Debt validation: verify a debt before you pay

What debt validation is

When a third-party debt collector contacts you, federal law (the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and the CFPB's Regulation F) requires them to send a validation notice listing the amount owed, the original creditor and how to dispute the debt.

Your timeline

• The collector must give you a validation notice in its first communication or within 5 days after.
• You generally have 30 days from receiving that notice to dispute the debt in writing.
• If you dispute in time, the collector must pause collection until it sends you verification.

How to request validation

• Send a written dispute letter by certified mail with return receipt, and keep a copy.
• Ask for the original creditor's name, the amount owed and how it was calculated.
• Do not admit the debt is yours or promise payment in the letter.
• Check your credit report for how the account is listed and dispute any errors with the credit bureaus.

Know your protections

Collectors cannot harass you, call at unusual times (generally before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m.), lie about what you owe or threaten actions they can't take. You can report problems to the CFPB at consumerfinance.gov. This guide is educational, not legal advice — for a lawsuit, talk to a consumer attorney or legal aid office.