If you are receiving late notices or a debt collector calls for a debt you don't believe you owe, you should send a letter to verify that the debt is actually yours. Not all notices and calls come from legitimate companies; verifying the debt will ensure that your rights are protected.
How to Mail a Debt Verification Letter:
Debt verification letters should always be sent via Certified Mail, Return Receipt Requested. Keep a copy of the letter, the certified mail receipt, and the green post card that is returned as part of a permanent file.
Sample Debt Validation Letter:
Date
Company Claiming Debt Owed
Street Address
City, State 12345
Re: Account Number xxxxxxx
To Whom It May Concern:
This letter is being sent to you in response to a notice sent to me on __________. This is not a refusal to pay, it is a notice sent to dispute your claim and request validation of the debt pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.
Please know that this is NOT a request for "verification" of my mailing address, but a request for VALIDATION of the debt as allowed by the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. I ask that your offices provide me with evidence that I have any legal obligation to pay you.
Please provide me with the following:
If you are able to provide the requested documentation, I will require at least 30 days to look over this information and request that all collection activity cease during this time.
If you do not respond to this validation request within 30 days from the date of your receipt (as shown on the signature required receipt returned to me) 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.
I would also like to request, in writing, that no telephone contact be made by your offices to my home or to my place of employment. All future communications with me MUST be done in writing and sent to the address noted in this letter by USPS.
It would be advisable that you assure that your records are in order before I am forced to take legal action. This is an attempt to correct your records; any information obtained shall be used for that purpose.
Sincerely,
Your Signature
What Happens After Mailing a Debt Validation Letter
A legitimate company will respond with timely proof of the debt. At that time you can either show that the debt is not yours, that you have already paid the debt, or arrange payment to the company to satisfy the debt. If the company is less scrupulous, they will not have any paperwork to prove the debt and will likely move on to a more pliable recipient.
 | Most people know that paying more than the minimum due each month on credit cards reduces your interest payments over time. But paying your credit card bills more frequently can also cut down on those finance charges. |
 | If you're considering debt negotiation, be sure you compare debt negotiation vs. credit counseling, and know what you're getting. A good credit counseling agency can go a long way toward helping you resolve your debts, so be careful choosing an agency that can help you. |
 | Debt settlement companies are organizations that work with people who have fallen behind in repaying their debts, from credit cards to unsecured loans. The debt settlement company differs from other similar organizations, such as consumer credit counseling services or debt negotiation services, in several ways. In order to make a debt settlement company work for you, there are a few things you should know. |
Here's what you need to think about once you're living debt-free. |
When you're pinching pennies trying to deal with credit card debt elimination, it's only a matter of time before feelings of deprivation set in.. Whether you're missing meals out, shopping at the mall, vacationing or some other pleasure, there are ways to fight off those deprived feelings without damaging the progress that you're making with your debt. Here are several simple strategies to employ. |
