After receiving a valid QWR, within how many business days must the servicer ACKNOWLEDGE receipt?

Correct answer: 5 business days

The servicer must ACKNOWLEDGE a QWR within 5 BUSINESS DAYS (not calendar days). This acknowledgment confirms receipt and should indicate when the borrower can expect a full response. Important distinction: acknowledgment is NOT the same as a response. The full substantive response is due within 30 business days. Students who confuse these two timelines often select 30 for acknowledgment — that's the response deadline, not acknowledgment.