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Cease Contact Letter
by: Montana Legal Services Association (MLSA)

Federal law protects you from certain unfair and harassing actions by debt collectors. The law is called the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). Under the law collections agencies can't keep contacting you after you write them a letter telling them to stop. Once a debt collector gets your letter, they can't contact you again, except to say there will be no further contact or that they intend to sue you in court. If they do contact you again, they are breaking the law, and you should talk to a lawyer.

Keep in mind that this letter does not make the debt go away. It only forces the debt collector to stop contacting you. The debt collector can still sue you to try to collect your debt. For more information about fair debt collection see the articles:
Fair Debt Collection - Things Debt Collectors Can and Cannot Do
Debt Collectors Won't Leave Me Alone-What Can I Do?

As with any other letters you send to debt collectors, make a copy of the letter and save it in a safe place. Send the letter by certified mail, return receipt requested. Save the certified mail receipt and the green return receipt with your copy of the letter. This proof may be important if you have to go to court later.

This is an example of a letter you can send to a collection agency to ask them to stop contacting you:

(Your name and address:)
________________________
________________________
________________________

(Date of letter:)_________

(Debt collector's name and address:)
________________________
________________________
________________________

RE: (Original creditor's name:)____________________
(Account number:) ___________________

Dear (debt collector's name:)________________________,

I am writing to ask that you stop contacting me about a debt I allegedly owe to (original creditor:)______________________________________.

Failure to comply with this request is a violation of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and may subject you to a lawsuit for damages.

This letter is not meant in any way to be an acknowledgement that I owe this money.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Sincerely,

(Your signature)

(Your name)

Revised 10/05

Call the MLSA HelpLine for legal assistance:
(800) 666-6899

Montana Legal Services Association
616 Helena Avenue, Suite 100
Helena, Montana 59601
(406) 442-9830
(800) 666-6124

Last Reviewed On: 01/03/06

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