How to Dispute a Debt

What is a Dispute?

If you are being contacted by a debt collection agency, and you believe the debt is yours, but there is some error with the information, you should file a dispute. These are some of the issues that may require a dispute:

• The amount of the debt is incorrect
• The debt has already been paid
• You don't recognize the debt, but you have not been a victim of fraud

If any of these scenarios is the case, you should submit a dispute to the debt collection company attempting to contact you. 

Validation of the Debt

Within 5 days of the collections agency’s first initial contact with you, they are required to provide you your rights to validation of the debt, typically in the form of a letter containing the following information:

• The owed amount
• The current creditor to whom the debt is owed
• A statement giving you notice about the 30-day timeline for disputing a debt
• A statement that if you choose to dispute the debt they will send you a verification letter
• A statement that they will provide the original creditor’s name and address if requested within 30 days of receipt

Disputes with Convergent Outsourcing

Convergent Outsourcing is an ACA International accredited collection agency that works with clients in the telecommunications, utilities, banking, cable and finance industries.

If I have a dispute, should I contact Convergent or the original creditor?

As a third-party outsourced solution for debt collection, Convergent does not own your debt and is merely acting on behalf of the original creditor. However, you can still reach out to Convergent about disputes and we will help get additional information about the debt from the original creditor. During that time, we will also cease collection efforts until that creditor has provided a response.

How do I submit a dispute with Convergent?

Choose an option below:

1. Call us from 7 a.m.-5 p.m. PST Monday through Friday at 1-800-444-8485.
2. Use our online contact form.
3. Mail us a letter of dispute. Your letter should be straightforward and concise. Make it clear that you are seeking to dispute a debt and provide your reasoning why. Any information that can help support your claim should also be included. If you are mailing a letter, sending you letter via certified mail will give you a paper record of the communication.

Attn: Dispute Dept.
P.O. Box 9004 Renton, WA 98057

Disputes with Another Debt Collection Agency

To dispute the debt in question, you must send a written letter of dispute to the collection agency that is contacting you. As soon as they receive your letter the collection agency is required to cease all collection efforts until they can provide you with a verification of the debt. If they cannot produce this information, they can no longer legally attempt to collect the debt from you. In addition to providing verification, if they are reporting the debt to a credit reporting agency they must also report that the debt is “in dispute” to the credit bureaus they work with.

Note: if your request is not sent within the initial 30 day period, the debt collector is no longer required to provide validation under the FDCPA.

If you do not believe the account is yours or agree with the amount presented for any reason, you may formally dispute the debt by sending a written letter to the collection agency.