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.
