Getting Verification of Debts If someone calls you about a debt or sends you a bill without documentation, request a debt validation letter. The creditor must also include a notice of your rights, including the fact that you can dispute the debt. This information is typically sent in the debt validation letter.

Is a credit card statement Proof of debt?

A few old credit card statements is insufficient proof. Even an original contract does not necessarily mean a debt collector has a right to collect a debt.

What is considered proof of debt?

This usually means producing proof that the debt was assigned to it. Often such proof will be a bill of sale, an “assignment”, or a receipt between the last creditor holding the debt and the entity suing you.

What happens if a collection agency Cannot validate debt?

It’s a violation of the collection practices act for a debt collector to refuse to send a validation notice or fail to respond to your verification letter. If you encounter such behavior, you can file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau.

How do you ask for debt validation?

Debt validation is your federal right granted under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). To request debt validation, you must send a written request to the debt collector within 30 days of being contacted by the collection agency.

Is the last bill mailed sufficient for debt validation?

So a print of the last bill mailed by the original creditor is sufficient for validation purposes. At no time are records from the collectors own systems considered to be validation. Ever. It must come from the original creditor forwarded through the collector.

Do you have to validate a debt with the original creditor?

If the company demanding payment is the same one who provided you with a service or loaned you money (the original creditor) they are not required to validate a debt. Note: You do NOT have the legal right to validation under the FDCPA when dealing with an original creditor.

What happens if a debt collector does not send proof?

If the debt collector does not send sufficient proof of the debt, they are not allowed to continue pursuing you for the debt. That includes listing the debt on your credit report—you can dispute the debt that hasn’t been adequately validated with the credit bureaus.

What happens if you dispute a debt validation letter?

In your validation letter, you can dispute the entire debt, part of the debt, or request the name of the original creditor. Once the debt collector receives your validation request, they cannot contact you again until they’ve provided you with the proof you’ve asked for. 1