Debt Collection Rules: 7-in-7

The finance world is full of jargon for just about everything, which can make it seem more complicated than it actually is. Being in the know about financial terms can be especially important when you're dealing with debt. 

For example, learning about the 7-in-7 rule—sometimes called the 7-7-7 rule—helps you understand your rights when it comes to debt collection calls. This could enable you to keep control if you're harassed by debt collectors.

What is the 7-in-7 Rule for Debt Collection?

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, or FDCPA, is a set of federal rules that outline what debt collectors can do and say, including how often they can call you. These rules apply to debt collectors and debt buyers, though not original creditors.

The terms “7-in-7 rule” or “7-7-7 rule” are jargon used by a lot of debt experts to describe how frequently debt collectors can call you about your debt. The rules mean debt collectors can't:

• Call more than seven times in a seven-day period about a specific debt

• Call within seven days of talking to you on the phone about a specific debt

In other words, if you speak with a debt collector over the phone about your debt, they shouldn't call you again for at least a week. Even if you ignore every call, the debt collector shouldn't call you more than seven times in seven days about a specific debt.

These rules apply across all phone numbers, so they can't call you seven times at home and seven more times at work. However, they're on a per-debt basis; if you have more than one debt in collections, you could receive seven calls about each debt in a seven-day period.

7-in-7 Doesn't Apply to Texts, Emails, Letters, or Social Media

The 7-in-7 rules are helpful in limiting harassing phone calls from debt collectors, but that's all they limit. The rules don't apply to other forms of contact, including:

• Letters in the mail

• Text messages on your mobile phone

• Emails to your personal email address

• Private social media messages

• In-person visits

That's not to say there are no rules about these kinds of contact, however. Debt collectors can’t make your debts public on social media, and they have to identify themselves as debt collectors when they contact you.

Additionally, you can opt-out of communication through email, texts, or social media. Debt collectors are required to offer a simple way to stop electronic communications.

8-to-9 Rule: When Can Debt Collectors Call?

Another important bit of number jargon to know when you're dealing with debt collectors is the 8-to-9 rule. This rule keeps debt collectors from calling you in the middle of the night. In particular, debt collectors can't:

• Call you before 8 a.m.

• Call you after 9 p.m.

The only exception to these rules is if you give the debt collector permission to call outside these hours. For example, if you work nights and sleep during the day, you might tell the debt collector to only call you early in the morning or late in the evening.

Can You Stop Debt Collectors from Calling?

While debt collector calls might be intimidating, you have a lot of power over when and how you communicate with them. You have the right to tell them to stop contacting you entirely.

The FDCPA says debt collectors must stop contact if you mail them a written cease-and-desist letter. Once they receive the letter, the debt collector can only contact you to tell you they won't contact you again, or to send legal notices.

That last part is important. If the debt collector can't contact you about a debt, that limits their options for collecting that debt. They may believe the only way to get the money you owe is to take you to court. Never ignore lawsuit notices.

What to Do When Debt Collectors Call

You have options for dealing with debt collectors. Here are a few steps to take:

• Get the debt verified. Debt collectors must provide you with verification of the debt within five days of first contact. Verification should include information on the debt, including how much you owe and who owns the debt. It should also tell you how to dispute the debt if you don't think you owe the money.

• Check the statute of limitations. Every state has limits on how long a debt can go unpaid before it becomes time-barred, which means a lawsuit to collect it would get dismissed. The statute of limitations varies by state and by type of debt, but typically runs three to five years for things like credit cards and personal loans.

• Dispute old or invalid debts. If the debt isn't yours, is time-barred, or otherwise is not correct, you can dispute it using the process outlined in your debt validation notice.

• Negotiate a settlement for valid debts. If a debt is valid and within the statute of limitations but you can't afford to pay it in full, consider debt settlement. This involves asking the debt collector to accept less than you owe and forgive the rest. You can negotiate with a creditor or collector yourself or hire a professional debt relief company to handle negotiation. 

It's also a good idea to keep notes on any communication between you and debt collectors. Make notes about any phone calls, including when you spoke and who you talked to. Keep copies of any letters, texts, emails, or social media messages you receive. And always get agreements in writing before you send a debt collector a penny.