What rights do I have to dispute a debt?

Your Rights Under the FDCPA

Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you have powerful rights to challenge a debt.

You may demand written validation from a debt collector within 30 days of their initial contact (15 U.S.C. § 1692g).

Collection activities must stop until the debt is validated (§ 1692g(b)).

Case law (Clark v. Capital Credit & Collection Services, 460 F.3d 1162) confirms that debt collectors are held to a strict liability standard.

Conclusion: Disputing a debt in writing forces the collector to provide proof, not just make claims. This simple action creates significant leverage.