Debt Validation Letter: What It Is and What to Send

Under FDCPA §1692g, you have 30 days from a collector's first contact to dispute the debt in writing and demand validation. Once you do, collection must pause until the collector responds with verification.

What to demand

• The name of the original creditor and account number
• An itemization of the amount claimed — principal, interest, fees
• Proof the collector owns or is authorized to collect the debt
• The date of last payment (this controls the statute of limitations)

Send it right

Always in writing, always certified mail with return receipt. Never dispute by phone only — and never acknowledge the debt is yours or promise payment, which can restart the limitations clock in some states.

What happens next

If the collector can't validate, it must stop collecting. If it keeps reporting the debt to credit bureaus without noting your dispute, that's a separate FCRA violation worth documenting.