Budgeting Managing Your Debt Sample Debt Validation Letter for Debt Collectors Use this letter to dispute a debt collection you're unsure of By LaToya Irby LaToya Irby LaToya Irby is a credit expert who has been covering credit and debt management for The Balance for more than a dozen years. She's been quoted in USA Today, The Chicago Tribune, and the Associated Press, and her work has been cited in several books. learn about our editorial policies Updated on November 29, 2021 Reviewed by Somer G. Anderson Reviewed by Somer G. Anderson Somer G. Anderson is CPA, doctor of accounting, and an accounting and finance professor who has been working in the accounting and finance industries for more than 20 years. Her expertise covers a wide range of accounting, corporate finance, taxes, lending, and personal finance areas. learn about our financial review board In This Article View All In This Article The Right To Request Validation How To Write a Debt Validation Letter The Debt Collector's Response to Your Validation Request Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) How long does a collector have to respond to a debt validation letter? When should I request debt validation? Photo: The Balance / Theresa Chiechi Not every debt collector who contacts you is attempting to collect a legitimate debt. Sometimes debt collectors scam consumers into paying debts that aren't real or perhaps have already been paid. The Right To Request Validation Federal law gives you the right to request a debt collector provide proof that you owe a debt. It's the best way to ensure that you're not paying a debt you don't owe or a debt that the collector isn't authorized to collect on. The debt validation request is time sensitive. You must make your request in writing within 30 days of the debt collector's initial contact with you. If you wait more than 30 days, your validation request may not be covered under debt collection law. Your rights are not protected if you make your debt validation request over the phone. Don't worry if you don't know what to say in a letter; there's one below that you can use as a template. Once you send a request for proof, also called a debt validation letter, the collector must stop collection efforts until they've sent sufficient proof of the debt. It means they cannot call you, send you letters, or list the debt on your credit report. How To Write a Debt Validation Letter In the letter, reference the date of the initial contact and the method, for example, "a phone call received from your agency on April 25, 2019." You also need to provide a statement that you're requesting validation of the debt. Do not admit to owing the debt or make any reference to payment. Send your letter via certified mail, so you have proof of when the letter was mailed and received. Debt Validation Letter Example Re: Account NumberThis letter is sent in response to [a letter/phone call] I received on [date you received the letter/call]. I am requesting that you provide verification of this debt.Please send the following information:The name and address of the original creditor, the account number, and the amount owed.Verification that there is a valid basis for claiming I am required to pay the current amount owed.Details about the age and amount of the debt including a copy of the last billing statement from the original creditor; a detailed explanation of any interest added or payments made since the last billing statement and the legal authorization for this interest; the date the original creditor claims this debt became delinquent.Whether this debt is within the statute of limitations and how that was determined.Please also forward details about your authority to collect this debt: whether you are licensed in my state and if so provide the date of the license, name on the license, license number, and the license number, and the name, address, and telephone number of the state agency issuing the license. If you are contacting me from outside my state, provide the licensing information from your state as well.Sincerely,Your Name The Debt Collector's Response to Your Validation Request If the debt collector does not send you proof of the debt, any future collection efforts are in violation of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Note that your account may be assigned or sold to a new debt collection agency. In that case, your validation request from the previous collection agency does not apply. Otherwise, if the debt collector does send proof, determine whether or not the debt is within the statute of limitations, and then decide how you want to proceed. Paying the debt, takes care of the obligation for good. You may be able to negotiate a settlement for less than the full balance due. Finally, if the debt is outside the statute of limitations for your state, you can ignore the debt if you have no interest in paying it, but keep in mind that collection efforts can continue indefinitely. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) How long does a collector have to respond to a debt validation letter? The law does not specify a time window for a debt collector to respond to a debt validation letter. However, the collector must cease collection activities until it responds to your letter and provides proof that you owe the debt. When should I request debt validation? If you are unsure whether a debt is valid, you should submit a debt validation letter immediately. By law, you have 30 days to request validation after you receive a collections request. If you wait longer than this, the debt collector is not obligated to respond to your request. Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! Tell us why! Other Submit Sources The Balance uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Federal Trade Commission. "Fake Debt Collectors." Federal Trade Commission. "Fair Debt Collection Practices Act," Pages 11-12. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. "What Information Does a Debt Collector Have to Give Me About the Debt?" State of California Department of Justice. "Debt Collectors - Disputing a Debt." Minnesota Attorney General's Office. "Debt Buyers." Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. "What Is a Statue of Limitations On a Debt?" Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. "What Is the Best Way to Negotiate a Settlement With a Debt Collector?"