So, you’re looking at your credit report and suddenly notice LVNV Funding LLC staring back at you. If you’re scratching your head, wondering who they are and why they’re showing up, you’re not alone. Seeing a debt collection entry—especially one you don’t recognize—can be frustrating and even stressful. But don’t worry, I’ve got you covered. Let’s break this down together.
What Is LVNV Funding?
LVNV Funding is a debt collection agency—but not in the way you might think. They don’t actually call and harass you for money (at least, not directly). Instead, they buy old debts from banks, credit card companies, and other lenders after those accounts have been charged off (meaning the original lender gave up on collecting and sold it for pennies on the dollar).
Once LVNV Funding owns the debt, they hand it over to another company—Resurgent Capital Services—to handle the actual collection process. So if you’re getting calls or letters, they’re probably coming from Resurgent, even though LVNV Funding is the name that appears on your credit report.
Why Is LVNV Funding on My Credit Report?
If LVNV Funding is on your credit report, it means they believe you owe money on an old debt they purchased. Here’s why that might be happening:
- Your Original Creditor Sold the Debt – If you had a past-due credit card, personal loan, or even a utility bill, your original lender may have sold it to LVNV Funding.
- They Reported It as a Collection – Debt buyers report accounts to the credit bureaus as a collection account, which can seriously hurt your credit score.
- You Were Never Notified – Sometimes, debts change hands so many times that people don’t even realize a collection agency owns it now.
- It’s an Error – If you don’t recognize the debt, it could be an old account misattributed to you, or worse, a sign of identity theft.
Pro Tip: Don’t ignore this entry. Whether it’s a legitimate debt or a mistake, leaving it unresolved can drag down your credit score for up to seven years.
How to Handle LVNV Funding on Your Credit Report
If you’re not sure why LVNV Funding is on your report, don’t jump to paying just yet. Instead, follow these steps:
1. Verify That the Debt Is Legitimate
Before doing anything, request debt validation from LVNV Funding (through Resurgent Capital). They’re required by law to provide proof that the debt is actually yours.
- Send a debt validation letter within 30 days of first hearing from them.
- If they can’t prove the debt is valid, they must remove it from your credit report.
📌 Learn how to request debt validation here.
2. Dispute Any Errors on Your Credit Report
If LVNV Funding can’t prove the debt is yours, or if you believe it’s inaccurate, you can dispute it with the credit bureaus.
- Dispute with Equifax – Learn more here
- Dispute with Experian – Start your dispute here
- Dispute with TransUnion – File a dispute here
Pro Tip: If a disputed collection can’t be verified, the credit bureaus must remove it from your report.
3. Negotiate a Pay-for-Delete Agreement (If You Owe the Debt)
If LVNV Funding provides legitimate proof that you owe the debt and you want to settle it, don’t just pay it right away. Instead, try to negotiate a pay-for-delete agreement, where they remove the collection account from your credit report in exchange for payment.
Important:
- Not all debt collectors agree to this, but it’s worth asking before making any payments.
- Get everything in writing before you pay a cent.
📌 Find out more about pay-for-delete agreements here.
4. Consider a Settlement Offer
If LVNV Funding won’t delete the entry, you can still try to settle for less than the full amount owed.
- Many collection agencies will accept 30-50% of the total debt to settle the account.
- A settled debt won’t remove the negative mark, but it updates to “Paid”, which looks better to lenders.
📌 Learn how to negotiate a debt settlement here.
5. Take Steps to Protect Your Credit in the Future
If you’re dealing with collections now, the best thing you can do is make sure it doesn’t happen again.
- Monitor your credit regularly for new accounts or errors. Free monitoring is available at Credit Karma.
- Set up payment reminders to avoid missing due dates.
- If you’re struggling with debt, consider credit counseling. The National Foundation for Credit Counseling offers free advice – learn more here.
Pro Tip: If you’re worried about future debt collection accounts, consider placing a credit freeze to prevent fraudulent accounts from being opened in your name:
- Equifax: Freeze your credit here
- Experian: Start a credit freeze here
- TransUnion: Set up a credit freeze here
Final Thoughts
Seeing LVNV Funding on your credit report can feel overwhelming, but you have options. Whether you’re disputing an inaccurate entry, negotiating a settlement, or simply looking for ways to rebuild your credit, taking action now will put you in control.
✅ First step? Check your credit report for details and start the dispute process if something looks off.
Have you dealt with LVNV Funding before? Let me know what worked for you in the comments!
