Educational Guides

Learn about federal consumer protection laws and how documentation and record-keeping fit into the debt collection process.

Documentation vs. Escalation
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Understanding the difference between documentation-focused and escalation-based approaches to debt collection correspondence.

What you'll learn:

  • Two different approaches to debt letters
  • Why ProofOfDebt starts neutral
  • When escalation may be appropriate
  • Preserving options without confrontation

This guide explains why ProofOfDebt uses documentation-focused letters by default.

Understanding the FDCPA
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An overview of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and the general protections it provides to consumers.

What you'll learn:

  • What the FDCPA covers
  • Common consumer rights related to debt collection
  • What "debt validation" means under the law
  • Examples of prohibited collection practices

This guide is designed to help you understand the legal framework behind debt validation and communication requests.

Understanding the FCRA
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An overview of the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and how it relates to credit reporting and disputes.

What you'll learn:

  • Credit report accuracy requirements
  • The dispute process with credit bureaus
  • Consumer rights under the FCRA
  • The role of credit bureaus and furnishers

This guide provides context for credit bureau dispute letters and documentation.

Debt Validation Explained
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A plain-language explanation of what debt validation is and how the process generally works under federal law.

What you'll learn:

  • What "validation" means in a documentation context
  • Understanding common collector responses
  • Real-world scenarios: first contact, resold debt, returned payments
  • Why keeping records and timelines matters

This guide focuses on understanding the process, not predicting outcomes.

About These Guides

These guides provide general educational information about federal consumer protection laws. They are intended to help you understand the legal concepts that underlie the standardized letter templates provided by ProofOfDebt.

They explain how the laws work in general, not how they apply to your specific situation.

This information is not legal advice and should not be relied upon as such. Laws may change, and the application of law depends on individual facts and circumstances. If you have questions about your specific situation, consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction.

Note: Some services use aggressive language as part of attorney-led strategy. ProofOfDebt starts with neutral documentation to keep a clean record. This tool does not provide legal advice.