I wanted to share my recent experience with a debt collector, Vance & Huffman, in case it helps anyone else dealing with the same thing. At first, I thought it was just normal collection calls, but things quickly felt off.



They started calling from multiple numbers – I recognized 855-206-6697 and a bunch of 757 numbers, but they kept changing. The worst part? They left voicemails that never clearly stated they were debt collectors trying to collect a debt. It was always vague.



I looked them up and found out they’re based in Virginia and actually have a history of federal lawsuits for this exact kind of thing. One big case, Stetson v. Vance & Huffman, was over failing to identify themselves in voicemails and not sending a required validation notice within five days of first contact. I realized I never got that notice either.



I documented all the calls, saved the voicemails, and sent a debt validation letter via certified mail demanding proof of the debt and a copy of the notice they should have sent. It stopped the calls for a while.



If you’re dealing with this, don’t just put up with it. Read up on the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). You might have grounds to make them stop and even be entitled to damages. Save those voicemails and write down every number they use.



I found this article really helpful in understanding what they’re doing wrong and how to respond:

Handling Vance & Huffman Debt Collection Harassment



Hope this helps someone else stop the harassment.



I hope this post captures the personal experience you were looking for. Would you like any adjustments to the tone or details?