What is debt validation and how can it help me

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Debt validation or debt verification is explained as a consumer's right to challenge or validate a debt and receive written verification of a debt from a debt collector. The right to dispute the debt and receive validation are part of the consumer's rights under the United States Federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.

A collector may not contact you if, within 30 days after you receive the written notice, you send the collection agency a letter stating you do not owe money. However, a collector can renew collection activities if you are sent proof of the debt, such as a copy of a bill for the amount owed. Failure by the consumer to dispute the debt during this thirty day period does not constitute a legal admission of the debt. What exactly constitutes proper validation of a debt is not a settled issue and is likely to depend on the specific nature of the dispute. At a minimum, the debt collector is required to confirm with the creditor the amount being claimed is correct and that the person from whom they are attempting to collect the debt is the person who owes it.

There is no deadline for the debt collector to provide a response to the request for validation. However, a debt collector must stop all attempts to collect the debt until they have sent a reasonable response. If a consumer makes a timely request for debt validation and a debt collector fails to provide proper validation or does not respond at all, the debt collector cannot legally continue efforts to collect the debt. If collection activity continues, the consumer may file a law suit in state or federal court for violation of the FDCPA.

Sample Debt Validation Letter

Although all information has been written in good faith and reviewed, please email us at [email protected] to report any inaccuracies.