Debt collectors have a legal obligation to send a debt validation letter if requested. If they don’t, you can request that they stop contacting you altogether.

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Our rating: False A debt is not "invalidated" if a collector does not respond to a verification letter within 30 days. There is no time limit for collectors to respond to such a letter, experts say.

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I’m a 72-year-old widow, and a debt collector is harassing me for $42K in unpaid medical bills my husband racked up before he died. I live alone on a fixed income. What can I do?

Don't take what a debt collector says at face value. Do this to verify the validity of the account instead.

When debt collectors call, your next move could cost you or protect you. Consumer Investigator Rachel DePompa talks to Tayne Law Group about critical questions to ask before paying a penny.

When debt collectors call, your next move could cost you or protect you. Consumer Investigator Rachel DePompa talks to Tayne Law Group about critical questions to ask before paying a penny.

When debt collectors call, your next move could cost you or protect you. Consumer Investigator Rachel DePompa talks to Tayne Law Group about critical questions to ask before paying a penny.

Do a little independent research to make sure that it’s legitimate and not a scam.” If a collector claims you owe money, Tayne recommended asking them to send a validation letter. This document ...