Debt Validation Letters: How to Challenge Debt Claims

Being contacted by debt collectors is stressful enough when you know for sure that the debt is legitimate. When you’re unsure whether you actually owe the money or how much, the situation is far more complicated.

Enough Americans know this scenario because they have faced it multiple times. Perhaps a creditor sold your debt to a collection agency you don’t recognize, but the amount claimed doesn’t match your records. Or the debt is so old that you have no clear memory of it. Or in some cases (and this happens often enough), the entire claim is fraudulent.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, in 2024, reported that debt collection remains one of the most complained-about issues in consumer finance. As of 2024, approximately 22 percent of consumers in the U.S. with a credit file had a third-party collection tradeline on their credit report. 

For anyone dealing with either business or personal debt, understanding your rights under federal law is essential, and debt validation letters play a big role in that. 

What Is a Debt Validation Letter?

A debt validation letter is a document a debt collector must send you to prove that you legally owe them money. This letter should provide specific details about the debt, including exactly what you owe, who you owe it to, the payment deadline, and how to dispute the claim.

Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), debt collectors are legally required to mail you a debt validation letter within five days of their first contact with you. Failing to do so is a violation of federal law.

A proper debt validation letter (template below) must include:

• The name of the creditor the collector represents (who you supposedly owe money to)
• The exact amount you owe
• An opportunity to dispute the debt amount within 30 days (after which the debt is assumed valid)
• Confirmation that if you dispute the debt within 30 days, the collector must provide written evidence of the debt within another 30 days

Why People Need Debt Validation Letters

Several scenarios might lead to a collector contacting you about a debt you don’t recognize:

• Time-barred/Zombie debt: The debt is so old you forgot about it, or it’s past the statute of limitations but the collector is trying to revive it anyway.
• Sold debt: Creditors frequently sell outstanding debts to collection agencies. You may not recognize the collection agency’s name, even though the original debt was legitimate.
• Record-keeping errors: Collection agencies don’t always maintain accurate records. They might have the wrong name, amount, or person entirely.
• Fraudulent claims: Some operations attempt to collect debts that don’t exist or have already been paid.

If you pay a debt without requesting validation, you risk:

• Paying money you don’t actually owe
• Reviving time-barred debt that should no longer be collectible
• Falling victim to a debt collection scam

Pro Tip: Always request a debt validation letter before paying any collector.

How to Request a Debt Validation Letter

If you haven’t received a debt validation letter within 10 days of the collector’s first contact, request one immediately.

By Mail

Send a written request via certified mail with a return receipt. This creates a paper trail proving the collector received your request. Keep copies of everything you send.

By Phone

If you don’t know the collector’s mailing address, request the validation letter when they contact you by phone. Ask if you can record the call for your records. Even if you make this request by phone, follow up in writing as discussed above.

What Happens After You Request Validation

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

What to Do After Receiving a Debt Validation Letter

When you receive the validation letter, review it carefully. Check every detail against your own records:

• Does the amount match what you believe you owe?
• Do you recognize the original creditor?
• Are the dates correct?
• Has any interest or fees been added that weren’t in the original agreement?
• Is the debt within the statute of limitations for your state?

If the debt is legitimate and the details are accurate, it must be addressed even if that means negotiating a lower settlement or reaching a separate agreement, which is what we do best whether it’s credit card debt or personal loans. Put all things agreed in writing. 

However, if you believe the debt isn’t valid, or if something doesn’t add up, your next step is to send a debt verification letter.

Debt Validation vs. Debt Verification: Understanding the Difference

These terms sound similar but serve different purposes:

Debt validation letter: What the collector sends you to prove you owe the debt. They’re legally required to send this within five days of first contact. You can also request it.

Debt verification letter: What you send to the collector to formally dispute the debt. You have 30 days after receiving the validation letter to send this.

The effect of a debt verification letter is to formally dispute the information in the validation letter and requires the collector to prove the debt belongs to you.

How to Write a Debt Verification Letter

A debt verification letter should request:

• Complete details about the original creditor
• The exact amount owed, based on the last statement or bill from the original creditor
• A copy of the original loan agreement or contract with signature
• The age of the debt and the original delinquency date
• An itemization of any added fees, interest, or charges since the original debt
• Confirmation of whether the debt is past the statute of limitations
• The last action taken on the account
• Proof that the debt collector has legal authority and licensing to pursue this debt in your state

30 days from receiving the debt validation letter is what the law gives you. If you miss sending a debt verification letter before it expires, the debt is assumed valid, and collectors can continue contacting you. You can still dispute after 30 days, but you won’t be protected from collection efforts during the dispute process.

