What happens after the collection agency receives the Validation of Debt Letter?

Have you sent a collector a Validation of Debt Letter?  Did you receive notice that they have received your letter?  Are you wondering what happens now?  Let’s go over that now. 

As you may know by now, requesting that a third party collection firm validate the debt they are collecting on is your right under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA).  Under the FDCPA, once a collector receives a request for Validation, collection activity must cease until proper validation is provided in writing to the debtor.  In simple language, a collector is not able to call you to collect on the debt until they validate the debt.   Once the creditor has received the Validation of Debt Letter you should focus on whether or not you are receiving collection calls and letters.

There are really only 2 situations that will occur after a Collection Firm has received a Validation of Debt Letter:

Firm Does Not Respond to Validation of Deb Letter: If you do not receive anything back from the collector, there isn't much more to do.  Since the collection agency has not provided written Validation, you should not be receiving phone calls or letters.  If you are receiving collection calls after the agency has received your Validation of Debt Request, you can read more information here: How to handle collection calls after you've sent a VOD and the creditor has not validated the debt in writing

Firm Does Response to Validation of Debt Letter: If the collection agency does validate the debt, you will likely receive one of the following: recent statements, your original credit application and/or other information/documents to prove that the debt is yours.  Once the debt is validated, the collector may commence collection activity again. 

Note: It is impossible to predict or guarantee what will happen when you request Validation of Debt from a creditor. If the collection agency does not reply to your request for Validation, the collection calls should stop.  If the calls do not stop and you have proof that agency has received your request, this may be a violation under the FDCPA and you should speak with an Attorney about your options and rights.