First, understand what you're looking at
A demand letter is a written request from another person or business explaining a dispute and asking you to do something — usually to pay an amount, return property, or take some specific action by a deadline. It is not a lawsuit, a judgment, or a criminal charge, and receiving one does not mean a court has ruled against you. Read it carefully and note who sent it, what they're claiming happened, what they want, and the deadline given.
Verify where it came from
If the letter claims to have been sent through a platform like DemandLetterTech, it should include a reference number and a verification code. You can check both on our verification page, which confirms only whether the letter is genuine — it won't share any other details about the sender or the claim. If a letter can't be verified, refuses to identify the sender clearly, or pressures you to act immediately (especially with threats of arrest or requests for gift cards or cryptocurrency), treat it with caution and consider reporting it.
Decide how to respond
You have several options, and none of them require immediate panic. You can contact the sender directly to discuss the claim, ask for more documentation if something is unclear, propose a partial resolution or payment plan, dispute the claim if you believe it's incorrect, or simply take time to think it over within the stated deadline. Keeping a copy of the letter and noting the date you received it is good practice no matter which path you choose.
If the claim involves a significant amount of money, or you're unsure of your rights or obligations, it's reasonable to consult a licensed attorney in your state before responding.
What a response does — and doesn't — commit you to
Responding to a demand letter doesn't automatically mean agreeing with it. You can respond to dispute the claim entirely, to ask questions, or to negotiate. Ignoring a demand letter is also an option, though it may mean the other party pursues other avenues, such as small claims court, if they choose to escalate.
What this platform does
If you received a letter sent through DemandLetterTech, we're a neutral technology platform — we don't take sides, we don't publish claims publicly, and we don't mediate the dispute for either party. Our verification tool only confirms that a letter is genuine; it says nothing about whether the underlying claim is accurate. If something about a message looks wrong, you can report it to us for review.