Debt & Credit
Debt Validation Request (FDCPA): Certified Mail letter template
Pre-filled template, USPS tracking and Electronic Return Receipt
When a debt collector first contacts you, federal law hands you a powerful tool. Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, if you dispute the debt in writing within 30 days of the initial notice, the collector must stop all collection activity until it mails you verification of the debt.
Collection files are frequently incomplete, resold, or simply wrong, and a validation request forces the collector to prove the debt is real, accurate, and actually yours. The 30-day window and the cease-collection duty both turn on dates, which is why sending the request via USPS Certified Mail with Electronic Return Receipt matters: you hold signed proof of exactly when it was received.
This template disputes the debt, itemizes the documentation you require, and directs future contact into writing.
This template is provided for informational purposes only and is not legal advice. For guidance on your specific situation, consult a licensed attorney in your state.
The letter template
The parts in blue and in brackets should be replaced with your information: they are pre-filled automatically when you use the template online.
Your contact details
Filled in automatically from the addresses step.
Recipient
Name and address entered at the addresses step.
Re: Request for Validation of Debt
Account reference: [account or reference number from the collection notice]
Sent via USPS Certified Mail with Electronic Return Receipt
Dear Sir or Madam,
I received a communication from your company dated [date of the collection letter or call] concerning an alleged debt of [amount stated]. This letter is my timely request for validation of that debt under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, 15 U.S.C. § 1692g. I dispute the debt.
Please provide the following: the amount of the debt and an itemization of how it was calculated; the name and address of the original creditor; documentation showing that I am the person obligated on this debt; proof of your authority to collect it in [your state]; and a copy of the original signed agreement or other instrument creating the obligation.
Because this request is made within thirty days of your initial communication, federal law requires you to cease collection of the debt until you have mailed the requested validation to me. Please also do not report this debt to any credit bureau while it remains unvalidated; if it has already been reported, the entry must reflect that the debt is disputed.
All future communications regarding this matter should be in writing and directed to my address above. This letter is sent by Certified Mail with Electronic Return Receipt, and I am retaining the proof of mailing and the signed receipt as evidence of the date you received this request.
Sincerely,
Mr. First name Last name
How to send this letter online
- 1
Enter the addresses
Your details and the recipient's: they are placed automatically in the letter heading.
- 2
Personalize the template
At the writing step, this template is ready to complete: replace the bracketed placeholders with your information.
- 3
Review the exact preview
What you see on screen is exactly what will be printed and mailed.
- 4
We handle the rest
Printing, sealing, and hand-off to USPS as Certified Mail. Proof of mailing and the Electronic Return Receipt are stored in your account.