Quick Answer: Credit One Bank has agreed to pay $10.2 million to settle a civil consumer protection lawsuit over debt collection harassment. The Nevada-based credit card issuer allowed its vendors to make up to 10 calls per day on overdue accounts — a practice four California district attorneys spent years fighting to stop.
If your phone has been ringing nonstop from a creditor or debt collector, you are not imagining it — and it is not legal. A $10.2 million settlement announced today by the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s Office proves exactly that.
On February 20, 2026, a judgment was entered in Riverside County Superior Court requiring Credit One Bank to pay $9 million in civil penalties and $1.2 million in investigative costs — more than $10 million total — to resolve a civil consumer protection lawsuit filed jointly by the district attorneys of Los Angeles, Riverside, San Diego, and Santa Clara counties. (Source: MyNewsLA.com)
“Credit card companies do not have the right to badger consumers and invade their privacy with non-stop phone calls to collect debt.”— Nathan Hochman, Los Angeles County District Attorney
What Did Credit One Bank Actually Do?
The lawsuit alleged that Credit One had a written policy allowing its vendors to make eight calls per day, plus up to two additional calls under certain circumstances — on the same account, on consecutive days, for overdue credit card balances. That is potentially 10 calls every single day, day after day, until you paid. (Source: LA Daily News)
This is not a gray area. California’s Rosenthal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act — a state law that is broader than the federal FDCPA and covers original creditors, not just third-party collectors — prohibits contacting consumers “with such frequency as to constitute harassment.” Ten calls a day qualifies. The statute says so, and a federal jury already agreed.
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This Was Not the First Warning
Repeat Offender: Credit One Bank was previously found liable by a federal jury in 2019 for violating the Rosenthal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. This $10.2 million settlement is the second major legal consequence for the same behavior.
The 2026 case stemmed from an investigation by the California Debt Collection Task Force, a statewide law enforcement team made up of those same four county DA offices. They had been building this case for years — and they won. The company did not admit wrongdoing, which is standard language in civil settlements, but the judgment stands and the money is real.
What This Means for You If You’re Getting Harassed
Here is what I want people to understand: the law already protects you from this behavior. Credit One just got caught doing it at industrial scale with an explicit written policy. But the same rules apply to your creditors, your debt collectors, and anyone else reaching into your pocket via your phone.
Your Rights Under California Law: The Rosenthal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act covers original creditors — meaning your bank, your credit card issuer, your mortgage servicer — not just third-party collection agencies. If you are in California, you have stronger protections than most states. (Source: Nolo)
For residents outside California, the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) still prohibits harassment, though it applies only to third-party collectors. If you think you are being harassed by a debt collector — excessive calls, calls before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m., calls to your workplace, threats — you have federal remedies available.
The Real Problem Nobody Talks About
I have been helping people with debt since 1994. The calls are often the worst part. Not because of the money you owe, but because the harassment makes it impossible to think clearly, take stock of your options, or make a rational decision about your next move. Ten calls a day creates panic. And when you’re panicking, you make bad decisions — you agree to payment plans you can’t afford, you hand over money you needed for rent, or you cash out retirement savings that should never be touched.
The Myth: “They can call me whenever and however many times they want because I owe the debt.”
The Reality: Debt does not strip you of your legal rights. The law sets firm limits on how collectors can contact you — and when a company violates those limits, they face consequences like the $10.2 million Credit One Bank is paying right now.
If you are dealing with harassing debt collection calls, document everything: date, time, phone number, what was said. That documentation becomes evidence. And if you need help figuring out your actual options for the underlying debt, the Find Your Path tool will walk you through what makes sense for your specific situation without anyone trying to sell you anything.
Before You Sign Anything: If you’re considering hiring any debt relief company to help with what collectors are calling about, run their contract through the Contract Decoder first. It’s free — and it’s your last chance to spot red flags before you commit.
The Settlement Terms Going Forward
Beyond the $10.2 million payment, the settlement requires Credit One Bank to comply with state and federal law involving consumer debt collection going forward. That means no more written policies authorizing 10 calls a day. The California Debt Collection Task Force will be watching.
Key Takeaways
- Credit One Bank agreed to pay $10.2 million for allowing up to 10 debt collection calls per day on overdue credit card accounts
- The settlement involved four California county district attorneys and was entered in Riverside County Superior Court on February 20, 2026
- This is the second time Credit One Bank has faced major legal consequences for Rosenthal Act violations — a federal jury also found it liable in 2019
- California’s Rosenthal Act covers original creditors, not just third-party collectors — giving consumers broader protection than federal law
- You have legal rights regardless of how much you owe — document harassment and know your options
Frequently Asked Questions
How many times can a debt collector legally call me?
Under the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), debt collectors cannot call with such frequency as to constitute harassment. California’s Rosenthal Act extends this to original creditors as well. There is no specific number written into federal law, but a pattern of excessive calling — like the 10 calls per day Credit One was allowing — is the kind of conduct courts and regulators find actionable. If you are being called multiple times a day, you likely have grounds to demand they stop.
Does this settlement mean I can file a claim against Credit One Bank?
This was a civil enforcement action brought by district attorneys — not a class action settlement with a claims process for individual consumers. If you believe you were personally harmed by Credit One Bank’s calling practices, you would need to consult with a consumer protection attorney about your individual rights under the Rosenthal Act or FDCPA. The settlement does not automatically put money in your pocket.
What is the Rosenthal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act?
The Rosenthal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act is California’s state-level debt collection law. It is broader than the federal FDCPA because it applies to original creditors — the companies you actually owe money to, like banks and credit card issuers — not just third-party collection agencies. It prohibits harassment, false statements, and unfair practices in debt collection. Credit One Bank, as the original creditor, was subject to the Rosenthal Act.
What should I do if a creditor or collector is calling me excessively?
First, document every call: date, time, caller ID number, and what was said. You can send a written cease-communication letter demanding they stop calling you — this is your right under both the FDCPA and the Rosenthal Act. If calls continue after that, you may have legal remedies. A consumer protection attorney can advise you. In the meantime, dealing with the underlying debt is the only permanent solution — use the Find Your Path tool to understand your real options.
What is Credit One Bank?
Credit One Bank, N.A. is a Nevada-based credit card issuer that primarily serves consumers with limited or damaged credit. It is not affiliated with Capital One — a common point of confusion. Credit One is one of the larger subprime credit card issuers in the United States. The company was previously found liable for Rosenthal Act violations by a federal jury in 2019 before this $10.2 million state settlement in 2026.
Know Your Rights: If a debt collector is contacting you, you have legal protections. See the complete list of FDCPA violations collectors commit most often. Use the free Debt Validation Letter Generator to demand proof of the debt, or check this collector’s complaint history with the Scam-O-Meter.
Dealing With Debt? Before you pay a collector, understand all your debt relief options — including ones the collector won’t tell you about. If the debt feels unmanageable, take the 2-minute bankruptcy quiz to see if the math favors a fresh start. Federal Reserve research shows filers recover faster than those who don’t file.
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I write Your Money Actually most weekdays — what I am watching in debt and money, and the small decisions that compound. It is free, I sell nothing, and I take no money from any company I write about.
