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Within five days after a debt collector first contacts you, it must send you a written notice, called a "validation notice," that tells you (1) the amount it thinks you owe, (2) the name of the creditor, and (3) how to dispute the debt in writing.

If the agency can't provide proof, you owe the money, by law, they must stop collection efforts. If you don't owe the bill, don't pay anything ? ever. Even if you're willing to pay cash so the agency will go away, it's not a good idea.

Collectors are required by Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) to send you a written debt validation notice with information about the debt they're trying to collect. It must be sent within five days of the first contact. The debt validation letter includes: The amount owed.

Provide verification and documentation about why this is a debt that I am required to pay. The amount and age of the debt, including: A copy of the last billing statement sent to me by the original creditor. State the amount of the debt when you obtained it, and when that was.

You can still request debt verification after the first 30 days, but debt collectors then have the right to assume the debt is valid and are no longer required to cease debt collection activities while it responds to your request.

What Happens If the Collector Doesn't Verify the Debt? If a debt collector fails to verify the debt but continues to go after you for payment, you can sue that debt collector in federal or state court. You might be able to get $1,000 per lawsuit, plus actual damages, attorneys' fees, and court costs.