Consumer complaint received 2025-11-17 00:00:00
Product: Debt collection — I do not know
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed — Debt is not yours
Company: V and H Portfolio
State: TX

Complaint narrative:
I am submitting this statement to explain in full detail what happened regarding the account currently being reported by Vance & Huffman LLC, referenced as account number XXXX, which appears on my XXXX and XXXX credit reports as a collection/charge-off with a balance of {$1400.00}. This explanation outlines the discrepancies, inaccuracies, missing documentation, unexplained dates, and procedural issues that make this account unverifiable and in need of full reinvestigation. It also describes why I believe the reporting is incomplete, unfairly damaging, and not compliant with the requirements of the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ). 

To begin, the information being reported across the credit bureaus is inconsistent and incomplete. According to the screenshot, Vance & Huffman LLC is only reporting to XXXX and XXXX, while Equifax shows nothing at all. The fact that a collection agency reports an account to XXXX or XXXX bureaus but not all three is often an indicator of incomplete data or internal inconsistencies in their records. Inconsistent reporting is XXXX of the signs that the information furnished may not be complete, verified, or accurate. 

The information reported shows the account is marked as a collection/charge-off, with a current balance and high balance both listed as {$1400.00}. The account was opened on XX/XX/year>, according to XXXX, and is listed with a start date of XX/XX/year> on XXXX. This is already a significant discrepancy. An account can not have XXXX different opening/start dates across different bureaus and still meet the maximum possible accuracy requirement of FCRA XXXX ( b ). 

When XXXX bureau reports an opened date of XX/XX/XXXX and another reports a start date of XX/XX/XXXX, it raises concerns about whether the collector actually has accurate records. This inconsistency alone is enough to trigger a reinvestigation. 

Additionally, both the Original Creditor and Creditor Type fields list the creditor as Unknown, which is a major red flag. A consumer can not be expected to validate or understand an account when the collection agency can not clearly identify the original creditor. If the original creditor is truly unknown, then Vance & Huffman should never have reported this information because credit-reporting requirements mandate that accounts must identify the original creditor and accurately reflect the full account history. 

Under the FDCPA and FCRA, a collector must haveand be willing to providedocumentation showing what the debt is, where it came from, and how it was calculated. Reporting a debt from an unknown original creditor fails the basic validation requirement. 

Furthermore, the payment history for this account is not provided at all. Collections accounts often have minimal payment data, but even then, the reporting should include : Date of original delinquency Date of charge-off Date of last payment Itemized ledger Account history prior to collection However, the account shows no monthly payment history, no delinquency timeline, and no explanation of how the alleged debt progressed from an original creditor ( unknown ) to Vance & Huffman LLC XXXX Without this information, it is impossible for me to validate or confirm the legitimacy of this account. 

The consumer dispute fields also state Account not disputed. This is not correct, as I am formally disputing the account now. Under FCRA 623 ( a ) ( 3 ), any time a consumer disputes an account with a credit bureau, the furnisher must report that the account is disputed. Failure to do so renders the reporting inaccurate. Failure to update the dispute status is not merely a clerical oversight ; it is a violation of the law and indicates the furnisher is not following proper procedures. 

Next, the status reported is Negative on XXXX and Closed / Collection/Charge-Off on XXXX. The closure date on TransUnion is listed as XXXX same date as the supposed date opened. This is nonsensical and raises the question of whether the account was ever legitimately opened or whether the collection agency simply inserted dates without having any verified data. 

There is also a Last Activity date of XX/XX/year> on XXXX. Yet I have no record, knowledge, email, phone call, mailed notice, billing statement, or communication of any sort from Vance & Huffman LLC on that date or around that time. A date of last activity should be tied to a consumer action ( such as payment, communication, or account modification ). If the collection agency generated this date internally rather than based on any actual consumer action, then the recording of that date is misleading and inaccurate. 

Another discrepancy exists in the status updates. The TransUnion entry shows : Start Date : XX/XX/year> Last Reported : XX/XX/year> The account can not be last reported before the start date. This inconsistency demonstrates that the account record being furnished is flawed and likely incomplete. 

