Verizon Collections on Your Credit Report? Fight Back and Win

Verizon is best known as one of the world’s leading wireless network providers. While the telecommunications company primarily specializes in offering phone and internet service to customers, they also run their own in-house collections department - this, aptly, is called Verizon Collections.

To learn more about this side of Verizon’s business - including its purpose, what it does to collect on unpaid phone bills and how you can handle negotiations with the department -  keep reading for additional information.

What Does Verizon Collections Do?

Verizon Collections is a department of Verizon Wireless. The company is based in Basking Ridge, NJ and is primarily known for offering high speed internet and phone service to customers all across the world. The company’s collection department, however, is not much different from a typical agency - they will pursue past customers just as doggedly trying to collect on unpaid bills and other debts.

Is Verizon Collections a Legitimate Company?

Yes. Verizon Collections is a legitimate branch of the Verizon Wireless Company. If you’ve received any calls or letters from this company, it’s important not to ignore them - they are not a scam and the debt will not go away simply because you fail to respond.

Contact Information:

• Phone Number: (800) 922-0204
• Website: https://www.verizon.com/
• BBB Rating: 1/5

If the debt is already listed on your credit report, then you must work on improving the situation. You can start by contacting the department handling your case and negotiating with them for removal of the listing from your credit report when making payments or settling the debt. 

You should also be aware that any agreement reached needs to be documented in writing and signed by both parties in order for it to be legally binding. It's possible to dispute incorrect information or inaccurate accounts listed on your credit report as well, but this process can often require considerable time and effort.

Why Am I Getting Phone Calls from Verizon Collections?

If you are receiving phone calls from Verizon Collections, there’s a good chance you had an account with them and left an unpaid bill - possibly one you were not even aware of, which may happen if you switch providers but neglect to cancel services. If you have never had a Verizon account or you don’t recognize the amount due, it’s possible that a mistake has been made.

Here are a few examples of when this could happen:

• Paid Debts

Any debts that have already been paid in full should not appear on your credit report.

• Unauthorized Debts

If any debts are listed on your credit report that do not belong to you, you should contact the relevant creditor and the credit bureau to dispute them.

• Identity Theft Accounts

If someone has stolen your identity and opened accounts or taken out loans in your name, you should report it immediately to the appropriate authorities and take steps to protect yourself financially.

• Falsely Reported Late Payments

If any of your accounts are being reported as late or unpaid when they have actually been paid on time, you should contact both the creditor and the credit bureaus to dispute these reports.

When a Verizon account falls into arrears, the company's internal collections department will typically manage it. If the debt remains unpaid for an extended period of time, however, Verizon may opt to sell it to a third-party collection agency. Knowing who is managing your debt can help you determine the best way to remove it from your credit history.

The key distinction here is that collections activity managed by Verizon itself will appear as the creditor on your credit report; if they have sold the debt, then a collection agency will appear in its stead. It is important to be aware of this difference when considering how best to address the collection activity and remove it from your credit file.

Various strategies may be employed depending on who owns the debt. If Verizon still holds it, you may be able to negotiate a settlement with them directly or even request a goodwill adjustment depending on your circumstances.

If a third-party has purchased the debt, then you could propose repayment arrangements or attempt to dispute any inaccuracies in the reporting associated with the collection. In some cases, a combination of these strategies might be most effective for dealing with an outstanding account in collections.

What Can I Do If I’m Being Harassed by Verizon Collections?

Verizon Collections, like all other debt collectors, is subject to a set of rules and regulations that prohibit certain behaviors. This is called the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) - a series of laws enacted in 1978 with the purpose of protecting consumers from unfair or harmful behavior on behalf of debt collectors. Educating yourself on these laws is crucial to understanding your rights when Verizon Collections contacts you.

This federal law outlines what debt collectors can and cannot do when attempting to collect a debt, including but not limited to the following:

• Harassing and threatening debtors, such as making repeated phone calls or using obscene language.
• Falsely representing themselves as lawyers or government representatives when communicating with debtors.
• Misrepresenting the amount of debt owed or that legal action has been taken against a debtor.
• Calling debtors at unreasonable hours (before 8 am or after 9 pm).
• Revealing private information about a debtor to a third party without the debtor’s consent.
• Sending false documents which appear to be from a court or government agency in order to intimidate a debtor into paying their debt.
• Demanding payment in full when partial payments are accepted by law and/or contract terms, resulting in additional fees and interest being added on top of the original debt amount due.
• Using deceptive tactics to collect debts, such as offering discounts if paid within a certain period of time but not honoring them once payment is received.

If Verizon’s collections department is violating any of your rights under federal law, you can seek legal recourse. While filing complaints with various agencies - including the BBB or Consumer Financial Protection Bureau - is a potential avenue for enforcing your rights as a consumer, these complaints are typically ignored.

The best way to get Verizon to pay attention is to carefully document the illegal behavior, then contact an experienced attorney who can help you file a lawsuit - in many cases, Verizon will seek to settle these cases out of court in exchange for dismissing the debt altogether.

How Can I Get Verizon Collections Off My Credit Report?

One strategy for negotiating with Verizon Collections to offer a pay for delete arrangement. This means that you would be willing to pay the overdue balance in exchange for the negative mark on your credit report being removed.

While this strategy may work when dealing with a third-party collection agency, it won't always be applicable if you haven't already come to an agreement over the debt. It can take some time and effort to get a successful outcome but if you communicate effectively and remain persistent, you may be able to come out ahead and have a positive impact on your credit score. 

Contact Us For Your Free Case Review

If you're feeling overwhelmed by calls from collections agencies like Verizon Collections, you're not alone. At Fair Credit, we specialize in helping consumers just like you take back control of their financial rights. With decades of experience in dealing with debt collection agencies, our team of legal professionals can help ensure that your rights are upheld and that you receive the best possible outcome while minimizing any potential challenges you may face. 

Don't hesitate - contact us for a free case review.