# § 1692d. Harassment or abuse
A debt collector may not engage in any conduct the natural consequence of which is to harass, oppress, or abuse any person in connection with the collection of a debt. Without limiting the general application of the foregoing, the following conduct is a violation of this section:
**(1)** The use or threat of use of violence or other criminal means to harm the physical person, reputation, or property of any person.
**(2)** The use of obscene or profane language or language the natural consequence of which is to abuse the hearer or reader.
**1** The publication of a list of consumers who allegedly refuse to pay debts, except to a consumer reporting agency or to persons meeting the requirements of section 1681a(f) or 1681b(3) [^1] of this title.
See References in Text note below.
**(4)** The advertisement for sale of any debt to coerce payment of the debt.
**(5)** Causing a telephone to ring or engaging any person in telephone conversation repeatedly or continuously with intent to annoy, abuse, or harass any person at the called number.
**(6)** Except as provided in section 1692b of this title, the placement of telephone calls without meaningful disclosure of the caller’s identity.
---
**Source Credit**: (Pub. L. 90–321, title VIII, § 806, as added Pub. L. 95–109, Sept. 20, 1977, 91 Stat. 877.)
## Editorial Notes
### References in Text
, referred to in par. (3), was redesignated by , , .
## Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
### Effective Date
Section effective upon the expiration of six months after , see , as added by , set out as a note under .