The full explanation
It must say that it comes from a debt collector, which creditor the debt is owed to, the account number if there is one, an itemization of the amount with interest, fees and payments, the current amount and the last day of the period you have to dispute the debt. If you dispute it in writing within that period, the collector must pause collecting the amount you dispute until it responds.
An example
Rosa gets a letter from a collection agency about a medical debt she does not recognize. It is a validation notice. She checks the creditor and the amount, marks in the bottom section that she thinks the debt is not hers and sends it in writing before the end date.
You will see it in…
- A letter or email from a collection agency
- The bottom section of the notice, with boxes to dispute (“How do you want to respond?”)
- The CFPB's pages on your rights with debt collectors
