Within the first five days that the agency contacted you (whether by phone or mail), they must send you a debt validation notice, which is a letter letting you know you have the right to dispute the validity of the debt within 30 days. If you don’t dispute the debt within 30 days, the collector can assume it is valid. In order to dispute the debt, submit a written validation request. As soon as you do that, they cannot continue to try and collect the debt from you until the dispute is resolved.

Send the debt validation letter via certified mail with return receipt requested (so that you have proof that you sent it, and that it was received). See the sample letter below.

Date

Your Name Address City, State Zip

Debt Collector’s Name Address City, State Zip Re: Account Number

Dear Debt Collector:

I am writing in response to <phone call/letter> received from you on <date>. Pursuant to my rights under federal debt collection laws, I am requesting that you provide validation of this debt. Note this is not a refusal to pay, but a request that your offices provide me with evidence that I have a legal obligation to pay you.

You are hereby notified that if you do not comply with this request, I will immediately file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission and the [your state here] Attorney General’s office. Civil and criminal claims will be pursued.

Sincerely,

Your Name

Related Articles

• Collections agencies are prohibited from harassing debtors
  Collections agencies use fear in order to get debtors to pay their bills. One of the ways they intimidate people is by through the use of harassment....
• Responsibilities of a Commercial Debt Collector
  A commercial debt collector should have to be intelligent, diplomat, good investigator and accountant. Being a tough guy is an additional attribute for a commercial debt collector agent. All these attributes helps to a debt collector in process of debt re...
• How to Make Collection Calls Stop!
  Most of the real creditors always find it a trouble to recruit and then train their employee for collecting the billings. They are just too eager and desperate to revolve around the debt to a proper collection agency. This is kind of good for you since th...
• Debt Collection Techniques
  A person often wonders of the ways a debt collector could get in touch with them. There are some legal ways which allow debt collectors to contact their customers. However, the debt collector is not allowed to harass their customer while they ask them to ...
• How To Deal With Debt Collectors
  The best way to avoid debt collectors is to avoid getting into debt in the first place. But unfortunately, the prevailing economic condition has effected everyone badly, and in the current situation, it is hardly an option for many people to avoid debt. M...