S it possible for a debt collector to leave a message saying that they will be at your house next w?

i have heard of them pulling it on quiet a few people they say that to scare a person it really does scare a person yes they have to take you to court first to get a judgement agianst you first if you send a payment to them and they refuse it the debt is cleared so they have to take it but they have to get the judgement agianst you first before they can do anything