Sample Debt Validation Letter

Sample Debt Validation LetterThis is a sample debt validation letter that you can send to a debt collector, asking him to validate the debt information with the original creditor and mail you the verification, including the original creditor’s name and address.

Send your debt validation letter to the debt collector’s address listed on the debt noticed you received from him, or (if the account is listed on your credit report) to the address listed in your credit report’s “Contact Information” section.





For your convenience, copy this text into your favorite text editor software, or you can download a text version of it from here. Replace the bolded items with your personal information and edit the [square brackets] as required.

Sample Debt Validation Letter

Date
Your Name
Your Address
Your City, State, Zip Code
 
Debt Collector’s Name
Debt Collector’s Address
Debt Collector’s City, State Zip

Date:

Re: Account Number XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-XXXX

To whom it may concern:

I am sending this letter to you in response to a notice I received from you by [mail/phone] on [Date of letter/phone call].

Be advised this is not a refusal to pay, but a notice that your claim is disputed and validation is requested.

Under the Fair Debt collection 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 that is binding on me to pay this debt.

This is NOT a request for “verification” or proof of my mailing address, but a request for VALIDATION made pursuant to 15 USC 1692g Sec. 809 (b) of the FDCPA. I respectfully request that your offices provide me with competent evidence that I have any legal obligation to pay you.

At this time I will also inform you that if your offices have or continue to report invalidated information to any of the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, Trans Union), this action might constitute fraud under both federal and state laws. Due to this fact, if any negative mark is found or continues to report on any of my credit reports by your company or the company you represent, I will not hesitate in bringing legal action against you and your client for the following.

Violation of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act

Defamation of Character
I am sure your legal staff will agree that non-compliance with this request could put your company in serious legal trouble with the FTC and other state or federal agencies.

If your offices are able to provide the proper documentation as requested in the following declaration, I will require 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 legal counsel for suit. This includes any listing of any information to a credit-reporting repository that could be inaccurate or invalidated. 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.

It would be advisable that you and your client assure that your records are in order before I am forced to take legal action.

Creditor/Debt collector declaration
Please provide the following:

  • Agreement with your client that grants you the authority to collect on this alleged debt.
  • Agreement that bears the signature of the alleged debtor wherein he/she agreed to pay the creditor.
  • Any insurance claims been made by any creditor regarding this account.
  • Any Judgments obtained by any creditor regarding this account.
  • Name and address of alleged creditor.
  • Name on file of alleged debtor.
  • Alleged account number.
  • Address on file for alleged debtor.
  • Amount of alleged debt.
  • Date this alleged debt became payable.
  • Date of original charge off or delinquency.
  • Verification that this debt was assigned or sold to collector.
  • Complete accounting of alleged debt.
  • Commission for debt collector if collection efforts are successful.

Please provide the name and address of the bonding agent for [Debt Collection Agency Name] in case legal action becomes necessary.

Your claim cannot and WILL NOT be considered if any portion of the above is not completed and returned with copies of all requested documents. This is a request for validation made pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Please allow 30 days for processing after I receive this information back.

Sincerely,

Your Name
Your Signature

cc Federal Trade Commission