You can serve it via mail, email, an attorney and, in some cases, in person. However you choose to serve the letter, keep a record of delivery and receipt by the offending party. If you are sending the cease-and-desist letter yourself, send it via certified mail so that you have a record of delivery.
Dear Sir/Madam: I am writing in regards to the above-referenced debt to inform you that I am disputing this debt. Please verify the debt as required by the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. I am disputing this debt because I do not owe it.
DEBT COLLECTORS CANNOT: contact you at unreasonable places or times (such as before AM or after PM local time); use or threaten to use violence or criminal means to harm you, your reputation or your property; use obscene or profane language;
Have an attorney write a letter for you, demanding removal of the account. This often works even for unpaid collections. File a CFPB complaint against the collector, and demand more information about the account, through that complaint. This can be a very effective tactic.
Use this 11-word phrase to stop debt collectors: “Please cease and desist all calls and contact with me immediately.” You can use this phrase over the phone, in an email or letter, or both.
``TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: This letter serves to inform you that I dispute the validity of this debt. I expect, as a result of my informing you of this dispute, that I will be mailed a copy of verification of this debt. I also request that you provide the name and address of the original creditor.
Your letter should identify each item you dispute, state the facts, explain why you dispute the information, and ask that the business that supplied the information take action to have it removed or corrected. You may want to enclose a copy of your report with the item(s) in question circled.
If you write a letter, instead of using the tear-off form, the debt dispute letter should include your personal identifying information; verification of the amount of debt owed; the name of the creditor for the debt; and a request the debt not be reported to credit reporting agencies until the matter is resolved or ...