Share Legal California Fair Debt Collections Forms For Free

To dispute a debt, you must send a debt verification letter to the debt collector. These terms can be confusing, but think of a debt verification letter as your way of saying that you intend to dispute the debt. Debt collectors send debt validation letters; debt verification letters are sent in response to one.

After you have mailed your request, debt collectors should send you any documentation they have that you owe the debt. Or, they may stop all collection efforts if they don't have enough information to prove you owe it.

Dear debt collector, I am responding to your contact about collecting a debt. You contacted me by [phone/mail], on [date] and identified the debt as [any information they gave you about the debt]. I do not have any responsibility for the debt you're trying to collect.

The California statute is called the Rosenthal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Creditors and debt collection agencies are permitted to take reasonable steps to enforce and collect payment of debts. That is because an efficient and productive economy requires a credit process.

The first step in collections is usually sending a letter demanding payment. If the debtor does not respond or pay, the creditor can hire a collection agency or take the debtor to court. In most cases, the creditor will win if the case goes to court and the debtor pays the debt plus interest and fees.

How to Request Debt Verification. To request verification, send a letter to the collection agency stating that you dispute the validity of the debt and that you want documentation verifying the debt. Also, request the name and address of the original creditor.