When you send a collector one of these letters, the company is supposed to send back a debt validation letter supporting its claim. If it can’t or won’t, the claim is likely to be dropped.

Debt collectors have a legal obligation to send a debt validation letter if requested. If they don’t, you can request that they stop contacting you altogether.

Debt collectors have a legal obligation to send a debt validation letter and it’s important for consumers to be aware of that. If you receive information over the phone, ask for it to be sent in ...

Once you receive a debt validation letter, you have 30 days to dispute the debt. skynesher/Getty Updated Mar 25, 2025, 2:51 PM PT ...

A call from a collection agency or debt collector isn’t enough proof. You can send a debt verification letter to a collection agency or debt collector requesting they provide proper documentation to ...

If it doesn’t, you may have a legal claim against the collector and the delay won’t necessarily affect the debt’s validity. The validation letter is supposed to document that you owe the money.

By sending your debt validation letter within 30 days, you’re asking for this additional documentation, and the agency must stop collection activity while it works to validate your debt.

Debt collectors are legally obligated to send you a debt validation letter. If you don’t receive a debt validation letter, or it lacks detail, you can make a debt verification request.