Sample Letters: Debt Validation

Debt Validation

Under the Federal Debt Collection Practices Act , you are allowed to challenge the validity of a debt that a creditor or collection agency claims you owe.

Use these letters to make them verify that the debt is actually yours and owed by you. Be sure to keep a copy for your files and send the letter registered mail.

Here is a short and simple debt validation sample letter to send when you first hear from a collection agency:

Dear Collection Agency:

"In regards to your demand letter dated 00/00/0000, postmarked 00/00/0000 , and received by me on 00/00/0000, you are hereby notified that I dispute your claim in its entirety. Provide proper and complete validation of this alleged debt in accordance with state and federal law. Do not call. Telephone calls on this matter are inconvenient to me at all times, and are prohibited at my place of employment. Send all communications to the address provided in this letter. "

Sincerely,

your name

your signature

Here is another sample letter demanding debt validation of an alleged debt:

To Whom It May Concern:

This debt validation letter is in response to your initial communication received [date]. Copies enclosed.

I dispute this debt in its entirety, including the amount, character, and legal status.

You are prohibited from placing a trade line on any of my credit reports.

It is inconvenient for you to call me anywhere at anytime. You may contact me via US Mail at my return address.

Sincerely,

TYPED NAME

no written signature

This sample letter is also good for validation of a debt:

Creditor:

Please be advised that I am in receipt of your letter dated 00/00/ 0000, which I have attached. The language of the letter suggests that this is not the first letter that you have attempted to send me. However, this is the first letter from your organization that I have received. The address you sent your letter to is incorrect; I have never resided at that location.

I am unfamiliar with your organization and unaware that a relationship exists between [collection agency] and [original creditor]. Further, I have never held an account with [original creditor].

As such, I am formally disputing the validity of this alleged debt. Please send me validation of this debt in the form of the original written contract, a complete payment history, an itemization of the alleged charges, and a copy of the contractual agreement between yourself and the original creditor that indicates you have the legal right to collect an alleged debt. I am requesting validation under the protections afforded me by the FDCPA, of which I am sure you are familiar. Please comply with my request or issue in writing a statement of withdrawal within thirty days from your receipt of this letter.

Please also be advised that I wish to communicate solely in writing. I can be reached at the address listed above. Do not call me at any time or place.

Regards,

your name

your signature

Here is another sample letter to demand that a creditor prove a debt is actually yours through debt validation:

Dear Bill Collector,

I am writing in response to your letter dated 00/00/0000[copy enclosed]. This is the first letter I've received from you on this matter. I do not believe that I owe what you say I owe, and I request that you please do the following:

tell me what this money that you say I owe is for;

show me how you calculated what you say I owe;

give me copies of any papers that show I agreed to pay what you say I owe;

show me that you are licensed in my state, and give me your license number;

stop contacting me about this or any other matter you have, except to provide me with proof that I owe what you say I owe.

I demand that you also send a copy of this dispute to the company that you say I owe money to, so that they do not report this on my credit report. I further demand that if you have reported me to a credit reporting company, you tell them that I do not agree with this debt.

Sincerely,

your signature

your name

Another free sample letter for debt validation:

To Whom It May Concern:

I received a call from your company concerning an alleged debt. I have no account with you, nor have I ever. I have no account number because the person I spoke to didn’t give me one. As such I am disputing this debt.

Under the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act (FDCPA), I have the right to request validation of the debt you say I owe you. I am requesting proof that I am indeed the party you are asking to pay this debt, and there is some contractual obligation which is binding on me to pay this debt.

Please also be aware that a sworn affidavit from your compliance officer of a computer printout from your company does not constitute a valid validation of this debt. Be advised that this is not a refusal to pay, but a notice sent pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, 15 USC 1692g Sec. 809 ( that your claim on my Credit Report is disputed and validation is requested.

This is NOT a request for “verification” or proof of my mailing address, but a request for VALIDATION made pursuant to the above named Title and Section.

