§ 1692g. Validation of debts

<http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/HowCurrent.php/?tn=15&fragid=T15F01...

(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.