Debt Validation Letter in Colorado
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 Colorado law says
| State debt collection law | Yes. The Colorado Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (C.R.S. Title 5, Article 16) regulates collection agencies and their collectors. A creditor's own officers and employees collecting in the creditor's name are excluded from the definition of collection agency. Source: C.R.S. § 5-16-103(3) |
|---|---|
| Time limit to sue on a written contract | 6 years for actions to recover a liquidated debt or a determinable amount of money due, and for enforcing any instrument that secures or evidences a debt. Most consumer debts with a set balance fall in this category. Other contract claims generally have 3 years. Read in the official Colorado Revised Statutes 2024 Title 13 printout (Office of Legislative Legal Services). 2025-2026 amendments, if any, are not reflected. |
| Can a payment restart the clock? | An acknowledgment or promise to pay extends the limitations period only if it is in writing and signed by the debtor. The statute states that this rule does not change the effect of a payment of principal or interest. The statute does not itself say how long a payment extends the period. Source: C.R.S. § 13-80-113 |
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 · Colorado 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.