What is a debt validation letter and when should you send one?

Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you have the right to send a debt validation letter to a third-party collector within 30 days of their initial contact. The collector must then cease collection activity and provide verification of the debt — including the original creditor's name, the amount owed, and proof they are licensed to collect in your state. If they cannot validate the debt, they are legally required to stop collection efforts and request removal of the item from your credit reports.