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Has Northland Group tried contacting you about a debt you owe? If so, you are not alone. Most likely, Northland Group appears on your credit report as a collections account.
This is not good. In fact, it can hurt your credit scorefor up to 7 years if it is not handled immediately.
To help you out, our team put together the necessary resources you need to remove Northland Group from your credit report and to stop the harassing calls.
What is the Northland Group?
Northland Group, Inc is a debt collection agency headquartered in Edina, Minnesota. Since their founding in 2006, Northland group has merged with Radius Global Solutions LLC. It employs hundreds of people across the country.
Is Northland Group a real company? Or a Scam?
Yes! Northland Group, Inc is a legitimate debt collection agency and not a scam. They have been in business since 2006 and collect debt for auto loan providers, financial institutions, government agencies, student loan providers, mortgage brokers, utility companies, and more.
As you can see, Northland Group is a sizeable multi-million-dollar business that specializes in collecting debt.
While their calls may be annoying, there is a method to their madness, and they have the legal authority to do so.
How to Remove Northland Group from Your Credit Report
This is where the rubber meets the road. Keep reading to find out how you can remove Northland Group, Inc from your credit report.
1. Hire a Credit Repair Company
The #1 way to remove Northland Group from your credit report is by hiring a reputable credit repair firm, like Credit Saint.
Powered by a team of credit experts and in-house legal professionals, the best credit repair companies remove thousands of negative items and collection accounts from credit reports.
So, if you are like me, and want to eliminate the possibility of making an error or make the situation worse, then hiring a credit repair company is the best option.
On your behalf, they will file disputes, handle all correspondence with Northland Group, Inc, negotiate settlements, and will remove this collection account from your credit report.
Above all, credit repair companies are affordable and bring years of experience to the table.
>> More: Credit Saint Review
2. Debt Validation
If you want to remove Northland Group, Inc from your credit report yourself, then you need to ask for debt validation.
To do this, send them a debt validation letter via certified mail. However, this strategy is time-sensitive. You can only request a debt collector to validate debt within 30 days of the first contact. So, if 30-days has passed, then you cannot request debt validation.
By law, the debt collection agency must respond and provide validation. This is afforded to consumers under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA).
If they cannot provide “proof” that you owe the debt, then they must stop calling you and remove the collection account from your credit report.
But, if they can provide proof, then you need to pay the debt and work with a credit repair company to remove the negative item.
3. Negotiate a Pay for Delete
If you are outside the 30-day window, you still have options to remove Northland Group from your credit report.
Your next course of action is to negotiate a “pay-for-delete.” This means you will pay Northland Group the debt, but in return, they must remove the collection account from your credit report.
Before you make any payments, draft a contract outlining the “pay-for-delete” agreement and make sure Northland Group signs it. Send the contract via certified mail, so you know they received it.
This provides you with a “paper trail,” which means, if they do not hold up their end of the agreement, you can escalate it to court.
Ultimately, if you negotiate a pay-for-delete, make sure it is in writing, and make sure both parties follow through with the agreement.
If need be, check in with all three credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, or TransUnion) once a month to ensure the negative item is removed.
After all, your credit score is essential and is not something you want to jeopardize.
4. Goodwill Deletion
Regardless if you owe the debt or not, you can also ask the debt collector for a goodwill deletion.
To do this, write Northland Group, Inc a letter that outlines the reason why you were late paying off the debt or why you have not paid off the debt.
It could be for a myriad of reasons, such as a family emergency, job layoff, or buying a house. Whatever it is, it needs to be 100% truthful.
Debt collectors are good at discerning what is true and what is not. In some cases, they may ask for supporting documentation.
However, goodwill deletions are not common, and it is entirely up to the individual debt collector whether they want to honor your request or not.
Goodwill deletions tend to work if you already paid off the debt, but again, do not get your hopes up.
How to Deal with a Northland Group Debt Collection
First and foremost, make sure all correspondence is done in writing. This helps bolster your case if you bring it to a lawyer or the three credit bureaus.
And as evident, Northland Group does not communicate effectively with consumers and often provides the credit bureaus with inaccurate reports.
Additionally, make sure you know rights under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). Both documents are designed to protect consumers, so use them to your advantage.
Northland Group, Inc Complaints
To date, Northland Group has racked up hundreds of complaints with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB). Consumers complain about poor communication, errors, and inaccurate reporting.
Therefore it is important to document all correspondence with them and ensure all agreements are signed by both parties.
Contact Information
- Mailing Address: 7831 Glenroy Rd, Bloomington, MN 55438
- Phone Number: (800) 800 – 8198
Frequently Asked Questions
Can You Remove Northland Group Collection Accounts?
Yes, you can remove Northland Group from your credit report. Whether you hire a credit repair company, submit a debt validation letter, negotiate a pay-for-delete, or request a goodwill deletion – you have options.
As most people will attest to, the best way to remove Northland Group, Inc from your credit report is by hiring a credit repair firm.
They know the ins-and-outs when it comes to negotiating with debt collectors or the three credit bureaus. And they have proven experience inremoving collection accounts from credit reports.
Who Does Northland Group Collect Debt for?
Northland Group operates in numerous industries. They collect debt for:
- Credit Card Companies
- State & Local Government Agencies
- Student Loan Providers
- Auto Loan Providers
- The Mortgage Industry
- Healthcare Providers
- Utility Companies
- Telecommunication Companies
How Does Northland Group Work?
Northland Group works like most debt collectors. Large corporations no longer want to carry your debt on their balance sheet. Makes sense, right? After all, these corporations are a business, and they need to make money.
So, they sell your debt to a debt collection agency for pennies on the dollar. These debt collection agencies will then make you pay off your debt and will turn a profit on that payment.
Debt collectors need to make money as well, which is why they will routinely call your phone, send you letters, or even worse, threaten you. They will do whatever is necessary to make sure you pay off your debt.
Will Northland Group File a Lawsuit or Sue Me?
No, not always. However, Northland Group reserves the right to sue you or file a lawsuit, which can be a stressful experience. The more debt you owe, the worse. Northland Group, Inc will only file a lawsuit or sue you if it makes sense financially.
It all goes back to our first notion that Northland Group is a business, and they need to turn a profit.
If you owe thousands of dollars, then it is worth preparing for and speaking to a credit repair company who has an in-house legal team.
But, if you do not owe that much money, then facing a lawsuit or being sued is not likely. Remember, going to court is expensive for both parties.
Can You File a Complaint Against Northland Group?
If you are not able to remove them from your credit report, submit a formal complaint with the CFPB. Click here to submit a form with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. As they tout, 97% of consumers receive a timely response.
Bottom Line: Northland Group
A collection account can stay on your credit report for up to 7 years. This will severely damage your credit score, which is why it is vital to act now.
A higher credit score will allow you to open up a checking account, apply for a credit card, and refinance loans for better rates.
If Northland Group, Inc appears on your credit report, make sure you take the necessary steps to successfully remove this collection account. Once it is removed, you can finally start improving your credit and repairing your credit.
