US Medical Term · financial
Debt Collector
Cobrador de Deudas
In 9 languages
| Language | Term |
|---|---|
| English | Debt Collector |
| Spanish (Español) | Cobrador de Deudas |
| Chinese (中文) | 债务追收人 |
| Korean (한국어) | 채권 추심원 |
| Vietnamese (Tiếng Việt) | Người thu hồi nợ |
| Filipino (Tagalog) | Mangongolekta ng Utang |
| Portuguese (Português) | Cobrador de Dívidas |
| Thai (ภาษาไทย) | นักเก็บหนี้ |
| Japanese (日本語) | 債権回収業者 |
What it means
A debt collector is a company or individual hired to recover unpaid debts, including medical bills, on behalf of the original creditor or after purchasing the debt at a discount. Debt collectors are regulated by the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), which prohibits harassment, false statements, and unfair practices. Under the FDCPA, collectors must send you a written validation notice within five days of first contacting you, and you have 30 days to dispute the debt in writing and request verification. Collectors cannot call before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m., cannot call your workplace if you tell them not to, and cannot threaten legal action they do not intend to take. If a collector violates these rules, you can file a complaint with the CFPB or your state attorney general.
How to say it
Sentences a patient might use with a doctor, nurse, pharmacist, or insurer:
A debt collector called me about an old hospital bill I thought my insurance had paid.
Un cobrador de deudas me llamó sobre una factura hospitalaria antigua que creía que mi seguro había pagado.
The debt collector must send me a written notice within five days of first contact.
El cobrador de deudas debe enviarme un aviso por escrito dentro de los cinco días del primer contacto.
You have the right to dispute a debt in writing within 30 days of the collector's notice.
Tiene derecho a disputar una deuda por escrito dentro de los 30 días del aviso del cobrador.
Where you'll see it
Related terms
Sources
Last reviewed: September 2026