Yes. There is something fishy about this company. I just found out yesterday that this company is on my credit report--original creditor Walmart. I've never had a credit card w/Walmart ever. I finally got thru to this LVNV at 866-464-1183. They claim they need a copy of a picture ID, my Soc Security Card, and a police report. No way am I sending that to them. Heed my advice everyone. If you are going to report the entry as fraud, do so through Equifax and Transunion. They are reputable and may ask for those identification documents. Don't pay anything on it because you could be held liable for the account. It will take some time before it is wiped off your report.

[roxette]

Hi lisalee,

Involve Walmart also in this verification process regarding the account. Under the federal laws, your credit report should display your actual credit history. These unknown entries can hurt your credit scoring in the long run. Write letters to the credit company as well as the collection agency for verifying the said account. If they can't prove any info, you can explain their failure to validate the account to the credit bureau. The strong reasons given by you will force them to verify the item with the information provider. If they don't hear anything about this account within 30 days, it must be removed from your file.

Regards
Roxette

This company called me about a month ago and told me of an amount of $167 for charges from MCI. They could not give me the account number, the phone number it was linked to or any other information about it other than it was from around 1996 to 1998.
I told them this was not my account. I do remember MCI changing my long distance service with-out my permission back in the 1990's a processing called slamming. I had to file some paper work and AT & T got my service restored. They tried to bill be for some amount and I refused it! I never heard about it again. This was all over 7 years ago and closer 10. Now of course it shows up on my credit report this month. I told them that I disputed the amount yet they did not put this in my credit report. I called them and spoke with some pushy rude person who said he would settle for $65.00 and would clear my credit up…. Sounds like they just want money, no matter what and what a great way to blackmail people. Reporting this to the big 3 gives them leverage to collect. It doesn't matter to them if it's fair, right or even legal! They don't care….
I have it in dispute with all 3 reporting agencies and also have filed a complaint with the FTC.
I'm also contacting my State's Attorney Generals Office.
I don't see how they can place something on my report from over 7 years ago.
I guess if it was just now placed for collection then it could remain for 7 more years???
I also can't see how they can do this with no account# no statement of account or even the phone number it was linked to.

[david]

I guess if it was just now placed for collection then it could remain for 7 more years???

The stay of the negative information in the file is for 7 years only beginning from the date of first delinquency. If an account is turned to collection and later gets paid by you, the credit file will somewhat improve reflecting 'paid collection'.

Draig, do not pay anything to this account. A single mistake from your side will make you responsible for this debt. The FCRA laws guarantee its removal from the file after 7 years. The collection agency has hit your file without legitimate purpose. Your dispute with the credit bureau will give positive results for your credit.

Collectors have the rights to enter remarks in your file if they have valid info. If they hit the file without legitimate purpose, the item needs to be disputed and as a result, removed from the file.

Knowing that LVNV purchased the debt for pennies on the dollar, what are a debtors rights as far as negotiating a settlement amount for much less than the original debt?

[john]

Sometimes the collection agencies offer the settlement amount with a lower payoff. Or you can call them and know the actual details of your account. If the debt has not been sold, you can still pay to the creditors. If LVNV has purchased the debt, you will have to pay them only. Explain them that you wish pay off the account with them and would like to see it updated as 'paid' in your file. Do not agree for 'settled' status in your file. Negotiate with them for a 'paid'. This will be good for your credit. Settled is a negative remark and will stay in the file for 7 years. Besides, it will lower the credit scores. If you can negotiate with them in better terms, you can get the desired results.

Do all your correspondences with the company through certified mail with return receipt requested. This way, you will have everything documented in a file and will be able to prove your part of the actions.

angel hawkins (280-72-****)_
508 main st.
oakwood, ohio 45873

lvnv funding llc
p.o. box 10497
greenille, sc 29603-0584

Feb. 28, 2006

yes, could someone help me by sending me the total amount i owe for this matter. i would like to get this taken care of. and who is this matter pertaining to. thanks,
angel

Personal info removed for your safety - Mike

[david]

Angel,

This is a community forum where we discuss various issues on our debt related problems. You have come in one of the discussions about LVNV funding taking place here. This is not the actual company you are looking for. Please forward your request to the mailing address of LVNV Funding requesting them to take care of the matter.

