It’s the new year and I know many people try to start the new year with a good financial plan. I know paying off your debt could be in your plan to reach your goals but you should validate your debt before paying the debt. Send the letter below via certified mail, which will notify you that the letter was received, to the debt collector. They have 30 days with a 15 day cushion to respond, if they do not, use the certified receipt to dispute the debt on your credit report. If they respond and they cannot validate the debt, use that letter to dispute the debt on your credit report. If they happen to respond validating the debt, you should then start with negotiating payment arrangements.
Name
Street Address
City, State Zip Code
Collection Company Name
Street Address
City, State Zip Code
Phone
RE: Validation of Debt Letter for Your name
DOB: x-xx-xxxx, Last 4 of SSN: xxxx
To Whom It May Concern:
This letter is sent in response to a debt reported on my credit report by you on Month Day, Year. I am requesting that you provide verification of this debt. Send the following information:
The name and address of the original creditor, the account number, and the amount owed.
Verification that there is a valid basis for claiming I am required to pay the current amount owed.
Details about the age and amount of the debt, including a copy of the last billing statement from the original creditor; a detailed explanation any interest added or payments made since the last billing statement and the legal authorization for this interest; the date the original creditor claims this debt became delinquent.
Whether this debt is within the statute of limitations and how that was determined.
Details about your authority to collect this debt: whether you are licensed in my state and if so provide the date of the license, name on the license, license number, and the license number, and the name, address and telephone number of the state agency issuing the license. If you are
contacting me from outside my state, provide the licensing information from your state as well.
I need more details about what you claim I owe so that I can make an informed decision.
Sincerely,
Your Name
