Is it legal for a debt collector to threaten to charge you without you getting a written statement of what you owe?

Yes, it is legal, assuming the debt is a legitimate debt the collector believes that you owe.  You can write a letter within 30 days, requesting that the debt be verified, but the collection agency can collect on a debt without sending you anything first. This is not intended to be legal advice, and is general in its nature. No attorney-client relationship exists or is formed by this information. Furthermore, this does not represent the views or opinions of LexisNexis or its affiliated companies.