Debt validation letter template
Template
Your name and address
Date
Collector name and address
Re: Account number [number]
I am writing in response to your notice dated [date]. I dispute this debt and request validation under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Please provide the name of the original creditor, the amount owed and how it was calculated, and proof that you are licensed to collect in my state.
Until you validate this debt, please stop collection and do not report it to the credit bureaus.
Sincerely, [your name]
Tips
- Send it by certified mail with return receipt
- Keep copies of everything
- Do not admit the debt is yours in the letter
After you send it
If the collector cannot validate, they should stop collecting. If it is on your report, dispute it with the bureaus and include their failure to validate.
Questions people ask
When should I send a debt validation letter?
Within 30 days of the collector first contacting you.
Can I email a debt validation letter?
Certified mail is safer because you get proof of delivery.
Does a debt validation letter remove the debt?
Not by itself, but if the collector cannot validate, they must stop, and you can dispute the item on your report.
More credit and funding guides
For information only, not financial or legal advice. Results vary and approval is never promised.