Debt validation letter to make a collector prove the debt
A collector calls about a debt you do not recognize, or the amount looks wrong. In the US, federal law lets you ask the collector to verify the debt in writing. This prompt has your todo.is agent draft a debt validation letter with the right details and timing, as a starting point you check before sending.
The prompt
- Write a debt validation letter (US). I am [YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS]. The collector is [COLLECTION AGENCY NAME AND ADDRESS], and they contacted me on [DATE OF FIRST CONTACT OR VALIDATION NOTICE] about [ACCOUNT OR REFERENCE NUMBER] for [AMOUNT THEY CLAIM], saying the original creditor is [ORIGINAL CREDITOR]. I [WHY YOU ARE DISPUTING]. Ask them to verify the debt and to stop collection until they do, and ask for written communication only. Do not admit the debt is mine. Check the CFPB website for current consumer rights on debt validation and include the links. One page, Word and PDF, plus a checklist for sending it by certified mail and a reminder of the key dates.
What to change
- [YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS]: Your full name and mailing address.
- [COLLECTION AGENCY NAME AND ADDRESS]: As on their letter, e.g. "Summit Recovery Group, PO Box 4410, Phoenix, AZ".
- [DATE OF FIRST CONTACT OR VALIDATION NOTICE]: When they first contacted you or the date on their validation notice, e.g. "2 October 2026".
- [ACCOUNT OR REFERENCE NUMBER]: The reference on their letter, e.g. "SRG-778120". You can leave out your full original account number.
- [AMOUNT THEY CLAIM]: E.g. "$1,284.50".
- [ORIGINAL CREDITOR]: E.g. "Northline Wireless" or "unknown".
- [WHY YOU ARE DISPUTING]: E.g. "do not recognize this debt", "believe the amount is wrong", "think it was already paid".
Example result
- Debt validation letter
- Jordan Ellis
- 88 Birch Road, Columbus, OH 43215
- 8 October 2026
- Sent by certified mail, return receipt requested
- Summit Recovery Group
- PO Box 4410
- Phoenix, AZ 85001
- Re: Reference number SRG-778120
- To whom it may concern,
- I am writing in response to your notice dated 2 October 2026 about a debt of $1,284.50 that you say is owed to Northline Wireless.
- I dispute this debt, and I request that you verify it, as is my right under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. This letter is not a refusal to pay a valid debt and is not an acknowledgment that I owe it.
- Please send me:
- • The name and address of the original creditor
- • The account number with the original creditor
- • An itemized statement of the amount, including interest and fees, and how it was calculated
- • Proof that you own or are authorized to collect this debt
- • Proof that the debt is within the time allowed for collection in my state
- Until you provide verification, please stop collection activity on this account. If you report this account to any credit bureau, please report it as disputed.
- Please contact me in writing only, at the address above.
- Sincerely,
- Jordan Ellis
- Sending checklist
- • Send within 30 days of receiving the collector's validation notice to keep your strongest rights
- • Use certified mail with return receipt, and keep copies of everything
- • Write down every call: date, time, name, what was said
- • Do not make a payment while you wait. A small payment can affect your options in some states
- Know the limits
- This is a draft, not legal advice. It applies to third-party debt collectors in the US. If they keep collecting without verifying, you can file a complaint with the CFPB or your state attorney general, or talk to a consumer lawyer.
How to do it with todo.is
- Copy the prompt and use the details from the collector's letter.
- Paste it into todo.is, or send it to your agent with a photo of the collector's letter attached.
- Your agent checks the CFPB guidance and gives you the letter as Word and PDF with a sending checklist.
- Ask it to set a reminder 30 days after you mail it, so you know when to follow up.
Tips for a better result
- Send it in writing, not by phone. Only a written dispute protects your rights to verification.
- Mail it within 30 days of the validation notice if you can, and keep the certified mail receipt.
- Do not admit the debt or promise to pay in the letter.
- Pull your free credit reports and check whether the account appears, and how.
- If the collector reports it to the bureaus with errors, follow up with a credit report dispute letter.
debt validation letter: FAQ
- What is a debt validation letter? A letter asking a debt collector to prove that you owe a debt and that the amount is right. In the US, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act gives you this right with third-party collectors.
- How long do I have to send a debt validation letter? You have 30 days from receiving the collector's validation notice to dispute and keep your strongest rights. You can still dispute later, but the collector has fewer obligations.
- What happens after I send it? If you dispute in time, the collector must pause collection until it sends verification. If it cannot verify, it should stop collecting.
- Does this work outside the US? This letter is written for US law. Other countries have different rules, so check your local consumer protection agency.
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