Debt Validation: Your Rights Under the FDCPA
Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (15 U.S.C. § 1692g), when a debt collector contacts you about a medical bill, you can send a written request for validation of the debt. The collector must then provide verification — and should pause collection activity until they do. This is one of the strongest tools a consumer has.
What is debt validation?
Debt validation is your federal right to make a collector prove a debt is real, accurate, and theirs to collect — before you engage with it. It is grounded in the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, which governs third-party collectors.
What to request
A strong validation request asks for: a complete itemized accounting of the charges, the name and address of the original creditor, and documentation showing the collector is authorized to collect the account. Send it in writing, by certified mail, and keep a copy.
Timing matters
Sending your request early — ideally within 30 days of the collector's first contact — puts you in the strongest position, because the collector must pause collection efforts until they respond with validation. Even outside that window, a written validation request is still worth sending.
What validation does for you
It shifts the burden to the collector, pauses pressure, surfaces errors (collectors often lack complete records), and creates a documented paper trail. Do not admit the debt or agree to pay while validation is pending.
Frequently asked questions
What is a debt validation letter?
It is a written request, under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, asking a collector to prove a debt is valid — including an itemized accounting, the original creditor's details, and proof the collector is authorized to collect it.
How long does a collector have to validate a debt?
If you request validation within 30 days of their first contact, the collector must pause collection activity until they provide verification in writing.
Does requesting validation stop collection calls?
A timely written validation request should pause collection activity until the collector provides the requested verification.