Close Menu
Gossips Today
  • Tech & Innovation
  • Healthcare
  • Personal Finance
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Business
  • Recipes
What's Hot

When You Check in for a Flight Matters—Here’s Why

Airstream’s new Frank Lloyd Wright trailer is a match made in midcentury heaven

After its data was wiped, KiranaPro’s co-founder cannot rule out an external hack

Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
Saturday, June 7
Gossips Today
Facebook X (Twitter) Instagram
  • Tech & Innovation

    After its data was wiped, KiranaPro’s co-founder cannot rule out an external hack

    June 7, 2025

    Meet the Finalists: VivaTech’s 5 Most Visionary Startups of 2025

    June 7, 2025

    Court denies Apple’s request to pause ruling on App Store payment fees

    June 6, 2025

    Cursor’s Anysphere nabs $9.9B valuation, soars past $500M ARR

    June 6, 2025

    Toma’s AI voice agents have taken off at car dealerships – and attracted funding from a16z

    June 5, 2025
  • Healthcare

    Ransomware group linked to cyberattack on Kettering Health

    June 7, 2025

    Public health scholars ask HHS to reject Georgia Medicaid work requirement extension

    June 7, 2025

    Healthcare organizations could be unprepared to adopt generative AI: survey

    June 6, 2025

    Nearly 11M would become uninsured under GOP reconciliation bill: CBO

    June 6, 2025

    Amazon Pharmacy’s PillPack expands to Medicare patients

    June 5, 2025
  • Personal Finance

    16 Budgeting Tips to Manage Your Money Better

    May 28, 2025

    How to Stick to a Budget

    May 20, 2025

    4 Steps to Navigate Marriage and Debt

    May 11, 2025

    Buying a Fixer-Upper Home: What to Know

    May 10, 2025

    How to Talk to Your Spouse About Money

    May 10, 2025
  • Lifestyle

    16 Father’s Day Gift Ideas He (or You) Will Love

    June 4, 2025

    The Getup: Sand

    May 25, 2025

    Your Summer Style Starts Here: 17 Memorial Day Sale Picks to Grab Now + 4 Getups

    May 24, 2025

    3 Fixes If You Hate the Way Your Pants Fit (That Have Nothing to Do with Your Waist Size)

    May 14, 2025

    On Sale Now: 9 Nike Sneakers Under $100 You’ll Want to Wear All Summer

    May 10, 2025
  • Travel

    When You Check in for a Flight Matters—Here’s Why

    June 7, 2025

    Amazon Is Kicking Off Summer With Travel Deals Up to 89% Off This Month—Prices Start at Just $8

    June 7, 2025

    Disney Has Asian American Culture Hidden in Plain Sight—How to Find the Best Eats, Experiences, and More

    June 6, 2025

    Birkenstock Sandals and Comfy Clarks Shoes Are Up to 74% Off in This Secret Summer Sale

    June 6, 2025

    This Small Town in Virginia Is a U.S. Dupe for the English Countryside—Here's How to Visit

    June 5, 2025
  • Business

    Airstream’s new Frank Lloyd Wright trailer is a match made in midcentury heaven

    June 7, 2025

    Supersonic air travel gets green light in U.S. after 50-year ban lifted

    June 7, 2025

    Rite Aid store closures update: Latest list includes doomed locations in California, Washington, and Oregon

    June 6, 2025

    We can reshore American manufacturing

    June 6, 2025

    How AI is reshaping the fields of African farmers

    June 5, 2025
  • Recipes

    slushy paper plane

    June 6, 2025

    one-pan ditalini and peas

    May 29, 2025

    eggs florentine

    May 20, 2025

    challah french toast

    May 6, 2025

    charred salt and vinegar cabbage

    April 25, 2025
Gossips Today
  • Tech & Innovation
  • Healthcare
  • Personal Finance
  • Lifestyle
  • Travel
  • Business
  • Recipes
Personal Finance & Investment

Debt Validation Letter: What It Is and How to Request One

gossipstodayBy gossipstodayNovember 12, 2024No Comments9 Mins Read
Share Facebook Twitter Pinterest Copy Link Telegram LinkedIn Tumblr Email
Debt Validation Letter: What It Is And How To Request
Share
Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Pinterest Email

Are you being hounded by debt collectors? The constant phone calls, harsh language and threats to sue can be overwhelming and downright scary.

Unfortunately, you also have to watch out for debt collectors who try to trick you into paying for a debt that’s already been paid or a debt that isn’t even yours. Yep, it happens!

