What they are doing is not legal.
Under the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, if you do not have an attorney, a collector may contact other people, but only to find out where you live and work. Collectors usually are prohibited from contacting such permissible third parties more than once. In most cases, the collector may not tell anyone other than you and your attorney that you owe money.
You have the right to sue a collector in a state or federal court within one year from the date you believe the law was violated. If you win, you may recover money for the damages you suffered. Court costs and attorneys fees also can be recovered.
Report any problems you have with a debt collector to your state Attorney Generals office and the Federal Trade Commission. Many states have their own debt collection laws and your Attorney Generals office can help you determine your rights.
For more detail about the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, see
https://law.freeadvice.com/resources/gov_material/ftc_fair_debt_collection_8_96.htm
