In the letter, reference the date of the initial contact and the method if it was recent, for example, “a phone call received from your agency on August 18, 2015.” If the debt is old, you could say, I just checked my credit and learned of this account/collection. You also need to provide a statement that you’re requesting validation of the debt.
Do not admit to owing the debt or making any reference to payment. If the debt has passed the statute of limitations and is no longer legally enforceable, making promises to pay or acknowledging the debt is yours could restart the clock. Statue of Limitations run from between two and six years in most states.
Send your letter via certified mail(yes, I know that costs money), so you have proof of when the letter was mailed and received.
Date
Your Name
Address
City, State Zip
Debt Collector’s Name
Address
City, State Zip
Re: Account Number
This letter is sent in response to [a letter/phone call] received by you on [date you received the letter/call]. I am requesting that you provide validation of this debt.
If you do not comply with this request, I will immediately file a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission and the [your state here] Attorney General’s office. Civil and criminal claims will be pursued.
Sincerely,
Your Name
What if I have already damaged my credit. How do I fix my credit?
Remember, if you get into trouble with your credit, you can Negotiate with your Creditors. It just takes some time and patience and you can be on your way to having great credit again.
Sample Credit Dispute Letters
Sample Credit Dispute Letter sent to Credit Bureaus
Sample Credit Dispute Letter to send to Collectors and Individual Companies
Sample Paid Account Dispute Letter
Make Sure Your Disputes Are Legitimate
Be sure you don’t do anything to make the credit bureaus think your credit report disputes are frivolous. Don’t dispute everything on your credit report and absolutely do not send all your disputes at once. If you dispute the same item more than once, you should give a different reason for each dispute, so the credit bureau doesn’t think you’re sending duplicates. The credit bureau has the right to deem your disputes frivolous and if that happens, the bureau also has the right to reject your dispute.