In 2023, over 50% of the total complaints to the Federal Trade Commission were about debt collectors attempting to collect debt from a person who did not owe it.1 Not cool.

That’s why getting a debt validation letter is so important! A debt validation letter is basically a way to verify that a debt is legally yours to pay. And under federal law, a debt collector must provide it when you ask. So, let’s talk about how to get one.

What Is a Debt Validation Letter?

A debt validation letter is a document a debt collector sends you to prove that you owe them money. A debt validation letter should give the details of a specific debt, outlining exactly what debt you owe, who you owe it to, when you have to pay it by, and how to dispute it.

Legally, a debt collector must mail out a debt validation letter within five days of their first contact with you. If they don’t, you should ask for one. Why? Because it helps you know if the debt is actually yours or if they’re trying to pull a fast one on you. Remember, just because a phone call sounds official, it doesn’t mean it’s legit.

A debt validation letter should include:

What creditor the collector is representing (aka who you supposedly owe money to)
The amount you owe
An opportunity to dispute the amount of the debt within 30 days (after that, the debt will be assumed valid)
Confirmation that if you dispute the debt within 30 days, the debt collector or agency must provide written evidence of the debt within another 30 days

Know Your Rights: Why You Need a Debt Validation Letter

There are several reasons why a collector might contact you about a debt you have no memory of. Your debt could be so old that you forgot about it—aka zombie debt. Also, creditors sell outstanding debts to collection agencies all the time, so you may not recognize the name of the company contacting you.

On top of that, collection agencies don’t always have the best record-keeping skills. Mistakes happen and errors are common, so they could have the wrong name down as being liable for a debt. And even if it’s past the amount of time a creditor can legally come after you for a debt (aka the statute of limitations), they may still try to bully you into paying.

If you pay a debt without requesting a debt validation letter, you could:

Pay money you don’t owe
Revive debt that’s past the statute of limitations
Fall prey to a debt collection scam (yikes!)

Again, always ask for a debt validation letter before you pay a collector!

How to Request a Debt Validation Letter

You should request a debt validation letter if you haven’t received one within 10 days of the debt collector first contacting you.

By Mail

If you know the debt collector’s mailing address, you can send them a written (preferably typed) letter via certified mail. (Be sure to ask for a return receipt—that way you’ll know, and have proof, they got your letter!)

By Phone

If you don’t know the debt collector’s mailing address, you can request a validation letter over the phone when they contact you. In that case, it’s a good idea to ask the collector if you can record the call for your records.

Debt Validation Letter Request Template

[Your name]
[Your return address]
[Date]

[Debt collector name]
[Debt collector address]

Re: [Account number (if you know it)]

Dear [debt collector name],
I am responding to your communication about a debt you’re trying to collect. You contacted me by [phone/mail] on [date] and identified the debt as [any information they gave you about the debt: amount, original creditor, etc.].

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: Include whether you are licensed in my state, and if so, provide the date of the license, name on the license, 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.

Thank you for your cooperation.

Sincerely,
[Your name]

What Happens After You Request a Debt Validation Letter

After a debt collector receives your request, they must stop all forms of communication with you until they’ve sent you a debt validation letter. That means no phone calls, no letters and no reporting your debt to any credit bureaus.

Once You Receive a Debt Validation Letter

After you receive your debt validation letter, read through it closely and make sure there are no errors.

If the debt really is yours, then you need to pay it off. Now, if your debt has been sold to a collections agency, you can try to negotiate a smaller payment. After all, collectors would rather get some money from you than none at all. (Just make sure you get all the details in writing!) Otherwise, see if you can work out a payment plan with your creditors.

But if you don’t think the debt is valid or if something still seems off, you can send a debt verification letter to dispute the debt. We know, that sounds very similar to a debt validation letter, but trust us, it’s different (more on that in a minute).

If the Collection Agency Fails to Validate the Debt

Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), a debt collector must respond to a request for a debt validation letter. If they don’t, they’re in violation of the act. You can report them to your state’s attorney general, the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), or the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). You can also sue for up to $1,000.2

The main thing is to stay on your toes with these sketchy collectors. Keep copies of every single document and track all communications, including phone calls. Keeping a detailed record like this will help in case you need to report them.

