Fair Debt Collection Practices Act
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#809.
Validation of debts [15 USC 1692g]
(a) 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 --
- the amount of the debt;
- the name of the creditor to whom the debt is owed;
- 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;
- 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
- 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) If the consumer
notifies the debt collector in writing within the thirty-day period
described in subsection (a) 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 any 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.
(c) 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.
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