What is a debt validation? This is a consumers’ right to request that a third-party collection agency validate your debt before you continue discussing the debt in question.
Under the FDCPA, you have 30 days to send a debt collector a written request to validate your debt. You can send a validation request at any point, but only within the first month will your rights be protected under the FDCPA.
How a Debt Validation Request Could be Violated
Under the FDCPA, once you receive a debt validation, you will have five days to dispute the debt if you wish to do so. If you do not refute the debt within the first five days, you are essentially agreeing with the debt amount. The good news is that third-party debt collector is barred from talking to you after you request a debt validation until the debt is verified.
This means that if the harassment continues, you could be entitled to a $1,000 settlement under the FDCPA, plus potential punitive damages.
Getting Legal Assistance with Debt Validation
If you’ve asked your debt to be validated and you were still harassed by FDCPA attorneys, you may be entitled to a creditor harassment lawsuit. The FDCPA protects consumers against abusive tactics, and a creditor harassment attorney may be able to help you win a claim against an abusive third-party collection agency.
To be connected with an FDCPA attorney in your area, please fill our our Free Evaluation to have your claim reviewed by a legal professional.