Additionally, the Date of Last Payment is blank. If the account has never had a payment, then the collection agency must provide the original delinquency date from the original creditor. Instead, that data is missing entirely. The Original Creditor is listed as Unknown, and the Account Type Detail is blank. This is incomplete and prevents the consumer from being able to validate the account. 

The comments field in the consumer reporting system states Added in XXXX XX/XX/year>. This suggests the account was simply inserted into the credit reporting system without proper verification or validation. Many collection agencies use automated software that uploads accounts in bulk, sometimes without checking for accuracy. If that is the case here, the collection agency may have inserted data that is unverified.

There is also no evidence that Vance & Huffman provided any legally required validation notice. Under FDCPA 809 ( a ), collectors must send a written notice within five days of first contact. I did not receive : A validation letter A notification of right to dispute A billing statement An explanation of charges An itemization of the debt Any written communication at all Because I did not receive this notice, I was never informed of my 30-day right to dispute the debt before it was reported to the credit bureaus. Without providing the required validation, the collection agency can not legally continue collection efforts, which include credit reporting. 

Another issue is the absence of an itemized breakdown showing how the balance reached {$1400.00}. Since the collection agency has not identified the original creditor, I can not verify whether that amount is correct, inflated, or the result of fees or interest added by the collection agency. Under Regulation F ( CFPB ), collectors must include : Itemization date Itemized amount at that date Added interest Added fees Payments received Adjustments None of these required items are present in the credit report.

The account is also marked with the Account Rating : Derog, which severely damages my credit score. Derogatory accounts, especially collections, carry heavy negative scoring weight. The impact of this entry is significant, and because of the inconsistencies, missing information, and lack of validation, the reporting is unfair and harmful. 

Additionally, I have never received any notice from the original creditor indicating that the debt was sold or assigned to Vance & Huffman LLC. Under standard credit and lending practices, if a debt is placed with a collection agency, the original creditor sends a notice indicating the transfer. I did not receive any such notice. 

The bureau data also states that the creditor type is Other Collection Agencies, and the accounts Original Creditor is Unknown. A collection agency can not legally report a debt without identifying the original creditor. This is a foundational requirement of the FCRA, as consumers must be able to determine where a debt originated.

The absence of documentationcombined with conflicting dates, missing information, unknown original creditor, and the lack of validationmakes the account unverifiable.

In reviewing the timeline, the credit report lists : Date Opened : XX/XX/year> Start Date : XX/XX/year> Account Status : Closed Last Activity : XX/XX/year> Last Reported : XX/XX/year> Date of Last Payment : High Balance : {$1400.00} Balance : {$1400.00} This timeline reveals internal contradictions. For example, the account can not be closed and then start XXXX months later. It can not have a last reported date before its start date. It can not have a last activity date that corresponds to no interaction or transaction that I made. 

Equally problematic is that the Account Type Detail is blank, meaning the bureau does not have enough information to categorize the debt. When key fields such as this are missing, it shows that the collection agency did not provide the required data fields. 

A proper entry must include : Original creditor Account type Payment history Itemization Dates Balance breakdown Terms Because none of this information is present, the account can not be considered complete or accurate. 

I also did not receive any pre-reporting notice. Under some state laws and best practices, collectors must notify consumers prior to reporting a debt to the credit bureaus. Without that notice, I had no chance to address or dispute the account before negative reporting occurred. 

Furthermore, Vance & Huffman LLC has reported the account as Individual Responsibility. I do not recognize or recall entering into any agreement with this company or any lender that would have transferred the debt to them. If Vance & Huffman purchased or acquired the debt, they must provide proof of assignment or transfer, which I have never been shown. 

Additionally, if this were a legitimate debt, the collection agency would have legal access to : Account origination documents Billing statements A complete transaction history Charge-off details Evidence of attempts to contact the consumer Transfer and assignment records Because the collection agency did not provide any of this, I have no way to confirm whether the account is valid or whether the amount is accurate. 

For these reasons, I am disputing the legitimacy, accuracy, completeness, and verifiability of the account. The inconsistencies, lack of documentation, missing notices, conflicting dates, incomplete information, vague creditor identification, and absence of validation all raise reasonable doubts about the integrity of the account. 

This is the full and complete explanation of what happened regarding the VANCE & HUFFMAN LLC account.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation