] of the debt in your notice dated [DATE], reference [NUMBER], because [REASON]. Please provide verification and the name and address of the original creditor. Please send your response in writing.
Replace the brackets with your details. Keep only what is true for you.
What could change this answer?
- Already past the 30 days? You can still dispute, but this particular pause-on-collection protection may not apply.
- Verify the collector before sending financial information or money.
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Federal rule. State or local protections may add to it. Legal review pending.
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Does freezing my credit cost money?Background reading
Background reading
No. Placing and lifting a credit freeze is free. Contact each of the three nationwide credit bureaus to freeze your reports.
A freeze makes it harder to open new credit in your name. It does not stop every kind of identity theft.
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What can I do if someone uses my identity?Background reading
Background reading
Go to IdentityTheft.gov to report the theft and get a recovery plan. For other fraud or scams, the FTC uses ReportFraud.ftc.gov.
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My credit card statement has a duplicate charge. How do I preserve my dispute rights?Federal rule · specific setting
Federal rule · specific setting
For this situationA billing error on a consumer credit card, such as the same purchase charged twice. Debit-card rules differ.
Make sure the card issuer receives your written billing-error notice at its billing-dispute address within 60 days after it sent the first statement showing the error. Calling alone may not preserve these protections.
What to do next
- Save the statement, receipt and the date the issuer sent the statement. Identify both duplicate entries.
- Write your name, account number, disputed amount and why it is wrong. Follow the statement’s dispute instructions and retain delivery proof.
- Track the response. The issuer generally must acknowledge your letter within 30 days unless it has already resolved the issue.
What could change this answer?
- You can withhold the disputed amount and related charges during the investigation, while paying correct charges.
- If the issuer concludes the bill is correct, read its explanation and payment deadline before deciding your next step.
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I lost my debit card this morning. How quickly should I tell the bank?Federal rule · specific setting
Federal rule · specific setting
For this situationA lost or stolen debit card linked to a consumer bank or credit-union account and transfers you did not authorize.
Report it immediately. Reporting within two business days after discovering the loss generally limits your liability for unauthorized transfers to the smaller of $50 or the unauthorized amount.
What to do next
- Use the bank’s official app or published telephone number to report the loss and request a replacement.
- Identify unauthorized withdrawals or purchases separately. Save the report time, confirmation number and any written follow-up instructions.
- Review later statements and report additional unauthorized transfers promptly; do not assume a replacement card resolves every disputed charge.
What could change this answer?
- A card you still possess but whose number was stolen can involve different liability rules.
- Transfers you knowingly authorized, including some scam payments, require a different analysis from a thief’s unauthorized use.
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Can I stop next week’s automatic gym payment from my bank account?Federal rule · specific setting
Federal rule · specific setting
For this situationA recurring electronic debit from a consumer deposit account. This is not a credit-card cancellation rule.
You can stop a preauthorized electronic transfer by notifying your bank at least three business days before the scheduled payment. Also tell the gym that you revoke its debit authorization.
What to do next
- Tell the company in writing that it no longer has permission to debit your account. Keep a dated copy.
- Give your bank the company name, payment date and amount, and request a stop-payment order at least three business days ahead.
- Ask about written confirmation and fees. If the bank requires confirmation within 14 days of an oral order, send it to the specified address.
What could change this answer?
- A missed confirmation deadline can end the bank’s obligation to honor the oral order.
- Cancel the underlying membership separately if that is your goal, and arrange another payment method for valid debts.
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My credit report lists a late payment I made on time. How do I challenge it?Federal rule · specific setting
Federal rule · specific setting
For this situationInaccurate or incomplete information in a consumer credit report, including payment history reported by a lender.
Dispute the specific entry with both the credit reporting company and the lender that supplied it. Include copies of payment evidence and explain exactly what should change.
What to do next
- Save the report and mark the account, month and status you dispute. Gather receipts or bank records.
- Send the dispute through the reporting company’s process and to the lender’s designated dispute address. Keep copies and delivery records.
- Read the investigation result and compare any updated report with your requested correction.
What could change this answer?
- Investigations generally take 30 days; specified situations allow up to 45 days.
- If the dispute remains unresolved, you can request a brief dispute statement in your file; that does not remove the entry or guarantee credit approval.
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A lender rejected my application because of my credit report. Can I get that report free?Federal rule · specific setting
Federal rule · specific setting
For this situationA credit application denied based on information in a consumer report under federal credit-reporting rules.
Yes. Request it from the reporting company identified in the adverse action notice within 60 days. This free report is separate from your regular free annual report.
What to do next
- Keep the denial notice and find the reporting company’s name, address and telephone number.
- Request the free report within 60 days and explain that the request follows adverse action.
- Review the report for mixed identities, inaccurate balances or payment errors, and dispute mistakes with the reporting company and information provider.
What could change this answer?
- The lender must give the main reasons for denial or explain how to request them; the report alone may not explain its decision.
- If you believe discrimination affected the decision, save application records and describe that concern separately in any complaint.
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Where can I get my actual credit reports without buying a monitoring subscription?Federal rule · specific setting
Federal rule · specific setting
For this situationYour own reports from the three nationwide credit bureaus. Other specialty reports have separate request routes.
Use AnnualCreditReport.com, the authorized route for free annual reports from Equifax, Experian and TransUnion. The bureaus also currently offer free weekly online reports there.
What to do next
- Type AnnualCreditReport.com yourself or follow the FTC’s official link. Avoid ads promising a free report with a trial.
- Select the bureaus you want and complete the identity-verification process on the authorized site. Save the reports securely.
- If online verification fails, use the official telephone or mail request options described by the FTC.
What could change this answer?
- Federal law guarantees the annual report; weekly online access is an additional bureau program.
- A report request may require identity information. A site asking for payment-card details to start a subscription is offering something different.
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An online store missed its promised shipping date. Do I have to keep waiting?Federal rule · specific setting
Federal rule · specific setting
For this situationCovered merchandise ordered online, by telephone or by mail from a seller subject to the FTC’s shipment rule.
A seller that cannot ship on time must tell you about the delay and let you choose between agreeing to wait and cancelling for a full refund. Without a promised time, the usual shipping deadline is 30 days.
What to do next
- Save the order confirmation, promised shipping date and proof of payment before the seller changes the listing.
- Ask the seller for the revised shipping date. If you want to cancel, state that clearly and request the full refund.
- Keep the cancellation and refund records. If the seller will not resolve it, contact your payment provider promptly and report suspected fraud.
What could change this answer?
- Agreeing to a delay can change the shipment deadline; retain the terms of that agreement.
- Payment disputes have separate deadlines and protections. Do not let repeated promises cause you to miss a credit-card dispute deadline.
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A debt collector keeps calling my work line even though personal calls are banned. Can I stop that?Federal rule · specific setting
Federal rule · specific setting
For this situationA collector covered by federal debt-collection law collecting a personal, family or household debt.
Tell the collector that your employer does not allow those calls. Once a covered collector knows you cannot receive its calls at work, it may not keep calling you there.
What to do next
- Tell the collector that your employer prohibits personal collection calls at that number. Keep a written copy when possible.
- Log later calls with dates, numbers, messages and the name of the person who called.
- If the collector discussed your debt with a coworker, save that person’s account of what was said and include it in a complaint.
What could change this answer?
- Collectors may make limited contacts with others to locate you, but generally cannot disclose that you owe a debt.
- An original creditor collecting its own debt may not be covered by these particular federal collector rules.
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Must a Maryland store disclose its no-refund policy before I buy?Background reading
Background reading
Choose Maryland to read this local rule and its limits.
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Maryland law
For this situationA Maryland consumer buying covered retail goods for personal use, including a covered online purchase.
For covered consumer goods, the merchant must disclose the refund or exchange policy in writing before purchase, including a policy that allows no refunds.
What to do next
- Before buying, read and photograph the posted policy or save the online policy and product page.
- If a return is refused, request the policy that was disclosed at purchase and preserve your receipt and correspondence.
- For missing or misleading disclosure, submit a Maryland Attorney General consumer complaint with copies of the advertisement, policy and receipt.
What could change this answer?
- Food, perishable goods, custom-made or custom-altered goods, and goods legally barred from resale have regulatory exemptions.
- In-person disclosure can use a conspicuous sign or label; online disclosure must appear on a web page before the transaction.
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A company mailed me merchandise I never ordered, then sent a bill. Must I pay?Federal rule · specific setting
Federal rule · specific setting
For this situationMerchandise a seller sent to you without your order or agreement.
No. Federal law generally lets you keep genuinely unordered merchandise without paying for it or returning it.
What to do next
- Check the addressee and your order history to confirm nobody authorized this purchase.
- Keep the mailing label, invoice and any demand for payment as evidence.
- Tell the seller you did not order it and report persistent billing to the FTC.
What could change this answer?
- An agreed subscription may create a payment obligation; investigate whether you actually enrolled.
- Unexpected packages can signal misuse of your account details, so check for unauthorized transactions.
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I bought a vacuum from a salesperson at my home yesterday. Can I cancel?Federal rule · specific setting
Federal rule · specific setting
For this situationA covered personal or household purchase made during an in-home sales visit.
For a covered home sale of $25 or more, the FTC Cooling-Off Rule gives you until midnight of the third business day after the sale to cancel for a refund.
What to do next
- Find the dated contract and cancellation address immediately.
- Sign and mail the cancellation form or a cancellation letter before the deadline; retain proof of mailing.
- Keep the goods available and track the seller’s refund and collection instructions.
What could change this answer?
- Saturday counts as a business day; Sundays and federal holidays do not.
- Emergency purchases and requested repair visits have exclusions; extra purchases during a repair visit can differ.
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The used-car salesperson promised a warranty, but the Buyers Guide says “as is.” What should I do?Federal rule · specific setting
Federal rule · specific setting
For this situationA used car offered by a dealer covered by the FTC Used Car Rule.
Have the dealer put the promised warranty in the Buyers Guide and contract before you sign. The Guide describes whether the dealer offers a warranty and becomes part of the sale.
What to do next
- Photograph the displayed Buyers Guide and compare it with the salesperson’s promise.
- Ask for each promised repair and warranty term in writing before paying.
- Take your final Guide and contract copies and report a dealer’s misleading warranty representations.
What could change this answer?
- Private sellers are outside this dealer rule.
- State warranty law can limit an “as is” sale; the Guide does not erase those protections.
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Can my car manufacturer void the warranty just because an independent shop changed my oil?Federal rule · specific setting
Federal rule · specific setting
For this situationA consumer vehicle with a manufacturer’s written warranty.
Generally no. A warrantor cannot condition coverage on paid use of its named dealer or branded parts merely because you used independent maintenance.
What to do next
- Keep maintenance invoices showing dates, mileage, parts and work performed.
- Ask for a written denial identifying the failed part and how the outside work caused the damage.
- Use the manufacturer’s warranty dispute process and report blanket dealer-only requirements to the FTC.
What could change this answer?
- Free required services or parts, and a valid FTC waiver, can change the tie-in rule.
- A separate service contract may contain different terms; read it alongside the warranty.
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A store says I can read the appliance warranty only after buying it. Is that right?Federal rule · specific setting
Federal rule · specific setting
For this situationShopping for a consumer product with a written warranty covered by federal disclosure rules.
Written warranties on covered consumer products must be available for you to examine before purchase. Ask to see the actual warranty rather than a salesperson’s summary.
What to do next
- Ask the seller for the full warranty before committing to the purchase.
- Check coverage length, excluded parts, labor costs and how to obtain service.
- Save the version you relied on and report a seller that withholds required warranty information.
What could change this answer?
- A separately priced service contract is different from the manufacturer’s included warranty.
- Implied warranty rights depend partly on state law and are not resolved by this federal summary.
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A standard purchase contract says I owe $500 if I leave a negative review. Can it do that?Federal rule · specific setting
Federal rule · specific setting
For this situationA business’s form contract restricting an honest consumer review of its goods or services.
The Consumer Review Fairness Act generally makes such clauses void in standardized consumer contracts and prohibits businesses from using them.
What to do next
- Save the contract, penalty demand and the review you posted or planned.
- Ask the business to identify the clause and withdraw its review-related demand.
- Report the contract restriction to the FTC and obtain legal help if a lawsuit or collection demand arrives.
What could change this answer?
- Individually negotiated terms and employment agreements fall outside this particular rule.
- Platforms may still remove abusive or irrelevant content under lawful moderation policies.
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A concert ticket shows a low price until mandatory service fees appear at checkout. Is that allowed?Federal rule · specific setting
Federal rule · specific setting
For this situationLive-event tickets advertised or sold under the FTC rule effective May 12, 2025.
The FTC fee rule requires covered live-event ticket sellers to display a total price including mandatory fees upfront, more prominently than other pricing.
What to do next
- Capture the first advertised price and the final checkout itemization.
- Separate mandatory service charges from optional items you affirmatively selected.
- Ask the seller to explain the undisclosed charge and report misleading price displays to the FTC.
What could change this answer?
- Government taxes and shipping may be excluded from the upfront total but must be disclosed before payment.
- The rule also covers short-term lodging, but not every type of product or service.
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My store gift card says it expires after two years. Can the store keep the money?Federal rule · specific setting
Federal rule · specific setting
For this situationA covered store gift card or general-use gift card purchased for personal use.
For a covered gift card, the underlying funds generally cannot expire earlier than five years after issuance or the last loading of funds.
What to do next
- Find the purchase or reload receipt and read the card’s printed expiration terms.
- Ask the issuer whether the funds remain valid and how to get a replacement card.
- Keep its written response and complain if covered funds were removed prematurely.
What could change this answer?
- Promotional or loyalty cards and certain other products may be excluded from the gift-card rule.
- State law can offer stronger protections, including different cash-redemption rights.
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A gift card started charging inactivity fees six months after I bought it. Is that permitted?Federal rule · specific setting
Federal rule · specific setting
For this situationDormancy or service charges on a gift card subject to Regulation E.
A covered gift card generally cannot charge dormancy, inactivity or service fees unless there has been no activity for at least 12 months and required disclosures were provided.
What to do next
- Gather the card packaging and a transaction history showing the last use or reload.
- Identify every inactivity charge and ask the issuer for the disclosure supporting it.
- Request correction of an early or undisclosed fee and retain the issuer’s response.
What could change this answer?
- No more than one covered fee may be charged in a calendar month.
- Excluded promotional cards and reloadable products not marketed as gifts can follow different rules.
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A credit-repair company wants full payment before it removes negative items. Should I pay?Federal rule · specific setting
Federal rule · specific setting
For this situationA company selling services to improve your consumer credit history.
Credit-repair companies generally cannot demand payment before performing the services they promise. Claims that they can erase accurate, current negative information are warning signs.
What to do next
- Save its promised results, payment demand and proposed contract.
- Do not supply false information or use a new identity at its suggestion.
- Dispute real errors directly with the reporting company and report advance-fee or guaranteed-removal claims.
What could change this answer?
- Legitimate errors can be disputed without paying a repair company.
- Some telemarketed services face additional fee restrictions even after purported work is performed.
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A debt-settlement company called me and wants fees before any creditor accepts a deal. Is that legal?Federal rule · specific setting
Federal rule · specific setting
For this situationA for-profit debt-relief service marketed through calls covered by the federal telemarketing rule.
For debt-relief services covered by the Telemarketing Sales Rule, the company cannot collect its fee until a debt is resolved, you agree to the result, and you make a payment under that agreement.
What to do next
- Ask for a written explanation of each fee and exactly when it becomes due.
- Verify any claimed settlement directly with the creditor using a trusted contact number.
- Report an advance-fee demand and compare nonprofit counseling options before signing.
What could change this answer?
- Coverage depends on the marketing and service; not every professional arrangement falls under this rule.
- Money in a compliant dedicated account belongs to you, but it does not mean a settlement exists.
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A bank sent an active credit card I never requested. Can it issue one without asking?Federal rule · specific setting
Federal rule · specific setting
For this situationAn unexpected consumer credit card bearing your name.
An issuer generally may send a credit card only in response to a request or application, or as a renewal or substitute for an accepted card.
What to do next
- Do not activate or use the unexpected card while you investigate.
- Contact the issuer through its official website and ask which application or existing account authorized issuance.
- If the application was fraudulent, close the account through its fraud process and review your credit reports.
What could change this answer?
- Renewals and replacements for cards you previously accepted can be sent without a new application.
- Authorized additional-user cards and account substitutions require looking at the existing agreement.
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My credit card charged an over-limit fee even though I never opted in. Can I challenge it?Federal rule · specific setting
Federal rule · specific setting
For this situationAn over-the-limit fee on a consumer credit-card account.
Generally yes. A card issuer must obtain your affirmative consent before charging a fee for paying transactions that exceed your credit limit.
What to do next
- Find the statement showing the fee and any opt-in confirmation you received.
- Ask the issuer to produce your consent and refund a fee charged without it.
- Revoke any existing over-limit consent if you no longer want the service, and save confirmation.
What could change this answer?
- The issuer may pay an over-limit transaction without charging the prohibited fee.
- Interest, late fees and other valid charges are separate and can still increase the balance.
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My credit-card statement arrived only a few days before payment was due. Is there a minimum billing window?Federal rule · specific setting
Federal rule · specific setting
For this situationA periodic statement for a consumer credit-card account under an open-end plan.
The issuer must have procedures to mail or deliver the periodic statement at least 21 days before the payment due date for covered credit-card accounts.
What to do next
- Save the envelope, electronic delivery notice and statement showing the due date.
- Ask the issuer when and how it delivered the statement and request correction of affected charges.
- Pay the undisputed amount promptly and retain the payment timestamp while the delivery issue is reviewed.
What could change this answer?
- A postal delay alone may not establish that the issuer violated its mailing procedures.
- Other loans and non-card open-end accounts can have different timing requirements.
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Can my card issuer raise the rate on future purchases tomorrow without warning?Federal rule · specific setting
Federal rule · specific setting
For this situationA consumer credit-card issuer announcing a higher purchase APR.
A discretionary increase in the rate for new purchases generally requires at least 45 days’ advance notice and usually cannot occur during the account’s first year.
What to do next
- Compare the old APR, new APR, notice date and effective date.
- Ask whether the change is discretionary, index-linked, promotional or based on delinquency.
- Read the notice’s purchase and rejection terms before deciding whether to keep using the card.
What could change this answer?
- Existing balances have additional protection, with exceptions including serious payment delinquency.
- A change tied to a public variable-rate index generally does not require this advance notice.
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I paid more than my credit-card minimum. Can the issuer put all the extra money toward my lowest-rate balance?Federal rule · specific setting
Federal rule · specific setting
For this situationA consumer credit card carrying balances with different interest rates.
Generally no. The amount above the required minimum must usually go first to the balance with the highest APR, then to lower-rate balances.
What to do next
- List each balance and APR from the statement before your payment.
- Compare your payment with the required minimum and identify the excess amount.
- Ask the issuer for its allocation calculation and correction if the excess went to a lower-rate balance.
What could change this answer?
- Deferred-interest promotions have special allocation rules near their expiration.
- Certain disputed balances can be treated differently during a billing-error investigation.
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A returned purchase left a $200 credit on my card. Can I request the money instead of spending it?Federal rule · specific setting
Federal rule · specific setting
For this situationAn actual credit balance on a consumer open-end credit account.
Yes. For a credit balance over $1, the creditor must refund the remaining balance within seven business days after receiving your written request.
What to do next
- Confirm that the refund has posted and the account balance is in your favor.
- Send a dated written request identifying the account and asking for the credit balance back.
- Keep delivery proof and track the seven-business-day response period.
What could change this answer?
- The issuer may voluntarily accept an oral or electronic request as well.
- After six months it must make a good-faith refund effort even without your request.
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Someone used my credit-card number online, but I still have the card. Am I responsible?Federal rule · specific setting
Federal rule · specific setting
For this situationUnauthorized use of a consumer credit-card number without loss of the card itself.
If only the card number was stolen and you still have the card, you generally have no liability for the unauthorized charges. Notify the issuer immediately.
What to do next
- Call the issuer using the number on your card and identify the transactions you did not authorize.
- Request a replacement number and review linked digital wallets and recurring payments.
- Follow its written dispute instructions and review later statements for additional misuse.
What could change this answer?
- If the physical card was lost, federal liability can be up to $50 before notice, subject to conditions.
- A debit-card transfer has different deadlines and liability rules.
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My bank says an unauthorized debit investigation will take a month. Must it give temporary credit?Federal rule · specific setting
Federal rule · specific setting
For this situationA timely reported error involving a consumer electronic fund transfer.
If a covered electronic-transfer investigation takes longer than the usual ten business days, the bank generally must provide provisional credit while using the extended investigation period.
What to do next
- Report the transfer amount, date and why it was unauthorized, and obtain a case number.
- Send any requested written confirmation within the stated ten-business-day period.
- Ask whether temporary credit is being provided and read the final investigation decision carefully.
What could change this answer?
- Certain new accounts allow 20 business days before provisional credit is required.
- Final deadlines may extend to 90 days for specified transactions; temporary credit can be reversed after a proper adverse finding.
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My bank charged an overdraft fee for a one-time debit purchase without my consent. Can it do that?Federal rule · specific setting
Federal rule · specific setting
For this situationAn overdraft fee caused by payment of an ATM withdrawal or one-time debit-card transaction.
Generally, a bank cannot charge for paying an ATM or one-time debit-card overdraft unless you affirmatively opted into that overdraft service.
What to do next
- Identify which transaction triggered the fee rather than relying only on the account’s negative balance.
- Ask the bank for your affirmative opt-in record and request correction if none exists.
- Revoke the service if unwanted and keep the bank’s written confirmation.
What could change this answer?
- Opting out may cause purchases to be declined.
- A negative balance can still be owed even when the bank may not charge this particular fee.
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Federal rule. State or local protections may add to it. Legal review pending.
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My bank extended a check hold but gave no reason or release date. What should I ask for?Federal rule · specific setting
Federal rule · specific setting
For this situationA check deposit to a covered transaction account subject to an exception hold.
For an exception hold under federal funds-availability rules, the bank generally must provide a written notice identifying the deposit, the reason and when funds will be available.
What to do next
- Keep the deposit receipt and note whether you used a teller, ATM or another method.
- Request the written hold notice and the specific availability date for each held amount.
- Compare the explanation with your account disclosure and complain about missing or inconsistent notices.
What could change this answer?
- New accounts, suspected uncollectible checks and other exceptions can justify longer holds.
- Mobile deposits may follow different disclosed availability terms; do not assume teller rules apply.
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Federal rule. State or local protections may add to it. Legal review pending.
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My bank made a stranger’s check available. Is it safe to send some money back?Safety & practical steps
Safety & practical steps
For this situationAn unexpected check paired with instructions to pay someone or return an alleged overpayment.
No. Available funds do not prove a check is genuine. A fake check can be discovered later, leaving you responsible for money you withdrew or sent.
What to do next
- Stop any outgoing payment and contact your bank’s fraud department through a verified number.
- Explain who sent the check and what they asked you to do.
- Save the check image, messages and payment details and report the scam.
What could change this answer?
- Even a cashier’s check can be counterfeit.
- Funds-availability law does not guarantee reimbursement for money you willingly send to a scammer.
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Practical guidance, not a statement of a legal right or a guarantee of an outcome. Legal review pending.
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I sent money abroad ten minutes ago to the wrong person. Can I cancel?Federal rule · specific setting
Federal rule · specific setting
For this situationA consumer international money transfer covered by the federal remittance rule.
For a covered remittance transfer, you generally have 30 minutes after payment to cancel if the money has not been picked up or deposited into the recipient’s account.
What to do next
- Use the provider’s cancellation contact on your receipt immediately.
- Provide the transaction number, recipient and amount and clearly request cancellation.
- Keep confirmation and monitor return of the transfer amount and covered fees.
What could change this answer?
- Transfers scheduled well in advance have a different cancellation window.
- Not every business or transfer falls within the remittance rule; ask which rule applies.
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Federal rule. State or local protections may add to it. Legal review pending.
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My family received less money abroad than the transfer receipt promised. How do I report the error?Federal rule · specific setting
Federal rule · specific setting
For this situationA potentially incorrect consumer transfer from the United States to another country.
Tell the covered remittance provider within 180 days of the date the receipt said funds would be available. Identify the shortfall and request an error investigation.
What to do next
- Compare the receipt’s promised recipient amount and availability date with what arrived.
- Give the provider the sender, recipient, transaction reference and a clear error description.
- Keep your report date and ask for its written investigation result and any correction choices.
What could change this answer?
- Covered providers generally have 90 days to investigate.
- Incorrect account information supplied by you can affect whether a refund is required.
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Federal rule. State or local protections may add to it. Legal review pending.
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A lender rejected my income solely because it comes from public assistance. Is that allowed?Federal rule · specific setting
Federal rule · specific setting
For this situationA credit application protected by the Equal Credit Opportunity Act.
A creditor cannot discriminate because income comes from public assistance. It must evaluate qualifying income without automatically discounting it merely for that source.
What to do next
- Save the application, income documentation and any statement about the source of your income.
- Request or review the adverse-action notice for the actual denial reasons.
- Ask the lender to reconsider any blanket exclusion and report suspected credit discrimination.
What could change this answer?
- This rule does not require approval when legitimate underwriting requirements are unmet.
- Different income streams may need different evidence of reliability; source alone cannot justify discrimination.
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Federal rule. State or local protections may add to it. Legal review pending.
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I qualify for a loan on my own. Can the lender require my spouse to co-sign just because I am married?Federal rule · specific setting
Federal rule · specific setting
For this situationAn individual credit application where the applicant independently qualifies.
Generally no. A creditor cannot require a spouse’s signature on the credit obligation when you independently meet its standards.
What to do next
- State clearly that you are applying for individual credit and provide the requested financial evidence.
- Ask which document needs your spouse’s signature and whether it creates personal liability.
- Request the legal or underwriting reason in writing and report an automatic spouse-signature requirement.
What could change this answer?
- If you do not qualify alone, the lender may request a qualified additional party, but generally cannot insist it be your spouse.
- Joint applications and property-security documents require separate analysis.
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Federal rule. State or local protections may add to it. Legal review pending.
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Can my mortgage lender keep the appraisal secret until I sign the closing papers?Federal rule · specific setting
Federal rule · specific setting
For this situationAn application for credit secured by a first lien on a dwelling.
For a covered first-lien dwelling loan, you generally must receive copies of appraisals and other written valuations promptly, and at least three business days before closing.
What to do next
- Ask for all written appraisals and valuations, including versions used in the credit decision.
- Check when they were delivered against the proposed closing date.
- Read any timing waiver before signing and report a refusal to provide required copies.
What could change this answer?
- You may be charged a reasonable appraisal cost, but not an additional fee merely for the copy.
- The copy requirement can apply even when the application is denied, incomplete or withdrawn.
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Federal rule. State or local protections may add to it. Legal review pending.
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A collector calls at 10 p.m. where I live. Can I tell it that is prohibited?Federal rule · specific setting
Federal rule · specific setting
For this situationA consumer debt collector covered by the federal debt-collection rules.
Debt collectors generally may not contact you before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. at your location, or at a time they know is inconvenient.
What to do next
- Save call logs showing the time and your location or time zone.
- Tell the collector your correct location and any additional inconvenient times.
- Keep its response and report further calls outside the permitted times.
What could change this answer?
- The federal rule generally covers third-party collectors, not every original creditor.
- A separate limit on call frequency can apply even when each call occurs during permitted hours.
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Federal rule. State or local protections may add to it. Legal review pending.
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A collector posted a debt demand on my public social-media page. Is that permitted?Federal rule · specific setting
Federal rule · specific setting
For this situationA public or contact-visible debt-collection message on a social network.
No. A covered debt collector cannot contact you about a debt through a social-media message that the public or your contacts can see.
What to do next
- Capture the post, account name, date and who could view it before requesting removal.
- Tell the collector to stop public contact and use the platform’s reporting controls.
- Report the disclosure to the CFPB with the preserved screenshots.
What could change this answer?
- A collector seeking to connect as a contact must identify itself as a debt collector.
- Private electronic collection messages must provide a reasonable way to opt out of that communication method.
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Federal rule. State or local protections may add to it. Legal review pending.
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One collector keeps calling about the same bill every day, even after we talked. What limit applies?Federal rule · specific setting
Federal rule · specific setting
For this situationTelephone calls about a particular consumer debt by a covered collector.
A collector is presumed to violate federal rules if it calls more than seven times in seven consecutive days about one debt, or calls within seven days after a telephone conversation about that debt.
What to do next
- Keep a dated log of calls, answered conversations and the debt discussed.
- Tell the collector when calls are inconvenient and document any consent you withdraw.
- Submit the pattern and call records with a complaint if contact continues.
What could change this answer?
- Certain calls made with your recent direct consent are excluded from the frequency calculation.
- Texts and emails have separate rules; repeated contact can still be harassment without exceeding this numerical threshold.
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Federal rule. State or local protections may add to it. Legal review pending.
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I hired a lawyer for this debt. Can the collector keep negotiating directly with me?Federal rule · specific setting
Federal rule · specific setting
For this situationRepresentation by an attorney concerning the particular debt being collected.
Once a covered collector knows you are represented for that debt and can readily obtain the lawyer’s contact information, it generally must communicate with your lawyer.
What to do next
- Give the collector your attorney’s name, address and telephone number in writing.
- Send your lawyer copies of new calls, letters and proposed settlement terms.
- Ask the attorney to address continued direct communication and preserve the contact history.
What could change this answer?
- A lawyer handling an unrelated matter does not necessarily represent you for this debt.
- Court papers still require prompt attention even if direct collection communications should stop.
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Can I send a letter requiring a debt collector to stop contacting me altogether?Federal rule · specific setting
Federal rule · specific setting
For this situationA consumer debt collected by an entity covered by the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.
Yes. A written notice that you refuse to pay or want further communication to stop generally requires a covered collector to cease contact, subject to limited exceptions.
What to do next
- Identify the collector and debt accurately before sending the notice.
- State clearly that you want further communication to stop and retain delivery proof.
- Continue checking mail for legal papers and keep any prohibited follow-up contacts.
What could change this answer?
- The collector may confirm it will stop or notify you of specified remedies it may or intends to pursue.
- An original creditor may fall outside these federal collector restrictions.
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A collector threatens to sue over a debt too old for a lawsuit. Does federal law allow that?Federal rule · specific setting
Federal rule · specific setting
For this situationA collection threat concerning an old consumer debt.
A covered collector cannot sue or threaten to sue to collect a time-barred debt. Whether the debt is time-barred depends on the applicable limitation period and facts.
What to do next
- Gather the original agreement, last payment date and the collector’s exact threat.
- Ask a legal-aid attorney to check the applicable limitation period before paying or acknowledging the debt.
- Report an unlawful threat and respond to any lawsuit by its court deadline.
What could change this answer?
- A debt can remain owed even when a lawsuit is barred.
- The credit-reporting period is a separate clock and does not determine the lawsuit deadline.
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Federal rule. State or local protections may add to it. Legal review pending.
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A collector says I must pay my late parent’s credit card because I am their child. Is that true?Federal rule · specific setting
Federal rule · specific setting
For this situationA collector demands personal payment of a deceased relative’s consumer debt.
Being the deceased person’s child does not by itself make you personally responsible. Debts generally are claims against the estate, with exceptions for people legally liable.
What to do next
- Ask for the debt details and the specific reason it claims you are personally liable.
- Refer estate claims to the authorized personal representative.
- Keep the demand and consult estate counsel before using your own money or signing a payment agreement.
What could change this answer?
- Being an authorized card user is different from being a joint borrower.
- An executor must administer valid estate claims properly even when not personally liable for the underlying debt.
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Federal rule. State or local protections may add to it. Legal review pending.
