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When is your deadline to dispute a debt?
Dispute in writing before this date, and the collector must stop collecting until it sends proof of the debt. Enter the date from your letter and we'll show your deadline and how many days you have left.
How the deadline is worked out
The validation period ends 30 days after you receive the validation notice. The collector may assume you received it on any date at least five days after sending it, not counting Saturdays, Sundays and federal legal public holidays. The notice must print the end date.
So if your letter does not show a date, we take the date it was sent, count five business days forward, skipping weekends and federal holidays, and add 30 days. That is the earliest your deadline can be, so it is the safe date to aim for.
Why the deadline matters
If you dispute in writing within the validation period, the collector must stop collecting the debt, or the disputed part, until it sends you verification of the debt or a copy of a judgment.
Once the collector has sent verification, it may resume collection unless you take other steps, such as asking it in writing to stop contacting you. If you miss the deadline you can still dispute and ask for proof, but the collector is not required to pause while it answers.
Make sure your dispute arrives in time
Send your dispute by certified mail with a return receipt, so you have proof of when it arrived, and mail it well before the deadline rather than on the last day. Keep a copy of everything you send.
If the letter came from a company we cover, its guide lists the address to use for disputes. Our free check will tell you whether a dispute letter is likely to help.
Common questions
How long do I have to dispute a debt with a collector?
About 30 days from when you receive the collector's validation notice. The collector may assume you received it five business days after sending it, and the notice must print the end date.
What if my letter does not show a dispute date?
The validation notice is required to print the date. If yours does not, keep the letter, and use the date it was sent: count five business days forward, then add 30 days.
What happens if I miss the deadline?
You can still dispute and request verification, but the collector does not have to stop collecting while it responds.
Do weekends and holidays count?
Weekends and federal holidays are skipped when counting the five days for delivery. The 30 days after that are calendar days.