§ 1692g. — Validation of debts.
[Laws in effect as of January 24, 2002]
[Document not affected by Public Laws enacted between
January 24, 2002 and December 19, 2002]
[CITE: 15USC1692g]
TITLE 15--COMMERCE AND TRADE
CHAPTER 41--CONSUMER CREDIT PROTECTION
SUBCHAPTER V--DEBT COLLECTION PRACTICES
Sec. 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.
(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.
(Pub. L. 90-321, title VIII, Sec. 809, as added Pub. L. 95-109, Sept.
20, 1977, 91 Stat. 879.)
Effective Date
Section applicable only with respect to debts for which the initial
attempt to collect occurs after the effective date of this subchapter,
which takes effect upon the expiration of six months after Sept. 20,
1977, see section 818 of Pub. L. 90-321, set out as a note under section
1692 of this title.
Section Referred to in Other Sections
This section is referred to in title 42 section 292f.
