That letter. The one with the official seal that makes your heart sink a little when you see it in the mail pile. It’s about: “Information on Debt Collection”.
When I first beheld one, I had a knot in my stomach. Is this real? Well, I forgot such a big bill. Doubt hits you right away. Most people just want the stress to stop, so they think about paying the amount right away.
I almost made that huge mistake.
You have to stop before you spend a cent, or you even call them. You have rights. It is not a marathon race but a gradually done process. The best step to take is to stop and think.
Stop and Verify: Is the Debt Real?
This is the key to protecting yourself: you must verify the debt.
Why? Because mistakes happen all the time. The notice might be for an old debt you already paid. It might be for a debt with the wrong amount. Or, sadly, it might be an outright scam trying to trick you into paying money you never owed.
The debt collector is trying to collect money. But you have a legal right to ask them to prove that the debt is actually yours and that they have the right to collect it.
Send the “Prove It” Letter (The 30-Day Window)
The law gives you power here. You have 30 days from the date you receive that first notice to request debt validation. Do not miss this time limit—it makes everything simpler.
This request is a simple letter that tells the debt collector, “I need proof.” When you ask for validation, you are asking them to send you clear documents, such as:
- The name of the original company you owed money to.
- The exact amount you owe.
- Copies of paperwork that show the debt is yours.
Send this letter by certified mail. That provides you with a green card by the post office. That card testifies that they got your demand. In case they are not able to send you the correct paperwork, then they should cease to attempt collecting the debt off of you. You lose this valuable legal safeguard by calling them rather than sending the letter.
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DEBT VALIDATION REQUEST LETTER
(Use Within 30 Days of Receiving Collection Notice) – Template
IMPORTANT: Send this letter by CERTIFIED MAIL with Return Receipt Requested.
Keep a copy for your records.
Date: _____, 202___
TO: [Debt Collection Agency Name]
_____________________
_____________________
_____________________
RE: Account Number (if provided): _________________
Amount Claimed: $_____________________________
Dear Sir/Madam:
This letter is sent in response to your notice dated _____,
which I received on _____.
I am writing to request validation of the debt you claim I owe, as is my
right under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), 15 U.S.C. § 1692g.
DEBT VALIDATION REQUEST
I hereby formally request that you provide me with the following information:
- PROOF OF DEBT OWNERSHIP
• Name and full contact information of the original creditor
• Documentation showing you have the legal right to collect this debt
• Chain of custody if the debt has been sold or transferred - DEBT VERIFICATION
• Complete account history and breakdown of the claimed amount
• Proof that I am legally obligated to pay this debt
• Copy of the original signed contract or agreement (if applicable)
• Itemized statement of all charges, fees, and interest added - VALIDATION OF AMOUNT
• Original amount borrowed or charged
• All payments made (if any)
• All fees, penalties, and interest added
• Current balance calculation - LICENSING VERIFICATION
• Proof that your agency is licensed to collect debts in my state:
_______ [Your State]
CEASE COLLECTION ACTIVITIES
Under 15 U.S.C. § 1692g(b), I request that you cease all collection
activities until you have provided the validation I have requested above.
This includes but is not limited to:
• Phone calls to me or any third parties
• Letters or written communication
• Reporting to credit bureaus
• Legal proceedings
IMPORTANT LEGAL NOTICES
- I dispute this debt in its entirety and I am exercising my rights under
the FDCPA. - This is NOT a refusal to pay. This is a request for verification as
allowed by law. - If you cannot provide proper validation, you must cease all collection
efforts and remove any negative reporting from my credit file. - I do not waive any rights under the FDCPA or any other applicable laws.
- Any contact you make with me must be in writing only, sent to the address
below. Do NOT contact me by phone.
CREDIT REPORTING WARNING
If you have reported this alleged debt to any credit reporting agency
(Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion) without proper validation, this may
constitute a violation of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).
I request written confirmation that no adverse information will be reported
until proper validation has been provided and any disputes resolved.
MY CONTACT INFORMATION
Please send all correspondence to:
Your Full Name: _____________________________________
Mailing Address: ____________________________________
City, State, ZIP: ___________________________________
(Do NOT include phone number or email – force written communication only)
RESPONSE REQUIRED
I expect a complete response within 30 days of your receipt of this letter.
Failure to provide proper validation will be considered an admission that
this debt is not valid, and I will expect:
- Immediate cessation of all collection activities
- Written confirmation that the debt has been removed from my account
- Notification to all credit bureaus to remove this item
I am maintaining detailed records of all communications regarding this matter.
