Afni Collection Agency

By: Chane Steiner

AFNI Inc., otherwise known as Anderson Financial Network, is a collection agency based out of Bloomington, Illinois. One of their biggest clients is Verizon. Besides their shady and harassing debt collecting tactics, AFNI is known to try to illegally collect on accounts that date back to the early 1990's. Such accounts are past the statute of limitations and are not legally collectible anymore.

If you get a letter from AFNI beware of this illegal scam. Also, if they try to report the account on your credit report, it is also illegal. In fact, each listing on your credit report is worth a $1,000 fine. To read more about debt collection laws and how you can stop collection agencies from harassing you, grab a copy of the FDCPA (Fair Debt Collection Practices Act).

Junk debt buyers such as AFNI Inc, pay pennies on the dollar for debts. Then, they intimidate, threaten and harass unsophisticated consumers. From false threats of legal actions to constant calling and even calling consumers relatives and calling their workplace, AFNI is amongst the lowest of the low.

Consumers are urged to demand validation of all debts from a bottom feeder because the majority of them have nothing to back up their claims. By demanding debt validation, you are utilizing your rights under the FDCPA to make the collection agency prove that they own your debt. It's not enough for them to send you an itemized statement or printout of the debt.

Here's what it states in the FDCPA - Section 809 - Validation of debts [15 USC 1692g]:
(b) If the consumer notifies the debt collector in writing within the thirty-day period described in subsection (a) that the debt, or any portion thereof, is disputed, or that the consumer requests the name and address of the original creditor, the debt collector shall cease collection of the debt, or any disputed portion thereof, until the debt collector obtains verification of the debt or any copy of a judgment, or the name and address of the original creditor, and a copy of such verification or judgment, or name and address of the original creditor, is mailed to the consumer by the debt collector.

If a collection agency can't verify a debt they are not allowed to collect or contact you about the debt. They are also not allowed to report it to the credit bureaus under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). Doing so is a violation of the FCRA, and the FCRA states that you can sue for $1,000 in damages for any violation of the Act.

Debt, Loans & Business Cashflow
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