If the Collection Agency Fails to Respond

Under the FDCPA, a debt collector must respond to your verification request. If they cannot verify the debt, they must:

• Stop contacting you about the debt
• Notify credit bureaus to remove the debt from your credit report

If a collector fails to validate a debt or continues collection efforts after failing to verify, they’re violating federal law. You can:

• Report them to your state’s attorney general
• File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
• File a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)
• Sue for up to $1,000 in damages, plus reimbursement for attorney fees and court costs

Keep detailed records of all communications, including dates, times, names, and what was said. 

The Simple Case for Professional Assistance

You can technically handle debt validation and verification yourself. The process is straightforward on paper: receive the validation letter, send a verification letter if you dispute the debt, and follow up until the matter is resolved.

But in the real world, debt collection is a legal minefield.

You could, for example, watch YouTube videos and technically perform minor surgery on yourself. But would you? The risk of getting something wrong, missing a critical detail, or causing more harm than good is too high. 

The same principle applies to challenging debt claims. Experts understand nuances that aren’t obvious to someone handling this for the first time:

• Language matters: Every phrase in your verification letter carries legal weight. Using the wrong terminology can weaken your position or inadvertently validate a debt you’re trying to dispute.
• Timing is everything: Missing a 30-day deadline or failing to follow up properly could mean forfeiting your rights under the FDCPA.
• Collectors use tactics: Experienced collectors know how to pressure people into saying or agreeing to things that hurt their case. Professionals know how to navigate these conversations without compromising your position.
• Documentation requirements: Knowing exactly what evidence to request, how to request it, and how to challenge insufficient responses requires expertise.
• State-specific laws: While the FDCPA is federal, state laws add additional layers of complexity. The statute of limitations varies by state and debt type. What works in California may not work in Texas.

For folks who lead busy lives, like managing a business, dealing with debt collectors is a distraction you can do without. Every hour spent researching FDCPA requirements, drafting letters, and following up with collectors is an hour not spent on your operations, your customers, or finding solutions to the cash flow problems that likely created the debt situation in the first place.

CuraDebt’s expertise is of high value here. With over 24 years of experience in debt relief, our team knows the legal requirements and the practical realities of dealing with debt collectors. We handle the entire process so you have enough time to focus on stabilizing and growing your business.

Our service also includes handling all communications with collectors, which stops the constant calls and letters that create stress and distraction. We’ll review debt validation letters for errors, draft verification letters when disputes are warranted, and negotiate settlements when debts are legitimate but potentially reducible.

Most importantly, we offer free consultations to do a first assessment of your specific situation. 

For our super curious readers, see sample debt validation and debt verification letters (PDF) for your information.

Debt Validation Letter Request Template

[Your Name] [Your Address]
[City, State, ZIP]
[Date] [Debt Collector Name]
[Debt Collector Address]
[City, State, ZIP]

Re: [Account Number, if known]

Dear [Debt Collector Name],

I am responding to your communication dated 2025 regarding a debt you are attempting to collect. You contacted me by [phone/mail] and identified the debt as [any information provided: amount, original creditor, account number, etc.].

Before I acknowledge any obligation to pay this debt, I am requesting that you provide debt validation as required under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.

Please send the following information:

• The name and address of the original creditor
• The original account number
• The amount owed, including an itemization of any fees, interest, or other charges added to the original debt
• Verification that there is a valid basis for claiming I am required to pay this debt
• A copy of the last billing statement from the original creditor
• The date the original creditor claims this debt became delinquent
• The age of the debt and whether it is within the statute of limitations
• Proof of your legal authority to collect this debt, including licensing information for [your state]

Under the FDCPA, you must cease all collection activities until you provide this verification.

I reserve all rights under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and applicable state laws.

Sincerely,
[Your Signature]
[Your Printed Name]

Debt Verification Letter Template

[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, State, ZIP]
[Date] [Debt Collector Name]
[Debt Collector Address]
[City, State, ZIP]

Re: [Account Number]

Dear [Debt Collector Name],

I am writing in response to your debt validation letter dated 2025 regarding account number [account number] in the amount of [amount].

I dispute this debt in its entirety for the following reasons:

[State your specific reasons, such as:

• I do not recognize this debt
• The amount is incorrect
• This debt is past the statute of limitations
• I already paid this debt
• This debt belongs to someone else]

Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, I am requesting that you provide:

• A copy of the original signed contract or agreement establishing this debt
• Complete payment history from the original creditor
• Verification that you are licensed to collect debts in [your state]
• Proof that the statute of limitations has not expired on this debt
• Documentation showing the chain of custody if this debt was sold or transferred

Until you provide this verification, you must cease all collection activities, including reporting this debt to credit bureaus.

I reserve all rights under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and applicable state laws.

Sincerely,
[Your Signature]
[Your Printed Name]