Debt Validation Letter (write-in-the-blank form)
Before You Start
You can send the Debt Validation Letter to a third party debt collector to tell them that they did not give you all of the information that they are supposed to, and that may be against federal law. The letter also asks the debt collector to not contact you again unless they send you all information required by federal law.
Within 5 days of first contacting you, a debt collector must tell you in writing:
- How much they think you owe,
- The name of the original creditor,
- That you have the right to dispute the debt within 30 days, and
- That if you dispute the debt, the creditor will give written verification of the debt.
The Debt Validation Letter is not a court form that you can use to dispute a debt in a lawsuit. If you have been served with court papers and want to dispute the lawsuit, you'll want to check out our Step-by-Step Guide on How to Answer When You Get Sued.
The letter comes with instructions to help you fill it out and send to a third party debt collector. Download the Debt Validation Letter at the bottom of this page.
Need more information?
If you have any questions about your rights or this form, it would be a good idea to read our article What to Do When Contacted about a Debt.
Need legal help?
Montana Legal Services Association provides free civil legal help to eligible clients. Learn more about how to apply for free legal help.