Thank you to all of you! My husband has this on his credit report and I can not find any information on them! A company called providian credit card sold are debt to them but we have never had a card through providian! But how do I know if I have the right company??

[stanley]

Michele,

LVNV Funding is a collection agency. You can check their report with BBB website.

Anyway, as you have mentioned that you never had any account with Providian, this account might enter your report through two ways-

• 1. Credit bureau has done some mistake while updating your report,
  2. Someone else had opened a Providian account with your name and this is dangerous.

Contact Providian and explains the whole story. If you smell an ID theft to be occurred, file report with police and do whatever actions one should take when ID is stolen.

However, if this is just a mistake on the part of credit bureau, write them a letter requesting to remove this account as it is incorrect. Send your letter through CMRRR. Feel free to ask your questions in forums.

I have them on my credit report also but I also have no idea where this has come from it's for $7254 and it just got on my credit report on 02/23/06.

[stanley]

Jocelyn,

LVNV Funding is a collection agency. Have you checked which of your accounts has been transferred to them? Have they contacted you for debt collection purpose?

IMO, you should call the creditor to see if you can settle the debt with them or not. Otherwise, ask LVNV to validate the debt first. debt validation is the first step of collection procedure.

However, if you feel that this item is completely wrong and has no connection with your past debts, you can dispute it with credit bureau. Feel free to ask your questions in forums if you have any.

When did the fcra say a company should post a debt in your credit report? because i have not used this company for more than 5 years and the report just sufaced on my credit.

[stanley]

Could you tell us how they have reported your account? Is it a negative report? any negative item should go off of your report after 7 years from the date of reporting.

Now say your account was placed in collection in 2000 and it was entered in your report in 2005. According to my understanding, it should be removed from your file in 2007. If it doesn't, you can place dispute with credit bureaus. Keep us posted.

Last year I obtained a copy of my credit report and saw Sherman Aquisitions for $5,882 and disputed it because I did not know what it was for. I think I awoke a sleeping giant because shortly after, I started getting calls and letters from them and an attorney's office. I sent via certified mail a leter of debt validation to the attorney's office and Shermnan Aquisitions. I received a response shortly thereafter that they would look into it at respond in a timely manner. I never got a response to this. I still do not know what it is for. In the meantime, I received court docs about hearings in court. But they were never stamped or signed by any court clerk, but looked like they were signed by the attorney's secretary. Today, I received a letter from my employer that said my wages were going to be garnished. I still do not know what this is for. I was never served any papers, or advised of any court date. Finally, what I received from my employer is an actual court document, signed and stamped from a court near San Diego??? I lve in L.A County. Any suggestions? Do i need to get a lawyer? I can't believe this is happening. I make approx $2,000 a month take home salary. I really can't afford this and would like to know what it is all about. thanks for any advice.

I've been at it with these dimwits for a couple of years over a boggus Providian account. After several demands by me for validation (over a year ago I recieved the boggus "affidavit" they sometimes send out", a few months ago I recieved a signature card, with an attempt at forging my name on it. Mind you, there were no companies mentioned on the card. Just my name, an old address, and my forged (badly) signature. This only goes to show what lengths these criminals will go to. They've so far kept it off of my credit report. It has gone out of the statute of limitations this month, so they'll prbably try some funny business. I happen to know that it is illegal to re-age an alleged debt and illegal to report it as an open account.

For those with the patients, Sherman/LVNV will leave a large paper trail communicating with you, with a host of fdcpa violations. This is another reaso to only communicate in writing.

I called them up only on my convenience, becase they don't know my number. You'll be talking to high school kids, or those who are easily impressionable. One young woman even said that the FDCPA doesn't apply to them, it only applies to third party collectors (I think she'd been told this and really believed it).

BTW, for Texas residents, the Texas Debt Collections Act (similar to FDCPA) does apply even to original creditors.