I recieved a call from a collections agency trying to collect an old debt, a couple days ago. They stated that several letters had been sent to my old address - but I had moved and never recieved them. I want to send a validation letter - but is my 30 days already up since the collection agency tried to contact me several months earlier?.. (I never recieved or responded to any of their letters)... Or are they required to send certified mail to prove they had contacted me?
No, you haven't lost your right to send a validation letter. I have had that type of thing happen a couple of times over the years and I simply tell the caller that I have moved and ask if they have my new address. Of course they are eager to get that new information and then tell them you have never received any mail from them and have them send you a new demand letter since you never got any from them before. When you get their demand letter then send your validation demand and you will be good to go. That has always worked for me.
The clock starts from the day you receive notification. If they've sent 100 letters to some place where you don't live and you've never received notification, the clock hasn't started. Also, don't forget that the CA must provide you a written disclosure within 5 days of your first notification. Usually this comes in their demand letter, but if you call them (or they call you), then you'd better get your notification in writing within 5 days or that's an FDCPA violation.
