Debt Verification: Proof of a Debt

Why it matters

Validation and verification are two halves of the same right, and people mix them up. Validation is what the collector has to volunteer up front — who they are, a breakdown of the debt, and your dispute rights. Verification is different. It's what the collector has to go get after you dispute in writing. That means checking the debt against its own records. Until verification is mailed, collection of a properly disputed debt generally has to pause. Courts differ on how much detail verification requires. A bare one-line repeat of the balance is the weakest form. Continued collection with no verification at all can violate the FDCPA.

Example

Marcus disputes a collection in writing ten days after receiving the validation notice. The calls generally have to stop. Three weeks later, the collector mails a single sentence: "Balance due: $2,140." Marcus can push back and ask for account-level documentation. If collection resumes without anything more, he can dispute the item with the credit bureaus. He can also submit a CFPB complaint or bring the file to a consumer attorney.