This is a followup to my article on Debt Validation. At least one writer thinks there is a difference between Debt Validation and Debt Verification. See https://www.nerdwallet.com/article/finance/debt-validation-letter . The Debt Validation letter is what the creditor sends you, and if they didn't send you one, you can request it. I call the request for validation an "809 letter".
Now what if they collection agency responds, but doesn't provide very much information. Like if they say: "we researched this and it is a valid debt", and that's it. Then you send a debt verification letter, based on a sample here: https://www.consumerfinance.gov/ask-cfpb/what-should-i-do-when-a-debt-collector-contacts-me-en-1695/ Don't use these sample letters word for word; instead rewrite them. And ask for the original contract with your signature on it.
I still don't really see the difference, so I will call this a "809 letter" and an "enhanced 809 letter". If the collection agency doesn't respond to the 809 letter after 30 days, then send the "enhanced 809" letter via certified mail, return receipt requested. This costs about $7, so I would wait to send this to see if they respond to the first letter.
Can you dispute to the credit bureau again, based on the "enhanced 809 letter"? I don't know, maybe.
Anyways these two letters are different from the Notice of Dispute letter previously mentioned, so there are three levels of escalation when dealing with the collection agency: 1) Debt Validation/809 letter; 2) Debt Verification/Enhanced 809 letter; and 3) Notice of Dispute/623 letter.
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