Debt Validation Notice

Debt validation notice summary: 

• Debt collectors are required to send you a debt validation notice within five days of their first contact with you about your debt.

• After receiving a debt validation notice, you have the right to respond in writing within 30 days to dispute the debt or ask the debt collector for additional details.

• Debt collectors must pause their collection activities to respond to your dispute.  

Debt Validation Notice Definition and Meaning

A debt validation notice (also known as a debt validation letter) is an official communication that debt collectors are legally required to send you. Its purpose is to notify you about the details of a debt being collected, help you understand whether the debt is actually yours, and if it’s not, how to dispute the debt. If you have a debt that goes to collections, this debt validation notice is often the first step in the process. 

Debt collectors are required to send you a debt validation notice as their first point of contact with you, or within five days of their first communication with you about your debt. If they don’t, it’s the first thing you should ask for.

The purpose of a debt validation notice is to protect your rights as someone who is a debtor with debt in collections, while also showing that the debt collector is following rules and regulations. Debt validation notices can be sent via U.S. mail or email.  

Key Features of a Debt Validation Notice 

A debt validation notice is an important piece of legally required communication. Debt collectors are required by federal law to include key information in a debt validation notice, such as: 

• Clear identifying details to show that the notice is coming from a debt collector, including the debt collector’s name and mailing address. 

• Your name (debtor’s name) and mailing address. 

• Name of creditor (or multiple creditors) for the debt that is in collections. 

• The debt’s account number (if available). 

• Itemized details about the debt amount, including the current balance as of the date of the debt validation notice, and any recent credits, fees, interest, and payments.

• Information on how you can dispute the debt (in case the debt is not actually yours, or if the debt amount is incorrect).

• A 30-day period (including the exact end date) to give you a chance to dispute the debt in writing. 

How to Respond to a Debt Validation Notice 

Even if you get contacted by a debt collector, you have rights, and you deserve to be treated with respect. If you believe the debt collector is mistaken in contacting you, if the debt isn't yours, if the debt has already been paid in full, or if details of the debt are incorrect, you can dispute the debt. 

If you want to dispute it, respond to the debt collector’s debt validation notice in writing within 30 days. This means writing a “debt verification letter.” In your debt verification letter, you can tell the debt collector any valid reasons you might have for disputing the debt, such as: 

• The debt doesn't belong to you 

• The debt was already paid in full 

• The debt amount is wrong

Writing a debt verification letter also gives you a chance to ask the debt collector to provide more information, such as: 

• The original creditor’s details (name, address, etc.) 

• The original loan agreement proving that you have an obligation to repay the debt 

• Official documentation with details like the original delinquency date and the age of the debt

• Complete itemized details about the debt, such as dates when fees and interest were added to the debt amount 

• The debt collector’s license to operate in your state, and details about which state agency or regulator issued this license

After you send your debt verification letter, the debt collector must pause collecting on your debt until they answer your questions and address any disputed information.