Houston is a big, busy city, and debt collectors know it. When you are juggling work, family and a long drive across Harris County, a nonstop stream of collection calls can feel impossible to escape. The good news: collectors have to follow rules, and when they break them, you can hold them responsible.
Texas Debt Law represents Houston-area consumers who are being harassed, misled or threatened by collectors. We offer a free case review, we speak Spanish, and we serve clients statewide, so you can get help without leaving Houston.
Signs a Collector Is Breaking the Rules
Harassment does not always mean shouting. In Houston, people often describe quieter tactics that still wear them down:
- Robocalls and texts that keep coming several times a day.
- A collector who tells your landlord, a neighbor or a family member about your debt.
- Messages that pretend to come from a court, a lawyer or a government office.
- Threats to take your paycheck, your car or your home right away.
- Pressure to pay an old debt "today" to avoid being sued, even when the debt may be too old for a lawsuit.
If any of this sounds familiar, write it down and talk to a lawyer. You have protections even if you owe the money.
Federal Law vs. Texas Law: Which One Applies?
It depends on who is calling you.
- Collection agencies and debt buyers: the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) applies. Debt buyers such as Jefferson Capital Systems and Cavalry SPV fall in this group. The FDCPA forbids harassment, false or misleading statements, unfair practices, and discussing your debt with third parties.
- The original lender: the FDCPA generally does not reach a creditor collecting its own account, but the Texas Debt Collection Act (Texas Finance Code chapter 392) does. So a card issuer like Synchrony Bank or American Express can still be held to Texas rules.
Often both laws come into play, and a single case can include claims under each.
The Court That Hears Houston FDCPA Cases
For people in Harris County, a federal FDCPA claim is generally filed in the Southern District of Texas, Houston Division. Texas-law claims may also be filed in Texas state courts. Part of our job is choosing the right court for your facts.
Your Evidence Checklist
Collectors keep records of every call. You should too. Here is what helps most:
- Keep a simple notebook or phone note listing each call: date, time, number, and what was said.
- Save every voicemail. Many phones let you share or export a voicemail as an audio file.
- Put all collection letters, texts and emails in one folder, paper or digital.
- Note anyone the collector contacted about you, such as a family member or co-worker.
- Write down how the calls affected you: missed work, lost sleep, stress at home.
Money and Relief Available
The FDCPA lets a court award three kinds of relief: your actual damages, statutory damages of up to $1,000, and attorney's fees and costs. The Texas Debt Collection Act allows actual damages, attorney's fees, and injunctive relief, which is a court order telling the collector to stop. We can't predict what any case is worth, but we will explain your options honestly.
One Year Goes By Fast
You have one year from the date of an FDCPA violation to file a claim. After that, the claim for that violation can be lost for good. If the harassment started months ago, reach out now so we can review the dates with you.
Working With Texas Debt Law
Attorney Shawn Jaffer has handled thousands of debt collection lawsuits in Texas, so he knows how collectors operate from both sides of a case. When you contact us, we listen to your story, review your records, and tell you plainly whether we see a claim. If we do, we contact the collector, push for the harassment to end, and pursue the damages the law allows. If you are also facing a lawsuit, our Houston debt defense team can handle that too, with flat fees from $400 and payment plans available.
Houston FDCPA FAQ
A collector says it will garnish my paycheck. Can it?
For ordinary consumer debts, current wages cannot be garnished in Texas. Some debts, like court-ordered child support, are different. If a collector told you otherwise, save that message and show it to a lawyer.
The debt is very old. Can they still sue me?
Texas generally allows four years to sue on a debt, and Texas law bars suing on time-barred consumer debt. Making a payment on a time-barred debt does not restart the clock. See our guide to the statute of limitations on credit card debt in Texas.
My bank account was frozen after a judgment. Is that related?
It can be. After a judgment, a creditor may try to garnish a bank account, but some money is protected, such as Social Security benefits that are directly deposited. If your account is frozen, call us right away so we can look at what was taken and how the collector got there.
I live outside the city, in another part of Harris County. Can you help?
Yes. We work with clients across Harris County and the rest of Texas, mostly by phone, text and email.
Get a Free Review of Your Houston Case
Ready to make the calls stop? Call or text (214) 945-0000 or start your free case evaluation online. Hablamos español.
This page is general information, not legal advice. Every case is different, and reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Please talk to a lawyer about your specific situation.
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