Debt Validation Letter in California
Ask a debt collector to prove a debt. Under the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (15 U.S.C. § 1692g), if you dispute in writing within the validation period, the collector must stop collecting until it sends verification. Send it by certified mail and keep a copy.
What California law says
| State debt collection law | Yes. The Rosenthal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (Civil Code § 1788 et seq.) applies to any person who regularly collects debts in the ordinary course of business, on its own behalf or for others. That means it covers original creditors, not just collection agencies. Source: Cal. Civ. Code § 1788.2(b)-(c) |
|---|---|
| Time limit to sue on a written contract | 4 years for an action on a contract, obligation or liability founded on a written instrument. Once the period has run, a creditor or collector may not sue or start arbitration to collect the debt, and the period can be extended only under the written-acknowledgment rule (CCP § 360). |
| Can a payment restart the clock? | An acknowledgment or promise to pay extends the period only if it is in writing and signed by the debtor. A payment on a promissory note restarts the period for that note, but a payment by itself does not revive a debt that is already time-barred. Source: Cal. Code Civ. Proc. § 360 |
Fill it in
Nothing you type leaves your browser. Replace anything still highlighted, and keep a signed copy.
[today's date]
To: [collection agency name], [collector address]
Re: Account number [account or reference number]
I am writing in response to your [letter or call] dated [date of contact]. I dispute this debt and request validation under 15 U.S.C. § 1692g.
Please send me the name of the original creditor, the amount you claim and how it was calculated, and documents showing that you own or are authorized to collect this debt.
Until you provide this verification, please stop collection activity on this account, and contact me only in writing at the address below.
[your name], [your mailing address]
Debt Validation Letter for other states · California tenant rights
General legal information, not legal advice. Laws change and local rules can differ; check the linked official source or talk to a lawyer about your situation.