TITLE 15 > CHAPTER 41 > SUBCHAPTER V > § 1692gPrev | Next § 1692g. Validation of debts
(a) Notice of debt; contents
Within five days after the initial communication with a consumer in connection with the collection of any debt, a debt
collector shall, unless the following information is contained in the initial communication or the consumer has paid the
debt, send the consumer a written notice containing—
(1) the amount of the debt;
(2) the name of the creditor to whom the debt is owed;
(3) a statement that unless the consumer, within thirty days after receipt of the notice, disputes the validity of the debt,
or any portion thereof, the debt will be assumed to be valid by the debt collector;
(4) a statement that if the consumer notifies the debt collector in writing within the thirty-day period that the debt, or any
portion thereof, is disputed, the debt collector will obtain verification of the debt or a copy of a judgment against the
consumer and a copy of such verification or judgment will be mailed to the consumer by the debt collector; and
(5) a statement that, upon the consumer’s written request within the thirty-day period, the debt collector will provide the
consumer with the name and address of the original creditor, if different from the current creditor.
(b) Disputed debts
If the consumer notifies the debt collector in writing within the thirty-day period described in subsection (a) of this
section that the debt, or any portion thereof, is disputed, or that the consumer requests the name and address of the
original creditor, the debt collector shall cease collection of the debt, or any disputed portion thereof, until the debt
collector obtains verification of the debt or a copy of a judgment, or the name and address of the original creditor, and
a copy of such verification or judgment, or name and address of the original creditor, is mailed to the consumer by the
debt collector. Collection activities and communications that do not otherwise violate this subchapter may continue
during the 30-day period referred to in subsection (a) unless the consumer has notified the debt collector in writing that
the debt, or any portion of the debt, is disputed or that the consumer requests the name and address of the original
creditor. Any collection activities and communication during the 30-day period may not overshadow or be inconsistent
with the disclosure of the consumer’s right to dispute the debt or request the name and address of the original creditor.
(c) Admission of liability
The failure of a consumer to dispute the validity of a debt under this section may not be construed by any court as an
admission of liability by the consumer.
(d) Legal pleadings
A communication in the form of a formal pleading in a civil action shall not be treated as an initial communication for
purposes of subsection (a).
(e) Notice provisions
The sending or delivery of any form or notice which does not relate to the collection of a debt and is expressly required
by title 26, title V of Gramm-Leach-Bliley Act [15 U.S.C. 6801 et seq.], or any provision of Federal or State law relating
to notice of data security breach or privacy, or any regulation prescribed under any such provision of law, shall not be
treated as an initial communication in connection with debt collection for purposes of this section. Search this title:
Notes
No Pending Update(s)
Parallel authorities (CFR)
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