Can a debt collector call and text me non-stop all day?
Last updated: 2026-07-11 · Educational content; not legal advice.
Short answer
No. Repeated calls or messages made to annoy, abuse, or harass you are an unfair debt-collection practice under SEC Memorandum Circular 18 (2019), on top of the separate rule that bars contact before 6:00 a.m. or after 10:00 p.m. There is no fixed legal 'number of calls per day,' so the way to prove harassment is to document the pattern: a call log showing dozens of calls in a single day, or a barrage of texts, is strong evidence for a SEC complaint. Contact so persistent and tormenting that its only purpose is to distress you can also be unjust vexation (Revised Penal Code, Article 287).
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Frequently asked
Is there a legal limit on how many times they can call?
SEC MC 18 does not set a numeric cap, but it prohibits contact meant to annoy, abuse, or harass. Courts and the SEC look at the pattern — frequency, timing, and intent — so a documented flood of calls in a short window supports a harassment finding.
How do I document it?
Export or screenshot your call log and message threads with visible timestamps, and note any calls falling before 6 a.m. or after 10 p.m., which independently violate SEC MC 18. Keep the records for your complaint.
Can I make them stop while I sort out the debt?
Yes. Send a written cease-and-desist demanding contact only in writing at reasonable hours (see /answer/how-do-i-send-a-cease-and-desist-letter-to-a-debt-collector). Continued spamming after that strengthens your SEC case.
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Your rights when a lender or collector harasses you, contacts your family, or threatens you — and how SEC MC 18 limits them.