How to Write a Debt Verification Letter to Dispute a Debt

Okay, so the collector sent you a debt validation letter, but something still seems fishy. Maybe you suspect you’re a victim of fraud or you know the statute of limitations has passed. Your next step would be to dispute the debt with a debt verification letter. (Again, this is different from a debt validation letter.)

The debt validation letter is the document you get from the debt collector outlining what you owe, who you owe it to, and important information about next steps. The debt verification letter is a letter you write and send to the debt collector, disputing the debt (if you truly don’t owe it or owe as much as the collector says you do).

 

Debt Validation Letter

Debt Verification Letter

Who sends it?

Debt collector

You

What’s it say?

Outlines the specifics of your debt

Formally disputes the information in the debt validation letter

How much time to send?

Debt collectors are legally required to send one within five days of first contact

You have up to 30 days after receiving a debt validation letter to send a debt verification letter

In a debt verification letter, you should request the following information:

Details about the original creditor
How much you owe (based on a last statement or bill)
The original loan agreement that proves the debt really belongs to you (like a signed contract)
The age of the debt and the original delinquency date
An itemization of any added fees and interest
If the debt is past the statute of limitations
The last action taken on the account
Proof that the debt collector has the legal right and license to pursue this debt in your state

Remember, you have 30 days to respond to a debt validation letter with your debt verification letter. Otherwise, the debt is assumed valid and debt collectors can continue to contact you. Technically, you can still send a dispute after the 30 days are up, but until things are ironed out, you won’t be able to stop the collector from hassling you.

Send your debt verification letter via certified mail with a return receipt request so you have a record of your communication back to the collector.

Debt Verification Letter Template

Don’t know what to say to dispute a debt? Use this free template to write your own debt verification letter.

What Happens After You Dispute a Debt

If a debt collector can’t verify your debt, then they must stop contacting you about it. And they’re required to let credit bureaus know so they can remove the debt from your credit report. Don’t let this part slide! Keep checking your credit report until you see the change.

If the debt isn’t removed, you need to contact each of the credit bureaus (Experian, TransUnion and Equifax) directly and ask them to look into your case. Again, if the collector’s not playing by the rules, you should report them to your state’s attorney general, the FTC or CFPB.

Get the Debt Help You Need

When it comes to your debt, you have more power than you think! You can put collectors in their place and verify your debt before you pay a single dime. And if the debt actually is yours, you can pay it off—faster than you think.

Tackling your debt is a whole lot easier when you’ve got someone in your corner. A financial coach can help you defend yourself against debt collectors and give you a personalized plan to pay off any debt you owe.

You don’t have to do it alone! Talk to a Ramsey Preferred Coach for free.

 

Debt Letter Request Validation
Follow on Google News Follow on Flipboard
Share. Facebook Twitter Pinterest LinkedIn Tumblr Email Copy Link
Previous ArticleThis Sunny Australian City Feels Like a European Town — and It Has a Celeb-favorite Hotel
Next Article Baxter to restart second IV fluid production line at hurricane-damaged site
admin
gossipstoday
  • Website

Related Posts

Court denies Apple’s request to pause ruling on App Store payment fees

June 6, 2025

16 Budgeting Tips to Manage Your Money Better

May 28, 2025

Judge denies Florida Blue’s request to bump star ratings

May 22, 2025
Leave A Reply Cancel Reply

Demo
Trending Now

When You Check in for a Flight Matters—Here’s Why

Airstream’s new Frank Lloyd Wright trailer is a match made in midcentury heaven

After its data was wiped, KiranaPro’s co-founder cannot rule out an external hack

Ransomware group linked to cyberattack on Kettering Health

Latest Posts

When You Check in for a Flight Matters—Here’s Why

June 7, 2025

Airstream’s new Frank Lloyd Wright trailer is a match made in midcentury heaven

June 7, 2025

After its data was wiped, KiranaPro’s co-founder cannot rule out an external hack

June 7, 2025

Subscribe to News

Subscribe to our newsletter and stay updated with the latest news and exclusive offers.

Advertisement
Demo
Black And Beige Minimalist Elegant Cosmetics Logo (4) (1)
Facebook X (Twitter) Pinterest Vimeo WhatsApp TikTok Instagram

Categories

  • Tech & Innovation
  • Health & Wellness
  • Personal Finance
  • Lifestyle & Productivity

Company

  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Advertise With Us

Services

  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms & Conditions
  • Disclaimer

Subscribe to Updates

© 2025 Gossips Today. All Right Reserved.

Type above and press Enter to search. Press Esc to cancel.