I respectfully request that your offices provide me with competent evidence that I have any legal obligation to pay you. Please provide me with the following:

* What the money you say I owe is for;

* Explain and show me how you calculated what you say I owe;

* Provide me with copies of any papers that show I agreed to pay what you say I owe;

* Provide a verification or copy of any judgment if applicable;

* Identify the original creditor;

* Prove the Statute of Limitations has not expired on this account

* Show me that you are licensed to collect in my state

* Provide me with your license numbers and Registered Agent

Please also be advised that this letter is not only a formal dispute, but a request that you do not contact me unless you are responding to this request for validation.

I require compliance with the terms and conditions of this letter within 30 days. In the event of noncompliance, I reserve the right to file charges and/or complaints with appropriate County, State & Federal authorities ,the BBB and State Bar associations for violations of the FDCPA, FCRA, and Federal and State statutes on fraudulent extortion .

I also hereby reserve my right to take private civil action against you to recover damages.

Sincerely,

your name

your address

Here’s another example of a debt validation sample letter. Remember that these debt validation letters should be sent by certified mail with return receipt requested:

Dear Collector:

This debt validation letter is being sent to you in response to a notice sent to me on 00/00/0000. Be advised that this is not a refusal to pay, but a notice sent pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, 15 USC 1692g Sec. 809 (b) that your claim is disputed and validation is requested.

This is NOT a request for “verification” or proof of my mailing address, but a request for VALIDATION made pursuant to the above named Title and Section. I respectfully request that your offices provide me with competent evidence that I have any legal obligation to pay you. Please provide me with the following:

* What the money you say I owe is for;

* Explain and show me how you calculated what you say I owe;

* Provide me with copies of any papers that show I agreed to pay what you say I owe;

* Provide a verification or copy of any judgment if applicable;

* Identify the original creditor;

* Prove the Statute of Limitations has not expired on this account

* Show me that you are licensed to collect in my state

* Provide me with your license numbers and Registered Agent.

At this time I will also inform you that if your offices have reported invalidated information to any of the 3 major Credit Bureau’s (Equifax, Experian or TransUnion) this action might constitute fraud under both Federal and State Laws. Due to this fact, if any negative mark is found on any of my credit reports by your company or the company that you represent I will not hesitate in bringing legal action against you for the following:

* Violation of the Fair Credit Reporting Act

* Violation of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act

* Defamation of Character

If your offices are able to provide the proper documentation as requested in the following Declaration, I will require at least 30 days to investigate this information and during such time all collection activity must cease and desist.

Also during this validation period, if any action is taken which could be considered detrimental to any of my credit reports, I will consult with my legal counsel for suit. This includes any listing any information to a credit reporting repository that could be inaccurate or invalidated or verifying an account as accurate when in fact there is no provided proof that it is.

If your offices fail to respond to this validation request within 30 days from the date of your receipt, all references to this account must be deleted and completely removed from my credit file and a copy of such deletion request shall be sent to me immediately.

I would also like to request, in writing, that no telephone contact be made by your offices to my home or to my place of employment. If your offices attempt telephone communication with me, including but not limited to computer generated calls and calls or correspondence sent to or with any third parties, it will be considered harassment and I will have no choice but to file suit.

All future communications with me MUST be done in writing and sent to the address noted in this letter by USPS. It would be advisable that you assure that your records are in order before I am forced to take legal action.

This is an attempt to correct your records, any information obtained shall be used for that purpose.

Best Regards,

your name

your signature

Use this sample letter as a Notice of Demanding Debt Validation of an Alleged Debt:

Dear Collection Agency:

I dispute your claims regarding this alleged debt in their entirety and request validation pursuant to the FDCPA.

Be advised that I am not requesting a "verification" that you have my mailing address, I am requesting a debt validation, that is, competent evidence that I have some contractual obligation to pay you.

