What rights do consumers have when dealing with debt collectors?

Consumers have several rights when dealing with debt collectors. Firstly, debt collectors must provide written notice within five days of their initial contact, including information about the debt and the consumer's rights. Consumers have the right to dispute the debt within 30 days of receiving the notice, which must result in the debt collector providing verification of the debt. Additionally, consumers can request that debt collectors cease communicating with them, except for certain specific situations, such as providing verification or filing a lawsuit. Debt collectors must also respect consumers' privacy and cannot disclose the debt to third parties without the consumer's written consent. Finally, consumers have the right to sue debt collectors who violate the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.