What should I do if a loan app is calling me 20 times a day?

When a loan app calls excessively—20 or more times daily—it constitutes harassment. Nigerian law, particularly the Federal Competition and Consumer Protection Act (FCCPA) and the Nigeria Data Protection Act (NDPA) 2023, protects you from such aggressive debt collection tactics.

Using Truecaller to Stop Harassment Calls

Truecaller is one of the most effective tools for blocking spam calls from loan apps. The app identifies and automatically blocks calls from known scam and spam numbers.

Key features for loan app harassment:

• Automatic blocking: Truecaller's global spam list is constantly updated with reports from other users, so the app proactively blocks numbers without you manually adding each one
• Manual blocking and reporting: If you receive a call from a new number you suspect is a loan app, open Truecaller, click on the number, tap "Block," then tap "Report" and select a reason like "Harassment" or "Scam or fraud"
• Regular updates: Keep your Truecaller app updated to ensure you're using the latest spam number database

Alternative Method: Phone Internal Settings

You can also block calls directly through your phone settings:

For Android:

1. Go to Settings
2. Tap on SIM Card & Mobile Network
3. Scroll down and select Blocking Control
4. Tap on Harassment Filter
5. Enable options to: Block numbers not in contacts, Block unknown or hidden numbers

⚠️ Important Note: Enabling "block numbers not in contacts" can prevent legitimate calls from reaching you—such as calls from job recruiters, delivery agents, or banks using unknown numbers. Unlike Truecaller, this built-in method doesn't provide caller identification or allow you to report spam numbers for community protection.

Additional Actions Beyond Blocking

Blocking calls addresses the symptom but not the cause. Take these additional steps:

1. Document the harassment: Take screenshots of call logs and save voicemails as evidence
2. Report to FCCPC: File a formal complaint via the FCCPC portal at fccpc.gov.ng or email contact@fccpc.gov.ng
3. Know the penalties: The FCCPC has introduced the Digital, Electronic, Online, or Non-Traditional Consumer Lending Regulation (DEON Consumer Lending Regulation) 2025, which prohibits harassment and imposes sanctions of up to ₦100 million or 1% of annual turnover on offending lenders