In Minnesota and the Dakotas, plaintiffs often use something called "pocket service" to "start" a lawsuit instead of filing. That means it isn't a lawsuit, but just a POTENTIAL suit, and the FDCPA only protects communications related to lawsuits from the verification/dispute process. I conclude that anyone receiving pocket service without having received the notice of right to dispute, should consider a counterclaim - if the suit is brought by a debt collector.
This video is targeted towards actions in Minnesota and the Dakotas, but it is also meant as an example of how to look at things and how to fight debt collectors.