Debt Validation Letter Under FDCPA

DEBT VALIDATION REQUEST

(Demand Under 15 U.S.C. § 1692g)

Table of Contents

1. Sender and Recipient Information
2. Debt Identification
3. Validation Demand
4. Specific Information Requested
5. Cease Collection Pending Validation
6. Additional Demands
7. Warnings and Reservations
8. Signature

1. Sender and Recipient Information

Date: [DATE]

SEND VIA CERTIFIED MAIL, RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED
Certified Mail No.: [TRACKING NUMBER]

From:
[YOUR FULL LEGAL NAME]
[YOUR ADDRESS]
[CITY, STATE ZIP]

To:
[DEBT COLLECTOR NAME]
[DEBT COLLECTOR ADDRESS]
[CITY, STATE ZIP]

Re: DEBT VALIDATION REQUEST
Your Reference/Account No.: [REFERENCE NUMBER]
Alleged Creditor: [CREDITOR NAME]
Alleged Amount: $[AMOUNT]
Date of Collector's Initial Communication: [DATE OF FIRST CONTACT]

2. Debt Identification

Dear Sir or Madam:

I received a communication from your company dated [DATE] regarding an alleged debt. This letter is a formal written dispute of this alleged debt and a demand for validation pursuant to 15 U.S.C. § 1692g.

☐ I received your initial validation notice dated [DATE] and am disputing this debt within the 30-day period provided by 15 U.S.C. § 1692g(a).

☐ I have NOT received the required validation notice under 15 U.S.C. § 1692g(a). Your failure to provide this notice is itself a violation of the FDCPA.

3. Validation Demand

I dispute this alleged debt in its entirety and demand that you provide written verification of the following before any further collection activity:

Pursuant to 15 U.S.C. § 1692g(b), you must cease all collection activity until you have:

1. Obtained verification of the debt or a copy of a judgment against me; AND
2. Mailed such verification or judgment to me at the address above.

4. Specific Information Requested

I request the following documentation and information:

4.1 Debt Verification

☐ The amount of the debt, including an itemized accounting showing the principal, interest, fees, and any other charges
☐ The name and address of the original creditor, if different from the current creditor
☐ A copy of the original signed agreement or contract creating the obligation
☐ Complete account statements from the original creditor showing the debt from origination to charge-off

4.2 Chain of Ownership

☐ Documentation of every assignment or sale of this debt from the original creditor to your company
☐ A copy of any assignment agreement or bill of sale transferring this debt to your company
☐ Proof that your company is authorized to collect this debt in my state

4.3 Licensing and Authority

☐ Your debt collection license number for the state of [STATE]
☐ Your surety bond information, if required by state law
☐ The name, address, and phone number of the original creditor

4.4 Account Verification

☐ Proof that the statute of limitations has not expired on this debt
☐ Proof that this debt has not been discharged in bankruptcy
☐ Proof that I am the correct debtor (not merely someone with a similar name or address)
☐ The date of last payment or last activity on the account
☐ The date the account was charged off by the original creditor

5. Cease Collection Pending Validation

Until you provide the requested verification, you must:

☐ Cease all collection efforts, including phone calls, letters, emails, and text messages
☐ Refrain from reporting this debt to any consumer reporting agency, or if already reported, report it as "disputed"
☐ Refrain from filing any legal action to collect this debt
☐ Refrain from selling, assigning, or transferring this debt

Under 15 U.S.C. § 1692g(b), collection activity must cease until verification is provided. Any attempt to collect before providing verification is a violation of the FDCPA.

6. Additional Demands

6.1 Credit Reporting

☐ If you have reported this debt to any consumer reporting agency, you are required under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1681s-2(a)(3), to report it as disputed. Please confirm that you have done so.

6.2 Communication Restrictions

☐ Do not contact me by telephone. All communications must be in writing.
☐ Do not contact me at my workplace. My employer prohibits such communications. (15 U.S.C. § 1692c(a)(3))
☐ Do not contact any third party about this alleged debt. (15 U.S.C. § 1692c(b))

7. Warnings and Reservations

7.1 FDCPA Violations

If you fail to validate this debt and continue collection activity, I will consider such actions willful violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. I reserve all rights, including the right to:

• File a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)
• File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
• File a complaint with the [STATE] Attorney General
• Pursue civil litigation under 15 U.S.C. § 1692k, which provides for actual damages, statutory damages up to $1,000, and reasonable attorney's fees and costs

7.2 No Acknowledgment of Debt

Nothing in this letter constitutes:

• An acknowledgment that I owe this debt or any portion of it
• A promise to pay any amount
• A waiver of any right or defense, including any statute of limitations defense
• Any action that restarts or tolls any applicable statute of limitations

8. Signature

Sincerely,

_______________________________________
[YOUR SIGNATURE]

_______________________________________
[YOUR PRINTED NAME]

Date: [DATE]

CERTIFIED MAIL TRACKING

Certified Mail Number: [TRACKING NUMBER]
Date Mailed: [DATE]
Return Receipt Received: ☐ Yes ☐ No
Date of Delivery (per USPS): [DATE]

KEY DEADLINES CHECKLIST

☐ Initial communication from collector received on: [DATE]
☐ 30-day dispute period expires on: [DATE]
☐ This validation request mailed on: [DATE]
☐ Validation response received on: [DATE] or ☐ No response received