Sincerely,
[Your Signature]
[Your Printed Name]
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MAILING INSTRUCTIONS
STEP 1: COMPLETE THE LETTER
□ Fill in today’s date
□ Fill in collection agency name and address (from their letter)
□ Fill in account number if provided
□ Fill in claimed amount
□ Fill in date of their notice
□ Fill in date you received it
□ Fill in your state
□ Fill in your contact information
□ Sign and print your name
STEP 2: MAKE COPIES
□ Make at least 2 copies of the completed letter
□ Keep one copy for your records
□ Keep one copy in case you need to send again
STEP 3: MAIL BY CERTIFIED MAIL
□ Go to the Post Office
□ Request “Certified Mail with Return Receipt Requested”
□ Pay the fee (approximately $8-10)
□ Keep the receipt and tracking number
□ When the green card returns, attach it to your copy
STEP 4: WAIT FOR RESPONSE
□ They have 30 days to respond with validation
□ Do NOT make any payments until they provide proof
□ Do NOT communicate by phone – written only
□ Keep all documents they send you
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WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
SCENARIO 1: They Provide Full Validation
• Review all documents carefully
• Verify the debt is actually yours
• Check if the amount is correct
• Verify they have legal right to collect
• If everything is correct, you can negotiate payment
• Request “pay for delete” or settlement options in writing
SCENARIO 2: They Provide Incomplete Validation
• Send another letter stating what’s missing
• Request complete documentation
• They cannot continue collection without full validation
SCENARIO 3: They Do Not Respond
• They must stop all collection activities
• Send a follow-up letter demanding confirmation the debt is closed
• File a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)
• Consider disputing with credit bureaus if reported
SCENARIO 4: They Continue Collection Without Validation
• This is a violation of the FDCPA
• Document every contact (date, time, what was said)
• File complaint with CFPB: www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint
• File complaint with FTC: www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov
• Consider consulting a consumer rights attorney
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YOUR RIGHTS UNDER THE FDCPA
Debt collectors CANNOT:
□ Call you before 8:00 AM or after 9:00 PM
□ Call you at work if you’ve told them not to
□ Use profane, obscene, or abusive language
□ Threaten you with violence or harm
□ Threaten you with arrest or jail time (debt is civil, not criminal)
□ Falsely claim to be attorneys or government officials
□ Tell your employer, family, or friends about your debt
□ Discuss your debt with anyone except you, your attorney, or credit bureaus
□ Publish your name on a “bad debt” list
□ Misrepresent the amount you owe
□ Add unauthorized fees or interest
□ Contact you directly if you have an attorney
□ Continue contacting you after you request they stop (except to confirm)
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RECORD-KEEPING LOG
Keep detailed records of ALL communication with debt collectors:
DATE: TIME: METHOD: □ Phone □ Mail □ Email □ Text
COLLECTOR NAME: ______________________________________
WHAT WAS SAID/SENT: __________________________________
VIOLATIONS (if any): _________________________________
DATE: TIME: METHOD: □ Phone □ Mail □ Email □ Text
COLLECTOR NAME: ______________________________________
WHAT WAS SAID/SENT: __________________________________
VIOLATIONS (if any): _________________________________
[Add more pages as needed for additional contacts]
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ADDITIONAL RESOURCES
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)
Submit complaints: www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint
Phone: 1-855-411-2372
Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
File complaints: www.ftccomplaintassistant.gov
Annual Credit Report (Free)
Check your credit reports: www.annualcreditreport.com
(Free once per year from each bureau)
State Attorney General
Find your state AG: www.naag.org
(Many have consumer protection divisions)
Legal Aid
If you cannot afford an attorney: www.lawhelp.org
(Find free legal help in your area)
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IMPORTANT FINAL REMINDERS
✓ Send this letter within 30 days of receiving the collection notice
✓ Use Certified Mail with Return Receipt – this is critical proof
✓ Keep copies of everything
✓ Do NOT pay anything until debt is validated
✓ Do NOT give them your phone number or email
✓ Do NOT admit the debt is yours
✓ Do NOT make payment arrangements until you verify everything
✓ Document every single contact they make
✓ Know your rights – they cannot threaten or harass you
✓ If they violate FDCPA, you may be able to sue them
This template is for informational purposes. For complex situations or
large debts, consider consulting with a consumer rights attorney or
credit counselor.
Learn the Rules They Must Follow
The collector should not be unfair even in case the loan is real and you intend to pay it. One of the laws is the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). This legislation establishes proper guidelines on the manner in which debt collectors are allowed to communicate with you.
They cannot:
- Call you before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m.
- Use curse words or threaten you with jail time.
- Tell other people, like your boss, friends, or family that you owe money.
- Lie about how much you owe or who they work for.
Having these rules in your possession brings you peace. You are not caught in a back-and-forth battle with them. Should a collector violate these principles, having a plain and straightforward record. Note down the date, the time and what they said. This log is a powerful weapon to you when you will be required to report them in future. How to Serve a Notice to Pay Rent or Quit – Free Template Inside
It is terrifying to receive a notice of debt collection. It causes the feeling of loneliness and powerlessness. But you are not. As soon as you relax and make that deep breath and make a decision to check the debt by the 30-day rule, you are back on track. Do not be afraid to make a hurried decision. Exercise your rights, write that letter, and get the situation straight.
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