Debt collectors may not harass, oppress, or abuse anyone.
For example, debt collectors may not:

• use threats of violence or harm against the person, property, or
  reputation;
  
  
• publish a list of consumers who refuse to pay their debts (except to a
  credit bureau);
  
  
• use obscene or profane language;
  
  
• repeatedly use the telephone to annoy someone;
  
  
• telephone people without identifying themselves;
  
  
• advertise your debt.

Debt collectors may not use any false statements when collecting
a debt.
For example, debt collectors may not:

• falsely imply that they are attorneys or government representatives;
  
  
• falsely imply that you have committed a crime;
  
  
• falsely represent that they operate or work for a credit bureau;
  
  
• misrepresent the amount of your debt;
  
  
• misrepresent the involvement of an attorney in collecting a debt;
  
  
• indicate that papers being sent to you are legal forms when they are
  not;
  
  
• indicate that papers being sent to you are not legal forms when they
  are.

Debt collectors may not state that:

• you will be arrested if you do not pay your debt;
  
  
• they will seize, garnish, attach, or sell your property or wages, unless
  the collection agency or creditor intends to do so, and it is legal to
  do so;
  
  
• actions, such as a lawsuit, will be taken against you, which legally may
  not be taken, or which they do not intend to take.

Debt collectors may not:

• give false credit information about you to anyone;
  
  
• send you anything that looks like an official document from a court or
  government agency when it is not;
  
  
• use a false name.