# This is not how billing law works, and the interpretation being shared here is **incorrect and dangerous**. A bill does **not** have to be a “negative number” to be valid. There is **no requirement in federal law** that a lawful debt statement display a negative symbol or legend in order to be enforceable. That claim does not appear in **12 CFR §1026.13** or **15 U.S.C. §1666(b)**, and courts have never recognized such a rule. What **12 CFR §1026.13** actually does is define *what qualifies as