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Debt validation letter

Make a debt collector prove the debt, dispute one that isn’t yours, or stop the calls. Your letter fills in as you type. Print it, sign it, and send it by certified mail.

What do you want to do?

Know this first: stopping contact doesn’t make the debt go away. The collector can still report it or sue if it isn’t too old. If you’re still inside the dispute deadline, you can dispute in the same letter.

Limits to include

You
The collector
Options
Your dispute deadline

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Sign it by hand. Keep a copy. Don't include payment, and don't send original documents.

How to send it

  1. Print two copies and sign both. Keep one with a note of the date you mailed it.
  2. Send it certified mail, return receipt requested. The green card or electronic receipt is your proof of the date they got it.
  3. Mark your calendar. Note when it was delivered, then watch for their reply. Keep notes of any calls: date, time, name, what was said.
  4. Check your credit reports at AnnualCreditReport.com. A disputed debt should show as disputed.

Questions about validation letters

What is a debt validation letter?

It is a letter asking a debt collector to prove that a debt is yours and that the amount is right. If the collector receives it within the validation period (the deadline on its notice, at least 30 days), federal law makes it stop collecting until it mails you verification.

What if I missed the 30-day deadline?

You can still dispute a debt and ask for proof at any time. The collector just isn’t required to pause collection while it responds. A written dispute still matters: a collector that knows a debt is disputed must report it to credit bureaus as disputed.

Should I send it by email or the collector’s website?

Certified mail with a return receipt gives you the strongest proof of when they got it. If the collector’s notice lists an email address or website for disputes, you can use that as well, and keep a screenshot or copy.

Does sending a letter restart the statute of limitations?

A dispute letter that doesn’t admit the debt or promise to pay shouldn’t restart it, and each letter here says it is not an acknowledgment of the debt. Making a payment can restart the clock in many states, so don’t send money with the letter.

What happens after I send it?

The collector either sends verification (often a statement or account records from the original creditor) or stops collecting. If it verifies the debt, you can still negotiate, ask questions, or dispute with the credit bureaus if the reporting is wrong. If it keeps collecting without verifying after a timely dispute, that may violate the FDCPA. Keep every letter and note every call.

Is my information stored?

No. The letter is built in your browser. Nothing you type is sent to us or saved after you close the page.

These letters are templates based on the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and the CFPB’s Regulation F. They are general information, not legal advice. If you’ve been sued, talk to a lawyer or legal aid office.