Also, please provide the original creditor's name, address, and date of last activity. Also be aware that it's inconvenient for me to receive phone calls regarding this. Communicate with me only via US Mail.

If your offices fail to respond to this debt validation request within 30 days from the date of your receipt, all references to this account must be deleted and completely removed from my credit file and a copy of such deletion request shall be sent to me immediately.

Respectfully yours,

Your name in print

Here is another debt validation sample letter to send to a bill collector:

To Whom It May Concern,

I am formally requesting that you validate all trade line notations you have submitted to the three major credit reporting agencies by“_____________________” or “_________________________________________” for me, _______________________, for

account number _________________________________.

Due to possible inaccuracies in these CRA reports, I must demand that the debt validation I hereby lawfully request be in the form of a notarized statement by a person with original knowledge of the debt as it was constituted and who can testify that the debt was incurred legally, was not subsequently disputed as a result of returned, faulty, or recalled consumer products, was not utilized as a profit-loss tax deduction during the period it may have been payable, and was not claimed as a loss with any insuring entity during the period it may have been payable.

Please be advised that I am not requesting a verification that you have my mailing address; rather, I am requesting debt validation, i.e., competent evidence that I had some contractual obligation sans consumer protection encumbrance which incurred the original claims associated with this trade line.

Please know that you have 30 days from the tracked and confirmed delivery of this lawful notice to either answer these demands or to remove the associated negative trade line notations from the CRA reports.

Any other action may constitute evidence of your intent to abridge one or more civil or other constitutional rights. Please be further advised that continued unsubstantiated reporting of possible inaccuracies to third parties may provide a basis for criminal complaints being filed in accordance with FDCPA, FCRA, and other federal statutes.

I look forward to a timely resolution to this matter.

Sincerely,

your name

your signature

This is a strongly worded sample debt validation letter to send to a bill collector:

RE: Notice to Demand Debt Validation of Purported Debt Follow Up

Certified Mail #_______________________________________

To Whom It May Concern,

I have not heard back from you in over 30 days regarding my request for debt validation, under the doctrine of estoppal by silence, Engelhardt v Gravens (Mo) 281 SW 715, 719, I may presume that no proof of the alleged debt, nor therefore any such debt, in fact exists or has existed.

In a good faith effort to resolve this matter amicably, I restate my demand for proof of the debt, specifically the alleged contract or other instrument bearing my signature, as well as proof of your authority in this matter.

Absent such proof of debt validation, you must correct any erroneous reports of this debt as mine.

For the record, I state again that I have no account with you, nor am I your customer, nor have I entered into a contract with you.

I must again request the following information:

1. Please evidence your authorization under 15 USC 1692(e) and 15 USC 1692(f) in this alleged matter.2. What is your authorization of law for your collection of information?3. What is your authorization of law for your collection of this alleged debt?4. Please evidence your authorization to do business or operate in this state.5. Please evidence proof of the alleged debt, including specifically the alleged contract or other instrument bearing my signature.6. Please confirm the status of the account as reported to the 3 major credit bureaus.

You have fifteen (15) days from receipt of this notice to respond.

Your failure to respond, on point, in writing, hand signed, and in a timely manner, will work as a waiver to any and all of your claims in this matter, and will entitle me to presume that you are reporting this information incorrectly and that this matter is closed.

Your continued silence is unacceptable. Either provide the proof or correct the record to remove the invalid debt from my credit files with the three major credit-reporting agencies.

You are currently in violation of the Fair Credit Reporting Act and the Fair Debt Collection Act. Failure to respond within 15 days of receipt of this registered letter will result in a small claims action against your company.

For the purposes of 15 USC 1692 et seq., this Notice has the same effect as a dispute to the validity of the alleged debt and a dispute to the validity of your claims.

This Notice is an attempt to correct your records, and any information received from you will be collected as evidence should any further action be necessary.

This is a request for information only, and is not a statement, election, or waiver of status.

Sincerely,

your name

your signature

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