What to do if…
you receive a debt collection letter for a debt you do not recognise

What to do now

1. Save the letter and envelope.
   Photograph or scan every page, including the envelope. Start a simple note with the date received, the collector name, the amount claimed, the creditor name, account numbers shown, and any contact attempts.

2. Check the notice without using its links first.
   Look for the collector’s name and mailing address, the amount, the current creditor, any original creditor, when you received it, and how the notice says to dispute. If anything feels suspicious, search for the collector independently and compare the letter with an official website, state licensing record, or CFPB and FTC information.

3. Send a short written dispute and verification request.
   Write to the debt collector at the mailing address given for disputes. Keep it plain:

   • “I dispute this debt because I do not recognize it.”
   • “Please provide verification of the debt.”
   • “Please provide the name and address of the original creditor, if different from the current creditor.”

4. Keep proof that you sent it.
   Make a copy before sending. Use certified mail with return receipt, another trackable mail service, or the collector’s stated electronic dispute route if the notice clearly provides one. Save delivery proof.

5. Check your credit reports through the official site.
   Use AnnualCreditReport.com. Look for unfamiliar accounts, collection entries, addresses, names, employers, phone numbers, and hard inquiries. Save copies or screenshots of anything you do not recognize.

6. If identity theft is possible, block new damage.
   Place a free credit freeze with Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion. You can also place an initial fraud alert by contacting one of the three bureaus; that bureau must tell the other two. If you believe your identity was used, make a recovery report at IdentityTheft.gov.

7. Dispute any matching credit-report entry.
   If the debt appears on a credit report, dispute it with the credit reporting company and also with the company that reported it, such as the collector or lender. Send copies of your documents, not originals.

8. Limit contact only after you have protected your dispute.
   If calls or messages are overwhelming, you can write asking the collector to stop contacting you. They may still contact you in limited ways, such as to confirm they will stop or to tell you about a specific action they may take. Keep checking your mail for court papers or official notices.

9. Escalate if it looks fake, abusive, or unresolved.
   File a CFPB complaint for debt collection or credit-report problems. Report scam or impersonation concerns to the FTC. Include your timeline, copies of letters, delivery proof, and credit-report screenshots.

10. Treat any lawsuit papers as urgent.
    Court deadlines vary by state and can be short. Get legal aid, a consumer attorney, or court self-help information quickly, and respond by the court deadline even if the debt is not yours.