topic Re: Same Collection With 2 Collection Agencies in Rebuilding Your Credit

Same Collection With 2 Collection Agencies

Dawnnjoness — Mon, 22 Jan 2024 21:34:16 GMT

I have a debt that is with two seperate collection agencies. Vance & Huffman LLC and AA Recovery Solutions.

Does anyone have advice on what next steps should be? Isn't this violation of FDCPA?

Re: Same Collection With 2 Collection Agencies

JoeRockhead — Mon, 22 Jan 2024 22:09:15 GMT

Having more than one CA isn't that uncommon. It likely means that the debt was sold from one agency to another. Did both these companies properly validate the debt with you?... If one, or both of them didn't, or are unable to, that's a violation of the FDCPA.

Re: Same Collection With 2 Collection Agencies

coldworld — Mon, 22 Jan 2024 22:31:00 GMT

Potentially useful DP

Vance & Huffman LLC does do pay-for-deletion.

Re: Same Collection With 2 Collection Agencies

pizzadude — Mon, 22 Jan 2024 22:49:28 GMT

@Dawnnjoness wrote:
I have a debt that is with two seperate collection agencies. Vance & Huffman LLC and AA Recovery Solutions.

Does anyone have advice on what next steps should be? Isn't this violation of FDCPA?

Are both companies currently reporting collections on your credit reports for the same amount / creditor ?

Re: Same Collection With 2 Collection Agencies

Dawnnjoness — Tue, 23 Jan 2024 14:46:50 GMT

Only Vance and Huffman is reporting on my transunion report. The other has just been sending letters requesting payment.

Re: Same Collection With 2 Collection Agencies

Dawnnjoness — Tue, 23 Jan 2024 14:48:04 GMT

I have requested validation from Vance and Huffman, but not the other since i just started receiving letters

Re: Same Collection With 2 Collection Agencies

bass_playr — Mon, 29 Jan 2024 16:40:29 GMT

I don't believe it is proper for more than one 3rd party debt collector to be trying to get payment from you at the same time. I would DV both of them via certified mail and see what comes back.

Re: Same Collection With 2 Collection Agencies

vntrsc — Tue, 30 Jan 2024 13:33:24 GMT

If Vance and Huffman purchased the account, it is possible that the other collection agency was hired by Vance and Huffman to collect on its behalf. Debt buyers can use other collection agencies to collect.

Re: Same Collection With 2 Collection Agencies

bass_playr — Tue, 30 Jan 2024 13:50:06 GMT

Yes, it is possible but not as likely that V&H would both collect on it themselves and hire an outside company to do it at the same time. That doesnt make sense.

In either event, if both V&H and this other collector show up on your credit at the same time that is an issue I would dispute. The only time it's lawful for two entities to report the same debt at the same time is when the OC is reporting and the current debt collector is also reporting. When a third party debt collector stops collecting on that account they no longer have a permissible purpose to be on your report, though the original creditor still does.

Re: Same Collection With 2 Collection Agencies

Brian_Earl_Spilner — Tue, 30 Jan 2024 14:07:29 GMT

@bass_playr wrote:
Yes, it is possible but not as likely that V&H would both collect on it themselves and hire an outside company to do it at the same time. That doesnt make sense.

In either event, if both V&H and this other collector show up on your credit at the same time that is an issue I would dispute. The only time it's lawful for two entities to report the same debt at the same time is when the OC is reporting and the current debt collector is also reporting. When a third party debt collector stops collecting on that account they no longer have a permissible purpose to be on your report, though the original creditor still does.

They're not both reporting per the op. Vance is reporting and they just started getting letters from another agency. It could simply be that it was acquired by Vance through a portfolio purchase and they then turned around and sold it. I've had it happen to one of my collections.

Re: Same Collection With 2 Collection Agencies

bass_playr — Tue, 30 Jan 2024 22:41:30 GMT

I'm aware of what the OP said. I said "in either event" to provide additional info.

Note that I said "if they both show up on your credit at the same time", as opposed to "they are both on your credit". I was not confused, I'm sorry if my response was confusing.

Re: Same Collection With 2 Collection Agencies

Dawnnjoness — Thu, 01 Feb 2024 13:10:01 GMT

So would i be able to dispute Vance & Huffman given they've sold the debt to a new agency? If this is the case Vance & Huffman shouldn't be reporting correct?

@Brian_Earl_Spilner wrote:
@bass_playr wrote:
Yes, it is possible but not as likely that V&H would both collect on it themselves and hire an outside company to do it at the same time. That doesnt make sense.

In either event, if both V&H and this other collector show up on your credit at the same time that is an issue I would dispute. The only time it's lawful for two entities to report the same debt at the same time is when the OC is reporting and the current debt collector is also reporting. When a third party debt collector stops collecting on that account they no longer have a permissible purpose to be on your report, though the original creditor still does.
They're not both reporting per the op. Vance is reporting and they just started getting letters from another agency. It could simply be that it was acquired by Vance through a portfolio purchase and they then turned around and sold it. I've had it happen to one of my collections.

Re: Same Collection With 2 Collection Agencies

bass_playr — Thu, 01 Feb 2024 21:10:51 GMT

You can always dispute, though its not always a good idea. If you have confirmation from V&H that they no longer have the account, I would dispute with the CRAs because as they no longer have the account and are not the original creditor, they no longer have permissible purpose.