Demand debt validation under the FDCPA within 30 days. Force collectors to prove they have the right to collect. This guide is customized for Allentown residents with Pennsylvania-specific consumer protection information.
Allentown Local Tip: Allentown residents can file with PA AG's Bureau of Consumer Protection at attorneygeneral.gov.
Pennsylvania law: Unfair Trade Practices and Consumer Protection Law (73 Pa. Stat. § 201-1) — treble damages available — private right of action
You must send a validation request within 30 days of the collector's first contact. After 30 days, you can still dispute but the collector doesn't have to stop collecting.
Request: the exact amount owed, the name of the original creditor, proof the collector is authorized to collect, a copy of the original agreement you signed.
Mail to the collector's address via USPS Certified Mail with Return Receipt. Keep the green card and a copy of your letter.
Once they receive your letter, the collector must stop ALL collection activity until they validate the debt. If they contact you during this period, they're violating the FDCPA.
If they can't validate (common with bought debt), the debt is unenforceable. If they validate, check for errors — wrong amount, wrong person, time-barred debt.