Company under Collections does not match company suing me that actually owns debt

[haecsol1]

A few things are going on with my situation, so hoping for some feedback. Sorry for the pseudonyms, just paranoid about it connecting to my identity. Let me know if I need to ID the collectors / lenders / etc. if it'll help here.

Background: I took a personal loan with "Lender". I failed to make payments and the loan was sold to "Debt Buyer". I received the form saying "Lender" sold the debt to "Debt Buyer" and I'm sure it's legit, etc. I never responded to that form, so it's been sitting for a bit.

Here's where it gets interesting: "Debt Buyer" is now suing me and I've responded and will plan to settle. Currently awaiting the next step / court date - but I may just proactivily reach out to "Debt Buyer" and try to settle to clear the lawsuit.

BUT - "Debt Buyer" is not on any of my credit reports under collections or anything else. Just the previous "Lender" with a $0 balance and the remark that it was sold. Fine.

HOWEVER - there is a 3rd company - let's call them "Company Three". I don't believe they are a collections agency working for "Debt Buyer" - their website actually says they are an investment company that purchases loans, so they may be their own debt buyer, not affiliated with "Debt Buyer".

But I have never, ever, ever heard of "Company Three" besides them putting a collection on my Equifax and TransUnion reports. They never sent me any documents. They are not part of the lawsuit. I don't think there is any affiliation between "Debt Buyer" and "Company Three". I believe I owe "Debt Buyer" since they bought my unpaid debt. "Company Three" came out of nowhere and is the only collection on my CR.

While I handle the lawsuit with "Debt Buyer", I do want to try to clear this collection from my CR with "Company Three" since I don't think they own or are related to this debt (I may be mistaken).

I disputed via mail with TransUnion and Equifax. TU said the investigation is ongoing. Equifax came back pretty quickly and said the debt is valid. How can it be valid if there is nothing that connects "Company Three" to "Lender" or "Debt Buyer" at all? I am not satisfied with those results. Do I have any recourse with Equifax or will I have to rely on TU and / or "Company Three" to get this removed?

Also - I sent a letter to "Company Three" and got a 'Return to Sender' - the office is vacant and unable to forward. What is my option here to dispute with "Company Three" since they reported this if they basically have a fake address I can't dispute with?

I await TU, but I am not happy that Equifax is claiming it's valid. The amount is valid and matches what "Lender" sold, sure, but "Company Three" was never ever mentioned, and it's not a DBA or alias or anything for "Debt Buyer".

[haecsol1]

Okay, as I was verifying info for this post, I actually found out a few things. I feel a bit embarassed cause I was sure it was completely different, but I was missing "USA" in the name.....I think they've changed their name and changed their address in the past.

1) "Company Three LLC" is listed in my CR as "Company Three USA LLC" (with the USA). When I searched just "Company Three LLC" it looked like it wasn't affiliated at all with the actual "Debt Buyer". But when I search for "Company Three USA LLC", it actually has the same address as "Debt Buyer". So it's possible they're one and the same.

2) The address that "Company Three USA LLC" has on my credit report is incorrect. It's the address I mailed my dispute to - it's in Florida and how I got the return to sender / vacant notice. The address for "Company Three USA LLC" on their website is in Texas, but what's on my credit report is in Florida. Is that something I can dispute?

3) Is the fact that "Company Three USA LLC" is on my credit report versus the name of "Debt Buyer", which matches my lawsuit + the docs I received way back when - something I can dispute? I mean, yes they may be the same, but I have not seen the (true) name of "Company Three USA LLC" except in the Collections in my CR. The lawsuit has a totally different name. But on "Company Three USA LLC"'s website it does list "Debt Buyer" as an affiliation - not sure if that means they can use a different name for the name of the creditor...is that also disputable?

[JoeRockhead]

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@haecsol1 wrote:

Okay, as I was verifying info for this post, I actually found out a few things. I feel a bit embarassed cause I was sure it was completely different, but I was missing "USA" in the name.....I think they've changed their name and changed their address in the past.

1) "Company Three LLC" is listed in my CR as "Company Three USA LLC" (with the USA). When I searched just "Company Three LLC" it looked like it wasn't affiliated at all with the actual "Debt Buyer". But when I search for "Company Three USA LLC", it actually has the same address as "Debt Buyer". So it's possible they're one and the same. 

2) The address that "Company Three USA LLC" has on my credit report is incorrect. It's the address I mailed my dispute to - it's in Florida and how I got the return to sender / vacant notice. The address for "Company Three USA LLC" on their website is in Texas, but what's on my credit report is in Florida. Is that something I can dispute?

3) Is the fact that "Company Three USA LLC" is on my credit report versus the name of "Debt Buyer", which matches my lawsuit + the docs I received way back when - something I can dispute? I mean, yes they may be the same, but I have not seen the (true) name of "Company Three USA LLC" except in the Collections in my CR. The lawsuit has a totally different name. But on "Company Three USA LLC"'s website it does list "Debt Buyer" as an affiliation - not sure if that means they can use a different name for the name of the creditor...is that also disputable?

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1. Yes, C3USA is likely the same as the debt buyer and/or an affiliated collection agency. 
2. Yes, you can dispute the incorrect address, but all that's likely to happen is they correct the address.  It won't result in them removing the collection account.
3. Just my opinion but it would seem like disputing who's reporting the collection account when you've already established they are affiliated would be a waste of time, leading to no positive outcome. 

Being you didn't give the name of the debt buyer/collection agency, it will be impossible for anyone to chime in with knowledge of whether or not they are PFD friendly.  If they are, I would recommend trying that route first, before waiting for it to go to court.  If successful, the only thing that would remain on your reports is the original lender's reporting, with a zero balance.  If there is no PFD success, at least both the original lender, and the collection account will be reported as a zero balance. 

[vntrsc]

I agree with @JoeRockhead .  It would help if we knew the name of the debt buyer and collection agency.  Considering how many lawsuits are filed in every state by debt buyers, your identity would not be detectable.

In regard to debt buyers, they can contract with collection agencies to collect for them.  In fact, there is a debt buyer called LVNV Funding that contracts with Resurgent Capital Services.   LVNV purchases accounts and Resurgent attempts collection.

They share the same address.  Debt collection lawsuits will be filed with LVNV named as the plaintiff.