Imagine getting an intimidating call from an unknown number, demanding payment for an old credit card or medical bill. If that call includes threats to sue or a form of harassment, then you have the right to question the process of collection. Debt validation is your legal right under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), 15 U.S.C. § 1692g. This procedure applies to third-party debt collectors in the United States. It requires collectors to prove that the debt is real, accurate, and legally collectible before they can continue collection efforts.

Debt Validation under the Law

Through debt validation, you can demand proof from the collector before they continue harassing you. In Arizona, your rights come from federal law (the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, or FDCPA, plus newer CFPB rules). Arizona-specific statutes on debt collection and time limits may also apply. This isn’t about erasing all debt. It’s about making sure that:

• The right person is being chased (you, not someone with a similar name).
• The amount is accurate, not padded with junk fees.
• The collector is properly licensed and follows the rules defined by the Arizona Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions.
• The debt isn’t so old that the statute of limitations has already expired under Arizona law. 

Verification Notice

When a debt collector (usually a third-party agency) first contacts you, they must give you specific information about the debt. They can do it in the first call/letter, or follow up with a written “validation notice” within five days.

The Arizona courts’ “Debt Collections” legal info sheet says that within five days of contacting you, the collector must send a written notice. It should include: 

• The amount of the debt (often with itemization under newer federal rules).
• The name of the current creditor (which may be different from the original hospital, bank, etc.).
• A statement that you have a right to dispute the debt within 30 days. 
• Information on how to request more details or the name and address of the original creditor.

If you never get this written notice, that’s already a red flag.

Proper Debt Validation

Collectors must provide real evidence, not just a letter saying “you owe it.” Proper validation should give you enough detail to decide whether this is really your debt and whether the amount makes sense. At a minimum, you should expect: 

• The name of the original creditor (for example, “XYZ Medical Center” or “ABC Bank”).
• The current balance, with clarification of interest and fees since a certain date.
• Some form of proof you owe it, such as account records, contract/card agreement, or a copy of a judgment if it was collected in a court case.

If they’re collecting on a court judgment (for example, you were already sued and lost), Arizona has a separate “Validation of Debt” instruction for courts. That explains how a court can provide documents related to the judgment. That’s different from your dispute with a private collector, but it shows that “validation of debt” is taken seriously in the Arizona court system. 

If the collector sends back only a one-line “You owe it because we say so,” that’s not really meaningful validation. At that point, you may want to talk to a consumer-rights lawyer or legal aid.

Arizona’s Statute of Limitations on Debts

Debt validation isn’t just about whether you owe money; it’s also about whether they can still sue you in an Arizona court.

Arizona has specific statutes of limitations for different types of consumer debts. The Arizona Courts’ “Statute of Limitations (SOL)” legal info sheet lists typical time limits, including: 

• Medical debt: usually 6 years.
• Written contracts, including most credit card debt: 6 years (backed by A.R.S. § 12-548 for written contracts and credit cards). 
• Auto loan debt after repossession (deficiency balance): 4 years from the time the vehicle was repossessed. 

Debt collectors can still call you or write to you about time-barred debts. But once the statute of limitations has expired, they generally can’t sue you to collect.

So when you ask for validation in Arizona, you’re not just asking, “Is this my debt?” You’re also evaluating, “Is this still enforceable in court under Arizona’s time limits?”

Debt Validation Letter

Your letter must be in written form, clear, and timely. It should include the following:

• That you are disputing the debt, in whole or in part.
• A request for:
  • The name and address of the original creditor.
  • The full amount claimed, with a breakdown of principal, interest, and fees.
  • Copies of any judgment, if they claim one exists.
  • Proof that the collector has the right to collect in Arizona (assignment documents, if it’s a debt buyer).
• A request for the date of the last payment or default so you can check the statute of limitations under Arizona law.

Most consumer agencies and the FTC recommend you send this letter by certified mail, return receipt requested. Keep copies of everything so you can later prove that you disputed the debt on time. 

When to dispute and request debt validation

Under federal law, once you get that validation notice, you generally have 30 days to dispute the debt in writing and ask for verification. Arizona’s Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions (DIFI) tells consumers that if you challenge the validity of a debt in writing within 30 days of the collector’s first notice, the collector should stop collection efforts until they verify it. 

• You don’t just call and argue. Phone calls can help you gather info, but your real protection comes from a letter or written dispute (mail, fax, or other written form, depending on context).
• You send it within 30 days from when you got the written validation notice (to be safe, count from the date on the letter and move quickly). 
• Once the collector gets your written dispute, they must stop collecting until they mail you verification of the debt. 

If you wait more than 30 days, you may still be able to dispute the debt. However, you lose some of the automatic “freeze” protections that force them to pause collection.

What happens after you dispute

Once the collector receives your timely written dispute, they must stop collection until they send you verification. That means no more calls, letters demanding payment, or lawsuits on that debt during the pause. 

There are a few important points to keep in mind:

• The law requires them to pause collection. But it doesn’t set a strict, exact deadline for how quickly they must respond with validation. They must act within a “reasonable” time frame, and if they never validate, they shouldn’t restart collection.
• If they keep calling or sending threats without validating, that can support a claim that they’ve violated the FDCPA and possibly Arizona’s own fair-debt collection standards.
• If they do validate and the debt is within the statute of limitations, they can restart collection efforts, including the possibility of a lawsuit.

At that point, you may decide to:

• Negotiate a settlement (ideally in writing, with clear terms).
• Set up a payment plan.
• Raise defenses if they sue (for example, disputing the amount or arguing that the statute of limitations has actually expired).

Arizona Collection Agencies

Collection agencies must be licensed and regulated in Arizona. The Department of Insurance and Financial Institutions has the power to license and oversee debt collectors.

If an agency is operating in Arizona without proper licensing or is ignoring Arizona’s rules, that can be a powerful issue to raise with:

• The state regulator (DIFI),
• The Arizona Attorney General’s Office, or
• A consumer-rights lawyer.

It doesn’t automatically erase the debt. However, it can affect how seriously a collector takes your dispute and whether you have potential claims against them for illegal practices.

Red flags to watch for

As you deal with collectors and validation, here are some warning signs that should make you extra cautious:

• The caller refuses to provide you with a mailing address or a full business name.
• They won’t send anything in writing, despite the law requiring a written notice.
• They pressure you to pay immediately over the phone, especially by gift card, wire transfer, or cryptocurrency.
• They threaten arrest, jail, or immediate seizure of property without any court decision and order. That is not how civil debt collection works.

When you see these, you may be dealing with a scammer or at least a collector who is not following Arizona or federal law.

How to Protect Yourself

When you put everything together, debt validation is really about slowing the process down and forcing the collector to respect your rights.

Here’s what you should do:

1. Get it in writing. Within five days of first contact, you should see a written validation notice with key details.
2. Use your 30 days. If something feels off (the amount, the creditor, the age of the debt),  send a written dispute and request for validation within that 30-day window.
3. Try to stop the collection. Once you dispute in writing and on time, the collector must stop collection until they verify the debt. 
4. Check Arizona’s deadlines. Use the Arizona courts’ statute-of-limitations info and A.R.S. § 12-548. 
5. Decide on your next move. After you see what they send (or don’t send), you can decide whether to negotiate, fight, or seek help from a lawyer or legal aid.

Debt collection can get complicated quickly with old debts, multiple debt buyers, or previous lawsuits. So if you’re facing serious collection pressure, a garnishment, or a lawsuit, talk to an Arizona-licensed attorney or a local legal aid office focusing on consumer law.