You can file a complaint about a business that collects debts owed to another person or agency, including non-governmental child support collections. Debt collectors must inform consumers about whether any language access services are available.
You can report a debt collector for:
- False or misleading advertising
- Contract or billing disputes
- Nondisclosure of fees or surcharges
- Harassment
- Failure to post or provide available language assistance services
- Unlicensed activity
To file a complaint, you must live in New York City. The business can be located outside of the City.
What Happens Next
If you don't include your address or email with your Service Request, you won't receive follow up. The Department of Consumer and Worker Protection (DCWP) will consider your complaint a tip.
If you include your address, DCWP will mail you a complaint form. You must complete and return it to DCWP. If you provide your email address, you'll get the form by email instead. Check your spam folder if you don't see it in your inbox.
Translation and Language Access in Debt Collection
As of 2020, before collecting on a debt, debt collectors must let you know of any translation or language access services available.
They must also:
- Notify you, in any initial collection notice and on their website, about a glossary of debt collection terms that is available in multiple languages on DCWP's website at nyc.gov/dcwp
- Keep track of any time a consumer tells the debt collector of their preferred language
- Provide accurate and complete translations when collecting debt in a language other than English
Learn more about debt collection resources available in multiple languages.
