To whom it may concern,
I am writing to dispute account number [#####]. I dispute this debt and demand that you provide me with verification and validation of the debt.
Do not contact me by telephone. Additionally, I do not consent to calls from an automatic dialing machine and/or prerecorded voice message, and revoke any prior consent to such calls.
Furthermore, do not contact any of my friends, family, co-workers or other disinterested third parties for any reason whatsoever.
In the interim, if you are reporting this debt to a consumer reporting agency, you should inform the agency that the debt is DISPUTED.
Finally, if you sell, transfer, assign, or forward this account to another collector, or if you return this account to the original creditor, you are instructed to forward or return this letter along with the account file.
Your attention to this matter is appreciated.
Sincerely,
Jane Consumer
Instructions for a strong FDCPA dispute
Enclose anything you have that shows the debt is not yours or otherwise inaccurate, such as:
- proof you were living somewhere else at the time some random thief rented an apartment in your name
- bank statements and images of canceled checks showing you paid off the account
- pictures of the sparkling clean apartment on the day you moved out
- EOB (explanation of benefits) from your health insurance showing that they paid for your medical services, or proof that you are a Medicaid patient (Apple Health)
- a copy of your police report and FTC identity theft affidavit detailing the fraud or theft that was perpetrated against you
If it actually is your debt, but you have a good reason why it should not be collectible (for example, it was for a scam product or service that was never delivered), explain that. You should also read my other post on Chargeback disputes for additional ideas.
Support your position with evidence like:
- Printouts and URLs of Reddit, Yelp, BBB, and other online review sites where other consumers discuss how they were scammed or ripped off, which corroborate your experiences
- Copies of Federal Trade Commission or other court filings against the original creditor (the company you bought the product or service from) or against the debt collector (A good place to look up whether a financial entity has been in trouble for similar things is https://www.nmlsconsumeraccess.org)
- A copy of your police report, FTC identity theft affidavit, and/or ic3 internet crimes report detailing the fraud or scam that was perpetrated against you
- A copy of your complaint to the state attorney general consumer protection division
You might have a long saga to tell, but if you can keep your dispute letter to one page, single-spaced, with short, easy-to-read paragraphs, it might be more powerful.
You need to physically print out your dispute, sign it, and make a photocopy or scan of it before you mail it off. Do the same with all the evidence you are enclosing with your dispute.
Send it via certified mail, return receipt requested, and save your mail receipts.
What if the debt collectors keep bothering you after you dispute?
Do not record the phone calls. You or they might live in a two-party consent state. If they leave voicemails, however, save those audio files.
Save your call logs. Save screenshots of your call logs. Save all the numbers they’re calling from.
Do not threaten to sue. Don’t pretend to be a lawyer. Don’t state you have a lawyer if you don’t have one. If you do have a lawyer, give them that lawyer’s name and contact info. (I’m not YOUR lawyer without a signed, written representation agreement.) If you have a lawyer, don’t discuss what you and your lawyer discussed, because you don’t want to waive any privilege.
Generally, it’s a waste of time to talk to a debt collector on the phone. Conduct your dealings with them in writing.
Get an FDCPA lawyer by going to consumeradvocates.org or reaching out to me to see if I’m available.