How to dispute a debt collector
Your rights under the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, how to demand validation of a debt, and how to file a complaint. Legal information, not legal advice.
Your rights under the FDCPA
The federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) governs third-party debt collectors. It bars abusive, deceptive, and unfair practices: collectors generally can't call you at unreasonable hours, threaten things they can't legally do, or lie about how much you owe.
You have the right to ask a collector to stop contacting you, and the right to dispute the debt and demand that they verify it before continuing to collect.
Demand validation in writing
Within 30 days of a collector's first contact, you can send a written 'debt validation' request. Once you do, the collector must stop collection until they send you verification of the debt (such as the amount and the original creditor).
Send it in writing and keep a copy. This is one of the most powerful steps because it forces the collector to prove the debt is real, the amount is right, and they're allowed to collect it.
Escalate if they break the rules
If a collector violates the FDCPA, you can file a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (consumerfinance.gov) and your state attorney general. The CFPB forwards complaints to the company and tracks the response.
Watch for scams: collectors demanding payment by gift card or wire, refusing to send anything in writing, or threatening arrest are red flags. Pike can help you draft a validation letter or a CFPB complaint.
Common questions
Not for an ordinary consumer debt. Threatening arrest or jail to collect a consumer debt is a classic FDCPA violation. Treat it as a red flag and document it.
A written request that forces a collector to verify the debt — the amount and the original creditor — before continuing to collect. If you send it within 30 days of first contact, collection must pause until they respond.
File with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau at consumerfinance.gov and with your state attorney general. Keep records of calls, letters, and any threats.
This is legal information, not legal advice. Laws vary by state and change over time — confirm the specifics for your jurisdiction, and for advice about your situation talk to a licensed attorney or your local legal aid.
Pike can help you draft the documents for this — you sign and send them yourself.