Glossary → Debt
Debt

Debt Validation

Your right to make a collector prove a debt is really yours.

Under federal law, when a debt collector first contacts you, you can demand — in writing, typically within 30 days — that they verify the debt is yours and accurate before you pay anything. Until they validate it, collection should pause. Always request validation before acknowledging or paying.

In practice

Send a written validation request within 30 days; the collector must provide proof before continuing collection.

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