Can you fax a debt validation letter

You can use this sample dispute letter PDF as a model. Once you dispute the debt, the debt collector must stop all debt collection activities until it sends you verification of the debt.

You can also use the sample dispute letter to discover the name and address of the original creditor. As with all dispute letters, you should keep a copy of the letter for your records. Also it is a good idea to send the letter certified mail, return receipt requested, so you have proof that the debt collector received it. If certified mail is too expensive, you should at least get proof of mailing.

Consult your local post office for your options. The type of information that must be provided changes depending on your specific circumstances. You can, but the debt collector will be allowed to continue debt collection activities and will not have to verify the debt. Debt collectors know that most people are completely in the dark regarding their rights surrounding the topic of debt collection. But they reality is you do have rights. If you are are disputing the validity of a debt — either in part or in full — it is your right to see documentation from the debt collector proving the validity of their claim.

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Your email address will not be published. This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed. Thank you. I will await your reply. In Florida, the debt statutes of limitations is 5 years for a written contract, 4 for a verbal contract, 5 for promissory notes and 4 for open-ended accounts. If you have reached these limitations, the debt is not yours to pay. Additionally, if you are near enough to these limitations, it could be best for you to wait to send a verification letter.

After all that rigmarole, the debt is still only yours to pay if you are legally responsible. If the collection agency will not relent, even though you have provided proof of your lack of responsibility, then it may be time to get an attorney to settle the case and even file a countersuit. Debt and collectors can take a toll psychologically.

Contact us today for a consultation if debt is hanging over your head. And that is what set Bruce and those handful of lawyers apart from the others and they like what they do. Not to mention Bruce and Team saved my families home during a terrible time for us. Confirm the debt is within the statute of limitations—that's the amount of time a creditor or collector can use the courts to collect a debt from you. A debt that's outside the statute of limitations poses less of a threat to you since the collector can't win a judgment against you in court as long as you can prove the statute of limitations has passed.

Check to see whether the debt is still within the credit reporting time limit, too. Most negative information—like a debt collection—can only be listed on your credit report seven years from the date of the delinquency. If the date of your delinquency is more than seven years ago, the debt should not appear on your credit report and, in that case, it won't hurt your credit to continue not paying the debt.

If the debt is old and scheduled to be removed from your credit report in less than two years, you may decide to simply let it fall off your credit report, especially if you're not planning to get a major loan in that time period.

What if the debt collection has been verified and is within the statute of limitations or the credit reporting time limit? You can try to settle with the collector for a percentage of the amount owed or offer a pay for delete agreement if the account is listed on your credit report. You'll have to be in a position to pay the account off quickly for this to work, however. Paying in full is also an option—one you might choose if you plan to apply for a major loan before the debt drops off your credit report.

Ignoring the debt can have negative consequences, including damage to your credit, continuous debt collection attempts, and possibly even a lawsuit. There isn't a set time limit that determines when a debt collector has to respond to your validation request. However, they will not be able to try to collect the debt until they validate it, so debt collectors are likely to respond quickly if the debt is legitimate.

The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau has a sample letter for this and several other situations you may encounter with a debt collector.

In general, you want to provide and ask for as much detail as you can. Explain exactly when you were first contacted and what you were told. Ask for details about the debt including names and addresses on the account, a copy of the last billing statement from the original creditor, when the debt became due, and when it became delinquent.

Federal Trade Commission. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. What Should I Do? State of California Department of Justice.