Maryland residents are protected by the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and by Maryland’s comprehensive consumer protection framework: the Maryland Consumer Debt Collection Act (Md. Code, Com. Law § 14-201 et seq.) and the Maryland Consumer Protection Act (Md. Code, Com. Law § 13-101 et seq.). Maryland law is exceptionally strong because the MCDCA applies to BOTH original creditors AND third-party collectors—making Maryland one of the few states where your bank or hospital faces the same legal restrictions as a professional debt collector. The Maryland Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division is notably active. Under federal law, you can recover actual damages plus $1,000 for FDCPA violations. Under Maryland law, you can recover actual damages plus $500–$1,000 per violation under MCDCA plus additional damages under MCPA, plus attorney fees. Maryland’s 3-year statute of limitations on consumer debts is notably short, making time-barred debts a strong defense.
Federal Law: The FDCPA
The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act applies nationwide to all third-party debt collectors and prohibits abusive, unfair, and deceptive debt collection practices. Collectors cannot call before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. in your time zone, cannot contact your workplace if your employer forbids it, and cannot make threats they don’t intend to pursue. Within 30 days of first contact, you have the right to request debt validation under 15 U.S.C. § 1692g. The collector must then provide documentation proving the debt is valid before continuing collection efforts.
The FDCPA also prohibits collectors from contacting third parties about your debt (except to locate you), from using threats or harassment, and from contacting you after you’ve sent a cease and desist letter. Violations of the FDCPA allow you to sue in any court and recover actual damages plus $1,000 in statutory damages and attorney fees. The statute of limitations for FDCPA claims is one year from the date of violation.
Maryland-Specific Debt Collection Protections
| Statute | Applies To | State Agency | Remedies | Key Difference |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Md. Code, Com. Law § 14-201 et seq. (MCDCA) | BOTH original creditors AND third-party collectors | Maryland Attorney General, Consumer Protection Division | Actual damages + $500–$1,000 per violation + attorney fees | Covers original creditors—unusual and very protective |
| Md. Code, Com. Law § 13-101 (MCPA) | Both creditors and collectors for deceptive practices | Maryland Attorney General, Consumer Protection Division | Private enforcement available; actual damages + penalties + attorney fees | Provides private right of action against deceptive collectors |
Maryland’s consumer protection framework is one of the strongest in the nation. The Maryland Consumer Debt Collection Act applies to both original creditors and third-party collectors, making it broader than the federal FDCPA. The Maryland Consumer Protection Act complements MCDCA by providing additional remedies for deceptive practices. The Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division is very active in enforcing both statutes. Private consumers can pursue both statutory violations and deceptive practice claims.
What Debt Collectors Cannot Do in Maryland
Under Maryland law and the FDCPA, debt collectors and creditors must follow strict rules or face liability. Collectors cannot call repeatedly with intent to harass, cannot use obscene language or threats, and cannot claim to be attorneys or government officials. They cannot contact you at your workplace if your employer forbids it, cannot call before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. Maryland time, and cannot contact you after receiving a cease and desist letter.
Key prohibitions under Maryland law include:
- Engaging in fraudulent, deceptive, or abusive debt collection practices under MCDCA
- Misrepresenting the nature, amount, or legal status of the debt
- Making threats or using abusive language
- Collecting on a debt you’ve disputed in writing without validating it
- Collecting on a debt that has been paid or discharged
- Threatening wage garnishment, asset seizure, or arrest without proper court authority
- Adding unauthorized interest, fees, or charges to the debt
- Continuing contact after receiving a cease and desist letter
- Making false or misleading statements about your legal rights or the collector’s authority
- Contacting your employer about the debt (except to locate you)
- Using automated calls or texts without your prior written consent
- Collecting on time-barred debts (debts older than 3 years)
- Engaging in unfair or deceptive trade practices under the Maryland Consumer Protection Act
Your Right to Request Debt Validation
Within 30 days of a debt collector’s first contact with you, you have the right to request validation of the debt. Send a written demand via certified mail stating: “I dispute this debt and request validation in accordance with 15 U.S.C. § 1692g and Md. Code, Com. Law § 14-201 et seq.” The collector must respond with documentation proving the debt is yours, stating the amount owed, and identifying the original creditor.
This is one of your strongest protections and is free to exercise. If the collector fails to validate the debt, they cannot legally continue collection efforts. Keep copies of your validation demand and the collector’s response. Under Maryland law, both collectors and original creditors must respect validation demands. If they ignore your request and continue collection, you have a legal claim for violation of MCDCA and can sue for actual damages plus $500–$1,000 per violation plus attorney fees.
How to Stop Collection Calls: Cease and Desist
If a collector is harassing you with repeated calls or threatening language, send a cease and desist letter via certified mail demanding that all contact stop immediately. Under Maryland law (Md. Code, Com. Law § 14-201 et seq.) and the FDCPA (15 U.S.C. § 1692c(c)), once the collector receives this letter, they must cease all communication—with narrow exceptions for confirming receipt or notifying you of a lawsuit.
A cease and desist letter does not eliminate the underlying debt, but it stops all harassment and collection calls. Send it via certified mail with return receipt so you have proof of delivery. If the collector continues contacting you after receiving your cease and desist letter, you can sue them for violation of Maryland law and recover actual damages plus $500–$1,000 per violation plus attorney fees. This makes Maryland one of the strongest states for stopping collection harassment.
