If you request in writing verification of a debt within 30 days of the date that you receive the validation notice, the debt collector has two options. The collector can either provide verification of the debt and continue collection activity or the collector can stop collection activity until the collector provides you with verification of the debt.

Sometimes, collection activity is halted and the account is returned to the original creditor or cancelled. In that case, if the debt collector never resumes collection activity on that debt, the collector is not required to provide verification of the debt to you.

It is important to note that the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) has other requirements for debt collectors who report a debt to a consumer reporting agency (CRA). Under the FCRA, debt collectors have to investigate a debt that is disputed within 30 days from receiving the request to investigate the debt if the request is sent by the consumer directly to the debt collector. The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) does not limit the time in which a debt collector must verify a debt. The FDCPA does require, however, that a debt collector, when receiving a dispute during the 30-day validation period, stop collecting a debt or any part of the debt that is disputed. The collector must stop collection until verification is mailed to the consumer.