Collections have to notify me before put on my credit report

Does a collector who buys an account have to notify you before they put it on your credit bureau?
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Normally a collections company will try, with a letter.
BUT
most cannot find the customer without some difficulty.
so they send a letter, then they put the debt on the consumers credit report and wait.
One letter, to one address, where ever that may be.
Always have second party collections debt validated. Then negotiate before you pay.