Validation Period Meaning & Definition
Validation period summary:
When a debt collector contacts you to recoup a debt, you have the right to request written verification of that debt.
You must put a debt validation request in writing within 30 days of being contacted.
A debt collector can't continue trying to collect a debt until it proves you owe the money.
What Is a Validation Period?
When you owe money, a debt collector might contact you in an effort to recoup it. You have the right to request debt validation, which forces your debt collector to provide proof that you owe the money. You have 30 days from when you're first contacted by a debt collector to request debt validation; this is the validation period. Collection efforts have to stop until the debt has been validated.
Validation Period: A Comprehensive Breakdown
When you don't pay a debt on time, your original creditor might turn your debt over to a debt collector or collection agency. A debt collector's goal is to get you to repay the money you owe.
When a debt is turned over to a debt collector, mistakes can happen. The wrong debt might get associated with your account, or your debt collector might have an incorrect debt amount on record for you.
As a consumer, you have the right to have your debt validated under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Once you're contacted by a debt collector, you have 30 days to dispute the validity of that debt by requesting validation. If you don't dispute a debt's validity, your debt collector will generally assume that it's legitimate.
Once you make a written request for debt validation, a debt collector is not allowed to contact you in an attempt to collect the debt during the debt validation period.
The name of the original creditor
The account number associated with your debt
An itemized summary of the debt you owe, which may include principal, interest, and fees
If a debt collector is unable to verify the debt, you may be able to get the debt reduced or even dismissed.
Real-Life Example of Validation Period
Imagine you're contacted by a debt collector stating you owe $2,000 on an old medical bill. You may not remember racking up that bill, either because the debt collector is incorrect or because the debt is old.
You have 30 days to request validation of that debt. Once you put that request in writing, your debt collector can't call or text you asking you to repay that debt until they're able to provide proof that you owe the money.
Validation Period FAQs
When you notify a debt collector that you don’t owe a debt, or that the debt is incorrect.
The FDCPA lets you question whether a debt is really yours. To dispute a debt, you must request validation from the debt collector in writing. When you dispute a debt, the debt collector must halt collection actions until they provide you with written verification that the debt belongs to you.
Under the terms of the FDCPA, debt collectors have five days from their initial communication with you to provide basic debt validation information. They may take longer than that to reply to more detailed debt verification requests. While there is no time limit for when they must respond to those requests, they are not allowed to continue collection activities until they respond.
If you think your rights have been violated under the FDCPA, you can contact the debt collection company and ask it to stop, or you can sue. You can also submit a complaint online with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, or contact your state's attorney general.
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