Debt validation letter: free template and sample

The short answer: a debt validation letter is the letter you send a debt collector to dispute a debt and ask it to prove the debt is yours and the amount is right.

• Send it in writing within 30 days
• Include: the reference number, a clear dispute statement and a request to pause collection
• Don't call instead of writing or admit the debt
• Sample letter and timeline below
• Next step: Get the free debt validation letter template (we email it to you); want more? The Debt Payoff Planner is $6.99.

A debt validation letter is the letter you send a debt collector to dispute a debt and ask it to prove the debt is yours and the amount is right. If a collector contacts you about a debt you do not recognize, or the balance looks wrong, this letter is your first step. Under the federal debt collection rule, the CFPB says that if you dispute in writing within 30 days of getting the collector's validation notice, the collector must pause collecting the disputed amount until it responds. Below you will find what to include, a sample letter, a timeline and a free debt validation letter template you can print and fill in.

Debt validation vs. debt verification letter

The terms get mixed up, so here is how they fit together.

A different letter covers an accurate late payment you want forgiven: a goodwill letter. Our guide explains when it can help and includes a sample.

What the collector's validation notice must include

The CFPB lists the validation information a collector generally must give you, either in its first communication or within five days after it. The detailed requirements are in Regulation F, section 1006.34.

• A statement that the communication is from a debt collector
• Your name and mailing information, and the collector's
• The name of the creditor you owe the debt to
• The account number, if any
• An itemization of the current amount, reflecting interest, fees, payments and credits since a particular date
• The current amount of the debt
• How to reply if you think the debt is not yours or the amount is wrong
• An end date for the 30-day dispute period

Read the notice carefully. Write down the dispute end date. That date drives everything else.

When to send a debt validation letter

Send one when:

• You do not recognize the debt or the collector's name.
• The amount is higher than you expected, or includes fees you do not understand.
• You already paid or settled the debt.
• The debt might belong to someone with a similar name, or to a relative who passed away.
• The debt is very old and you want to know the dates before deciding what to do.
• You simply want proof before you pay anything.

Even if you think the debt is yours, asking for verification is reasonable. It confirms the amount and who now owns the account.

What to include in your letter

1. Your contact details and the date.
2. The collector's name and address from the validation notice.
3. The reference or account number they gave you.
4. A clear dispute statement, such as "I dispute this debt. Please verify it."
5. Requests for information: the original creditor's name and address, an itemization of the amount, a copy of documents showing the debt is yours and the date of last payment.
6. A request to pause collection of the disputed amount until you get verification.
7. How you want to be contacted, such as in writing only, and any times or places they should not contact you, like at work.
8. A line saying the letter is not an acknowledgment that you owe the debt.
9. Your signature.

Sample debt validation letter

[Your name] [Your address] [Date]

[Collector name] [Collector address]

Re: Reference number [number]

I am writing in response to your notice dated [date]. I dispute this debt and request that you verify it.

Please send me: the name and address of the original creditor; the account number with the original creditor; an itemization of the amount you say I owe, including interest and fees; a copy of documents showing that I owe this debt; and the date of the last payment.

Please stop collecting this debt until you have mailed me the information requested. Please contact me in writing only at the address above.

This letter is not an acknowledgment that I owe this debt.

Sincerely, [Signature]

The free template below has this letter as a fill-in form with check boxes, plus a tracker for dates and responses.

Timeline after you send it

The CFPB explains that a collector must stop collection activity after a timely written dispute until it sends verification, and that collection can restart once it does. If you still disagree, you can keep disputing, and you can dispute the account with the credit bureaus too.

What to do with the collector's response

When verification arrives, compare it line by line with your own records.

If you decide to pay, get any settlement or payment plan in writing before you send money, and pay in a way that leaves a record. Keep the final letter showing the account is paid or settled.

Mistakes to avoid

• Missing the 30-day window. You can dispute later, but you may lose the pause on collection.
• Calling instead of writing. A phone dispute is not the same as a written one under the rule.
• Admitting the debt. Stick to facts; do not say the debt is yours or apologize.
• Making a small payment first. On an old debt, a payment can restart the statute of limitations in some states.
• Not keeping records. Save every letter, envelope and receipt, and log every call with the date and what was said.
• Sharing sensitive details. Do not give your bank account or full Social Security number to a caller until you have verified who they are.

Track every debt and payment

Whether the debt is verified or not, it helps to see all of your balances in one place. The Debt Payoff Planner ($6.99) is an Excel and Google Sheets spreadsheet with four tabs. You list each debt with its balance, APR and minimum payment, choose snowball or avalanche, and it shows your payoff order, month-by-month plan and debt-free date, with a payment log to record each payment.

If you are juggling bills while you sort out a collection account, the Bill Tracker Spreadsheet ($4.99) lists every bill with its next due date and autopay status, flags bills due soon in red and has a 12-month paid tracker.

For a bigger plan, read our guides on how to get out of debt and what to do if you are behind on bills. If the debt is from a hospital or doctor, see our page on medical debt. Our free debt tracker is another simple way to see everything you owe.

This page is general information, not legal advice. For help with your situation, contact the CFPB, your state attorney general or a local legal aid office.