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A credit report still lists a collection from many years ago. Does negative information stay forever?Federal rule · specific setting
Federal rule · specific setting
For this situationPotentially obsolete adverse information in a consumer credit report.
Most negative information generally can be reported for seven years; bankruptcy information may remain for up to ten years. The applicable starting date and category matter.
What to do next
- Get the report and identify the original delinquency, collection and bankruptcy dates as applicable.
- Dispute the specific obsolete entry with copies of supporting records.
- Review the investigation result and ask for an explanation of the reporting period used.
What could change this answer?
- Specified high-value credit, insurance and employment reports have statutory exceptions.
- Accurate positive information can remain longer, and credit-report removal does not extinguish a debt.
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I am unemployed and applying for jobs. Is there an additional free credit-report right?Federal rule · specific setting
Federal rule · specific setting
For this situationAn unemployed consumer who intends to apply for employment within the next 60 days.
Yes. If you are unemployed and intend to seek work within 60 days, you can request a free report from a credit reporting company under this separate eligibility category.
What to do next
- Contact the reporting company through its official consumer request process.
- Explain the unemployment-based eligibility and complete its identity verification.
- Review the report before applications and dispute incorrect information promptly.
What could change this answer?
- Receiving public assistance is another separate free-report category.
- Regular free-report access remains available even when you do not meet this special condition.
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Someone opened an account using my identity. Can I get the business’s application records?Federal rule · specific setting
Federal rule · specific setting
For this situationBusiness records of a transaction or account resulting from theft of your identity.
Under FCRA section 609(e), an identity-theft victim can request relevant application and transaction records from the business without charge, generally within 30 days of a qualifying written request.
What to do next
- Ask the business where to send a section 609(e) request and what proof it needs.
- Identify the fraudulent account and provide the requested identity proof and theft report.
- Keep delivery evidence and follow up after the 30-day period with the missing records identified.
What could change this answer?
- The rule does not require creation of records the business does not maintain.
- A properly authorized law-enforcement agency can request these records on your behalf.
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The IRS mailed an identity-verification letter about a return I did not file. What should I do?Safety & practical steps
Safety & practical steps
For this situationAn IRS notice suggesting tax-return identity theft involving your identity.
Verify the letter through IRS.gov and follow its instructions to tell the IRS the return was not yours. Do not use a caller’s unsolicited link or pay someone to resolve it.
What to do next
- Find the notice number on IRS.gov using a browser address you type yourself.
- Use the official verification channel listed for that notice and report that you did not file the return.
- Keep the notice, response and case details and continue meeting your legitimate tax-filing obligations.
What could change this answer?
- Submit Form 14039 when the IRS instructions call for it, rather than automatically sending duplicate reports.
- An Identity Protection PIN can help prevent later misuse but does not replace resolving the current notice.
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Practical guidance, not a statement of a legal right or a guarantee of an outcome. Legal review pending.
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I received a 1099-G for unemployment benefits I never claimed. Must I pay tax on them?Federal rule · specific setting
Federal rule · specific setting
For this situationA tax form showing unemployment compensation obtained fraudulently in your name.
You should not report fraudulent benefits you did not receive as your income. Report the identity theft to the state agency that issued the form and request a corrected 1099-G.
What to do next
- Verify the issuing agency’s contact details independently and report the false claim.
- Ask for a corrected tax form and keep the report confirmation.
- File using the unemployment income you actually received and preserve the original and corrected forms.
What could change this answer?
- Ordinary payment or amount disputes should go to the issuing agency too, but may not be identity theft.
- Form 14039 is not normally needed solely for unemployment fraud unless IRS guidance for your situation directs it.
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Can I freeze my 8-year-old’s credit even if they have never had a loan?Federal rule · specific setting
Federal rule · specific setting
For this situationA parent or legal guardian protecting a child under age 16.
Yes. For a child under 16, a parent or qualifying representative can request a free security freeze from each nationwide credit reporting company, including creation of a protected record if needed.
What to do next
- Use each bureau’s official child-freeze instructions rather than an unsolicited service.
- Gather proof of your identity, the child’s identity and your authority to act.
- Send requests to all three bureaus and securely save the confirmation and future unfreeze instructions.
What could change this answer?
- Young people aged 16 or 17 can request their own freezes.
- If a credit file already shows fraud, dispute those accounts separately; freezing alone does not remove them.
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What should I save after a suspected scam?Background reading
Background reading
Start with transaction references; messages and receipts; report numbers, without passwords or full account numbers.
Keep your own observations separate from what someone told you. These are preparation steps, not a finding about your rights or eligibility.
This is background information, not a state-specific answer. Legal review pending.
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These guides cover the situations they name. They are source-checked drafts, not a complete state law library or a lawyer’s review. County rules are not inferred from your state.
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