Consumer complaint received 2025-03-12 00:00:00
Product: Debt collection — I do not know
Issue: False statements or representation — Attempted to collect wrong amount
Company: ENCORE CAPITAL GROUP INC.
State: NC

Complaint narrative:
XXXX You said : Debt validation letter XXXX said : A Debt Validation Letter is a letter you send to a debt collector requesting proof that you owe the debt they claim you do. Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ), debt collectors must provide this validation if you request it within 30 days of their first contact with you. 

Sample Debt Validation Letter [ Your Name ] [ Your Address ] [ City, State, ZIP Code ] [ Your Email ] ( optional ) [ Your Phone Number ] ( optional ) [ Date ] [ Debt Collectors Name ] [ Debt Collectors Address ] [ City, State, ZIP Code ] Subject : Request for Debt Validation Dear [ Debt Collectors Name ], I am writing in response to your [ letter/phone call ] dated [ date of initial contact ] regarding the alleged debt with account number [ account number, if provided ]. Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( 15 U.S.C. 1692g ), I formally request that you provide validation of this debt, including the following information : The name of the original creditor and the full amount of the debt. 
A copy of the original agreement or contract that proves I am legally responsible for this debt. 
A full breakdown of the amount owed, including principal, interest, and fees. 
Proof that your agency has the legal right to collect this debt. 
Any judgments or legal actions associated with this debt. 
Until you provide this information, I request that you cease all collection activities, including reporting this debt to credit bureaus, as required under the FDCPA. 

Additionally, if this debt has been reported to credit agencies, I request that you notify them of my dispute. 

Please respond to my request in writing within 30 days. Failure to do so will be considered non-compliance with federal law. 

Sincerely, [ Your Name ] Important Tips : Send via Certified Mail with a return receipt to have proof of delivery. 
Do NOT admit to the debt in your letter. 
Keep a copy of everything for your records. 
Would you like help tailoring this letter for your specific situation? 

You said : Debt validation letter. U.s.c 1681 XXXX said : It looks like youre referring to 15 U.S.C. 1681, which is part of the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ). While 15 U.S.C. 1692g ( under the FDCPA ) governs debt validation requests from debt collectors, 15 U.S.C. 1681 relates to credit reporting. If youre disputing a debt with a credit bureau ( like XXXX, XXXX, or XXXX ), youd reference the FCRA rather than the FDCPA. 

Heres a Debt Validation Letter that references both laws, ensuring compliance with both the FDCPA ( 15 U.S.C. 1692g ) and the FCRA ( 15 U.S.C. 1681i ) for disputes with credit bureaus. 

Debt Validation & Credit Reporting Dispute Letter [ Your Name ] [ Your Address ] [ City, State, ZIP Code ] I am writing to formally dispute the alleged debt associated with account number [ account number, if applicable ], which you claim I owe. Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( 15 U.S.C. 1692g ), I request that you provide proper validation of this debt, including the following : The name and contact information of the original creditor. 
A copy of the original signed agreement proving I am legally responsible for this debt. 
A detailed breakdown of the amount owed, including principal, interest, and fees. 
Proof that your agency has the legal right to collect this debt. 
Copies of any judgments or legal actions related to this debt. 
Additionally, if this debt has been reported to credit bureaus, I am disputing its accuracy under the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( 15 U.S.C. 1681i ). If you can not validate this debt, you must immediately remove or correct any inaccurate reporting with all credit bureaus. 

Until this validation is completed, I request that you cease all collection activities and refrain from further reporting this debt to credit agencies, as required by federal law. 

If you fail to provide proper validation, or if this debt is inaccurate, I will exercise my right to file complaints with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ( CFPB ), the Federal Trade Commission ( FTC ), and my State Attorney Generals office. 

Please respond to this request within 30 days of receipt.

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief