Debt collector laws in District of Columbia

District of Columbia regulates collectors through the D.C. debt collection law (D.C. Code § 28-3814), expanded by the Protecting Consumers from Unjust Debt Collection Practices Amendment Act of 2022. Here are its extra protections, licensing, complaints and medical debt rules.

Short answer

District of Columbia has its own debt collection law: the D.C. debt collection law (D.C. Code § 28-3814), expanded by the Protecting Consumers from Unjust Debt Collection Practices Amendment Act of 2022. It also covers original creditors collecting their own debts. You can complain to Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia, Consumer and Tenant Response team. The CFPB also takes complaints.

State law
Yes
Covers original creditors
Yes
License required
Not confirmed
Extra protections listed
5

The District of Columbia debt collection law

State law
D.C. debt collection law (D.C. Code § 28-3814), expanded by the Protecting Consumers from Unjust Debt Collection Practices Amendment Act of 2022
Law
D.C. Code § 28-3814
Covers original creditors
Yes
Official text
Read the law

District of Columbia is one of 22 states in our 48 state guides whose law also covers original creditors collecting their own debts.

What District of Columbia adds to the FDCPA

  • Collectors may not call or text you before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. Eastern time (§ 28-3814(k)).
  • For charged-off debt, the first letter must tell you that you can ask for proof: original creditor, current owner, last account number and an itemized balance. Debt buyers and third-party collectors must have these documents before collecting (§ 28-3814(m)).
  • If you agree to a payment plan or settlement, the collector must send you a written copy within 7 days (§ 28-3814(n)).
  • Attorney fees a collector can recover from you are generally limited to 15% of the debt (§ 28-3814(v)).
  • Any violation of the federal FDCPA also violates D.C. law (§ 28-3814(z)).

Medical bills and collectors in District of Columbia

The Medical Debt Mitigation Amendment Act of 2026 (D.C. Law 26-172) became law on Aug. 20, 2026 and adds § 28-3814(dd): no medical debt collection until 180 days after the first bill and at least 90 days' notice, interest capped at 3% a year, no liens on your primary home, no wage garnishment if your household income is under 500% of the federal poverty level, and no reporting of medical debt to credit bureaus. But these rules apply only 6 months after the law's cost is included in an approved D.C. budget (Law 26-172, § 6), and the D.C. Code marks § 28-3814(dd) 'Not Funded'. So, as of October 2026, they are not yet in force.

Can you sue a collector under District of Columbia law?

Yes. You can sue for actual damages, costs and attorney's fees, punitive damages, and an extra $500 to $4,000 per violation (D.C. Code § 28-3814(u)).

Federal law (15 U.S.C. 1692k) also lets you sue within 1 year for actual damages, up to $1,000 extra and attorney's fees.

Where to complain in District of Columbia

Licenses for collection agencies in District of Columbia

License required
Not confirmed

In nearby states

If a collector breaks the rules in District of Columbia

  1. Write it down

    Note the date, time and caller of every contact, and keep letters, voicemails, emails and texts.

  2. Look up the company

    Write down the collector's name, address and license number, if it has one.

  3. Put your request in writing

    Use a letter to dispute a debt or to stop collector calls; keep a copy and the mailing receipt.

  4. Complain

    Complain to Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia, Consumer and Tenant Response team. You can also complain to the CFPB at consumerfinance.gov/complaint.

  5. Know your right to sue in District of Columbia

    Under District of Columbia law: Yes. You can sue for actual damages, costs and attorney's fees, punitive damages, and an extra $500 to $4,000 per violation (D.C. Code § 28-3814(u)).

Questions about collector laws in District of Columbia

Has District of Columbia passed a debt collection act of its own?

Yes: the D.C. debt collection law (D.C. Code § 28-3814), expanded by the Protecting Consumers from Unjust Debt Collection Practices Amendment Act of 2022 (D.C. Code § 28-3814). It also covers original creditors collecting their own debts.

Are there medical debt rules in District of Columbia?

The Medical Debt Mitigation Amendment Act of 2026 (D.C. Law 26-172) became law on Aug. 20, 2026 and adds § 28-3814(dd): no medical debt collection until 180 days after the first bill and at least 90 days' notice, interest capped at 3% a year, no liens on your primary home, no wage garnishment if your household income is under 500% of the federal poverty level, and no reporting of medical debt to credit bureaus. But these rules apply only 6 months after the law's cost is included in an approved D.C. budget (Law 26-172, § 6), and the D.C. Code marks § 28-3814(dd) 'Not Funded'. So, as of October 2026, they are not yet in force.

Where can I complain about a debt collector in District of Columbia?

Office of the Attorney General for the District of Columbia, Consumer and Tenant Response team: https://oag.dc.gov/consumer-protection/submit-consumer-complaint · (202) 442-9828

Can I take a collector to court under District of Columbia law?

Yes. You can sue for actual damages, costs and attorney's fees, punitive damages, and an extra $500 to $4,000 per violation (D.C. Code § 28-3814(u)).

How does District of Columbia law go beyond the FDCPA?

Collectors may not call or text you before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. Eastern time (§ 28-3814(k)). For charged-off debt, the first letter must tell you that you can ask for proof: original creditor, current owner, last account number and an itemized balance. Debt buyers and third-party collectors must have these documents before collecting (§ 28-3814(m)). If you agree to a payment plan or settlement, the collector must send you a written copy within 7 days (§ 28-3814(n)).

Related District of Columbia pages

Debt collector laws in nearby states

Sources

Last checked: Oct 24, 2026.

Federal sources