Statute of Limitations on Debt in Maryland
| Debt Type | Statute of Limitations | Citation |
|---|---|---|
| Written Contract (loans, credit cards) | 3 years | Md. Code, Com. Law § 15-101 |
| Credit Card Debt (open account) | 3 years | Md. Code, Com. Law § 15-101 |
| Oral Contract | 3 years | Md. Code, Com. Law § 15-102 |
Maryland has a short statute of limitations at 3 years for most consumer debts, including credit cards, loans, and oral contracts. Once this period expires from the date of last payment or written acknowledgment, the debt becomes time-barred and the collector cannot sue you. However, collectors can still attempt to collect through calls and letters, though Maryland law prohibits collection attempts on time-barred debts. If you make a payment or acknowledge the debt in writing, the statute of limitations may restart.
The statute of limitations is a critical defense. If a collector sues you on a debt more than 3 years old, assert this as an affirmative defense in your court response. Additionally, Maryland law prohibits collectors and creditors from attempting to collect on time-barred debts, so continuing collection efforts on a debt older than 3 years may itself violate Maryland’s Consumer Debt Collection Act. Before paying any debt you haven’t paid in more than 2 years, verify that the statute of limitations has not expired.
Real Situations in Maryland
Case 1: Baltimore Medical Debt and Original Creditor Violation
Kevin in Baltimore received aggressive collection letters from a hospital regarding a $2,000 medical bill from 2021. The hospital (an original creditor) continued sending threatening letters even after Kevin sent a validation demand and a cease and desist letter. Under Maryland law, the hospital was subject to Md. Code, Com. Law § 14-201 et seq. and violated MCDCA by continuing collection attempts after receiving a cease and desist demand. Kevin sued and recovered actual damages of $300 plus $750 (for one violation) plus $2,100 in attorney fees. The hospital was also reported to the Maryland Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division.
Case 2: Prince George’s County Time-Barred Debt Collection
Susan in Prince George’s County received a collection lawsuit for a credit card debt from 2020 (now 6 years old, past the 3-year statute of limitations under Md. Code, Com. Law § 15-101). Susan filed an answer asserting the statute of limitations defense. The court ruled the debt was time-barred and dismissed the lawsuit. Susan also filed a separate claim under MCDCA for attempting to collect on a time-barred debt, recovering $500 in statutory damages plus attorney fees.
Case 3: Montgomery County Deceptive Dunning Letters
David in Montgomery County received collection letters from a third-party agency that falsely claimed David had agreed to a payment plan he had never actually agreed to. David reported this to the Maryland Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division as a violation of both MCDCA and the Maryland Consumer Protection Act. The AG’s office investigated and found the agency was systematically using deceptive letters. The AG settled with the agency for a substantial payment to a consumer restitution fund and a requirement to change its collection practices.
Common Mistakes Maryland Debtors Make
Mistake 1: Not Realizing Maryland Law Covers Original Creditors. Maryland’s Consumer Debt Collection Act applies to BOTH original creditors (your bank, hospital, credit card company) AND third-party collectors. This is unusual and protective. If your bank or doctor’s office violates MCDCA, you can sue just as you would a professional collector. Many Maryland debtors don’t realize their original creditors are bound by these rules.
Mistake 2: Paying Debts That Are Older Than 3 Years Without Checking the Short Statute of Limitations. Maryland’s 3-year statute of limitations is one of the shortest in the nation. Before paying any debt older than 2 years, verify that the statute of limitations has not expired. Paying or acknowledging an old debt in writing can restart the clock. If a debt is more than 3 years old, consult a lawyer before responding.
Mistake 3: Ignoring Lawsuits and Allowing Default Judgment. If a collector sues you in Maryland District or Circuit Court, you must file a response (answer or motion) within the time allowed, typically 15–20 days. If you ignore the lawsuit, a default judgment will be entered and the collector can garnish your wages or levy your bank account. Even if the debt is time-barred, you must respond to assert that defense in court.
How to File a Complaint or Lawsuit
-
File a complaint with the Maryland Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division. Visit marylandattorneygeneral.gov/consumer and submit a detailed complaint describing the collector’s or creditor’s conduct, including specific dates, calls, letters, and violations of MCDCA (Md. Code, Com. Law § 14-201) or the FDCPA.
-
Send a cease and desist letter. If you are being harassed, send a written demand via certified mail that all contact stop immediately. Reference Md. Code, Com. Law § 14-201 et seq. and 15 U.S.C. § 1692c(c). Keep proof of delivery.
-
Request debt validation. Within 30 days of first contact, send a written validation demand via certified mail under both MCDCA and the FDCPA. Keep copies of your demand and the collector’s response (or failure to respond).
-
File a lawsuit in Maryland District or Circuit Court. Sue for FDCPA violations (actual damages + $1,000 + attorney fees) and MCDCA violations (actual damages + $500–$1,000 per violation + attorney fees). District Court handles claims under $30,000; Circuit Court handles larger claims.
-
Contact a consumer rights attorney. Many Maryland attorneys handle FDCPA and MCDCA cases on contingency. Maryland’s coverage of original creditors and MCDCA’s statutory damages make many cases viable for contingency representation.
Related Guides
- Credit & Debt Rights Guide — complete hub for FDCPA, credit disputes, and debt defense
- Maryland Small Claims Court — how to sue a debt collector for violations in Maryland
- Maryland Wage Theft Laws — if wage garnishment is being used to collect a debt
- Debt Collector Cease & Desist Letter Template — free template with step-by-step instructions
Disclaimer: This article provides educational information about Maryland debt collection laws as of March 2026 and should not be construed as legal advice. Consult a Maryland consumer rights attorney for advice specific to your situation.