Verification and validation sound alike, but they come from two different laws and go to two different places. A method of verification request goes to a credit bureau after a dispute and asks how it confirmed the information on your report, under the Fair Credit Reporting Act. A debt validation request goes to a debt collector and asks it to prove the debt, under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.
This guide explains what each one is, what the law requires, and when to use each.
Key Takeaways
- Method of verification: you ask a credit bureau how it verified disputed information. The bureau must answer within 15 days.
- Debt validation: you ask a debt collector to verify a debt. If you ask in writing within its 30-day period, it must stop collecting until it sends verification.
- Verification is about your credit report. Validation is about the debt itself.
- Neither one, on its own, removes an item from your credit report.
Verification vs. Validation at a Glance
| Method of verification | Debt validation | |
|---|---|---|
| Law | Fair Credit Reporting Act (15 U.S.C. 1681i) | Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (15 U.S.C. 1692g) |
| Sent to | Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion | A third-party debt collector |
| When | After a bureau finishes investigating your dispute | Within the 30-day period in the collector’s validation notice |
| What you get | A description of the procedure used, plus the name, address, and phone number (if reasonably available) of any company contacted | Verification of the debt or a copy of a judgment, or the original creditor’s name and address if you asked for it |
| Deadline for them | 15 days after your request | No set deadline, but collection must stop until verification is mailed |
What Is a Method of Verification Request?
When a bureau finishes investigating your dispute, its results notice must tell you that you can request a description of the procedure used to determine whether the information was accurate and complete, including the business name and address of any company it contacted and that company’s phone number, if reasonably available (15 U.S.C. 1681i(a)(6)(B)(iii)). If you ask, the bureau must send that description within 15 days of receiving your request (1681i(a)(7)).
People call this a “method of verification” request or a “procedural request.” It’s most useful when a dispute comes back verified and you want to know what the bureau actually did, such as whether it simply relayed a code to the reporting company and accepted its answer.
What to expect
The response is often brief. It may say the bureau contacted the company that reported the account, that the company confirmed the information, and give that company’s contact details. That still has value: it tells you who verified the account and gives you a record for your next round, a CFPB complaint, or a conversation with an attorney. Our guide to e-OSCAR explains how most bureau investigations work behind the scenes, and our guide to how credit bureaus investigate disputes walks through each step.
How to request it
- Wait for the bureau’s results notice, then send your request to the same bureau.
- Identify the dispute: the account, the date of your dispute, and the date of the results.
- Ask for the description of the procedure used to verify the information under 15 U.S.C. 1681i(a)(7), including the name, address, and phone number of any company contacted.
- Include your ID and proof of address, and keep a copy.
A method of verification request is not a new dispute. If you believe the information is still wrong, send a new dispute with new information too.
What Is Debt Validation?
Within five days of first contacting you about a debt, a debt collector must send you a validation notice that includes the amount of the debt, the creditor’s name, and your right to dispute it within 30 days (15 U.S.C. 1692g(a)). If you notify the collector in writing within that 30-day period that you dispute the debt, or ask for the original creditor’s name and address, it must stop collecting the debt until it mails you verification or a copy of a judgment, or the creditor’s name and address (15 U.S.C. 1692g(b)).
Debt validation applies to third-party debt collectors, not original creditors. It doesn’t require the collector to delete anything from your credit report. But a collector that reports a debt it knows is disputed has to report it as disputed (15 U.S.C. 1692e(8)).
Our guide to disputing a collection account covers how validation fits with credit report disputes, and our guide to FDCPA violations covers what collectors can’t do.
Which One Should You Use?
- A collector just contacted you about a debt: send a debt validation request within the 30-day period. Certified mail isn’t required, but it’s optional and useful here because the timing matters. Here’s when certified mail is worth it.
- A bureau verified an item you disputed: ask the bureau for its method of verification, and send a second-round dispute with any new information.
- A collection account is on your report and the information is wrong: dispute it with each bureau showing it and with the collector, on the same day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is a method of verification letter the same as a 611 letter?
They’re related. Section 611 of the FCRA (15 U.S.C. 1681i) is the section that covers disputes and the right to request the description of the procedure. A “611 letter” usually means a dispute letter; a method of verification request asks how a completed dispute was verified.
Does a bureau have to delete an item if it doesn’t send its method of verification?
The FCRA requires the description within 15 days of your request, but it doesn’t say the item must be deleted if the bureau misses that deadline. A missed deadline is worth documenting for a complaint or an attorney.
Can I send a debt validation letter to a credit bureau?
Debt validation rights apply to debt collectors, not bureaus. To challenge information with a bureau, send a dispute.
What if I missed the 30-day validation period?
You can still dispute the debt with the collector and dispute inaccurate information on your credit report. The collector just isn’t required to pause collection under 1692g(b).
What’s the Next Step?
If a dispute came back verified, request the bureau’s method of verification and plan a second round with new information. If a collector just contacted you, send a written validation request within 30 days.
SmartDispute compares your three reports side by side and drafts suggested disputes for each bureau and each reporting company, for you to review, change, and mail yourself. See how SmartDispute works.
