How do I validate a debt I don't recognize?

Send a written debt validation request to the collection agency within 30 days of their first contact — they must stop collection activity and provide documentation proving the debt is yours and the amount is accurate. If they can't verify it, they must cease collection.

Debt collection errors are common. Debts get sold between agencies and records get garbled — the wrong person gets contacted, the balance is inflated, or the account belongs to someone with a similar name. The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) gives you a specific, legally protected right to demand written proof before paying anything. The CFPB's debt collection resource hub is the authoritative reference.

Your FDCPA validation right: the basics

Within five days of their first contact, a collector must send you a written validation notice stating the amount owed, the name of the creditor, and that you have 30 days to dispute. If you send a written dispute within that 30-day window, the collector must stop all collection activity — calls, letters, credit reporting — until they mail you verification of the debt. This is your window. Use it.

What to put in your validation request letter

Your full name and address.
The collector's name and address.
A statement that you dispute the debt and request written verification under the FDCPA, 15 U.S.C. § 1692g.
Ask specifically for: the full name and address of the original creditor, the amount allegedly owed and how it was calculated, documentation showing you are responsible for this debt (e.g., a signed agreement), and proof the collector has the right to collect it (chain-of-title documentation if the debt was sold).
Do not include payment or an admission that the debt is yours.

How to send it and what happens next

Send via certified mail, return receipt requested — this creates a dated proof of delivery that is critical if you need to file a complaint or go to court.
Keep a complete copy of the letter.
Once received, the collector must halt collection activity until they respond with verification.
If they cannot verify the debt, they must stop collection entirely.
If they do verify and you still believe the debt is wrong — check the original creditor name, account number, and delinquency date against your own records and credit report.

If the debt shows up on your credit report

You also have the right under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) to dispute inaccurate information directly with the credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion). A separate credit bureau dispute runs parallel to your FDCPA validation request — one goes to the collector, one to the bureaus. See how-to-remove-collections-from-credit-report for the full dispute process.

FDCPA debt validation rules

Under FDCPA § 809, if a consumer disputes a debt in writing within 30 days of receiving the validation notice, the collector must stop all collection efforts until it obtains and mails verification of the debt to the consumer. — CFPB — Debt Collection
The CFPB's debt collection rule (Regulation F) requires collectors to provide a detailed validation notice that includes the debt amount, creditor name, and itemization of charges — consumers should review this notice carefully for errors. — CFPB — Debt Collection Rule
The FTC recommends that consumers request debt validation immediately after being contacted about an unfamiliar debt — do not make any payment until the debt has been verified in writing. — FTC — Debt Collection FAQs

Key takeaways

Send a written debt validation request within 30 days of the collector's first contact — this legally halts all collection activity until they respond.
Request the original creditor name, the amount breakdown, documentation tying you to the debt, and proof the collector owns it.
Send certified mail with return receipt — proof of delivery is essential if you need to escalate to the CFPB or a court.
If the collector can't verify the debt, they must stop collection — and you should dispute any credit report entry separately with the bureaus.
Never pay or acknowledge a debt you don't recognize until you have written verification.