Certified mail
A USPS service that provides proof of mailing and, with return receipt, proof of delivery. It is commonly used for time-sensitive financial letters — debt validation requests, disputes, stop-payment instructions, and demand letters — so the sender can prove what was sent and when.
Related forms
Related guides
Debt validation letter: your rights under the FDCPA
Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA §1692g), a debt collector must send a written validation notice, and you have 30 days to dispute the debt in writing. If you dispute within that window, the collector must stop collecting until it mails you verification. Send your letter by certified mail to prove the date.
Bounced check? How to demand payment (returned check letter)
When a check you received bounces for non-sufficient funds (NSF), the standard first step is a written demand letter asking the writer to pay the face amount plus fees within a set period, often 30 days. Send it by certified mail for proof. Most states' bad-check laws then allow civil damages or small claims.