If you have received a phone call, text message, or letter from Valentine & Kebartas, you are dealing with a third-party debt collection company that has been in operation since 1994 and is known primarily for collecting student loan debt, credit card balances, and accounts from insurance companies, utility providers, and retailers. Despite the name, Valentine & Kebartas is not a law firm. It is a full-service accounts receivable management company that collects debts on behalf of creditors across the country.
The company has generated significant consumer attention, and not always for positive reasons. With over 230 federal lawsuits alleging consumer rights violations and a steady stream of complaints to the Better Business Bureau and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Valentine & Kebartas is a company that consumers should approach with a clear understanding of their rights.
Company Overview
Valentine & Kebartas was founded in 1994 by Bob Kebartas and Cheryl Valentine. The company is headquartered at 15 Union Street, Lawrence, Massachusetts 01840. Valentine & Kebartas has operated under several corporate structures over the years, including Valentine & Kebartas, Inc. and Valentine & Kebartas, LLC.
Despite having a name that sounds like a law firm, Valentine & Kebartas is not one. They are a collection agency that provides accounts receivable management services to creditors across multiple industries. The company collects debts throughout the United States and uses a combination of phone calls, letters, text messages, and digital payment portals to pursue consumers for outstanding balances.
Contact Information
Main phone: (800) 731-7766
Secondary phone: (978) 975-0799
Additional phone: (480) 696-5658
Physical address: 15 Union Street, Lawrence, MA 01840
The company uses multiple phone numbers to contact consumers. Numbers that have been reported in connection with Valentine & Kebartas calls include (978) 332-5480, (405) 708-6560, (208) 639-6409, and several others. If you receive a call from an unfamiliar number and the caller identifies themselves as being from Valentine & Kebartas or "V&K," this is the company behind it.
Industries and Debt Types
Valentine & Kebartas collects across several industries, but they are most well known for their work in a few specific areas.
Student Loans
Student loan debt collection is the area most closely associated with Valentine & Kebartas. The company has been a prominent collector for Navient Solutions, Inc., formerly known as Sallie Mae, one of the largest servicers of both federal and private student loans in the country. If you have a defaulted student loan that was originally serviced by Navient or Sallie Mae, there is a reasonable chance it has been assigned to Valentine & Kebartas for collection.
Valentine & Kebartas has also collected on behalf of SLM Student Loan Trusts, Navient Student Loan Trusts, and United Guaranty Corporation, all of which are connected to the broader Navient and Sallie Mae ecosystem. If you are dealing with a student loan account placed with Valentine & Kebartas, it is worth exploring options like loan rehabilitation, consolidation, or income-driven repayment plans before negotiating directly with the collector. The Federal Student Aid website provides information on these programs.
Credit Cards and Financial Services
Valentine & Kebartas also collects for credit card companies and financial institutions. These accounts may involve charged-off credit card balances, personal loans, or other consumer lending products that the original creditor has been unable to collect through internal efforts.
Insurance
The company works with insurance companies to recover unpaid premiums or other insurance-related debts.
Utilities and Retail
Valentine & Kebartas has collected for utility companies and retail businesses, pursuing unpaid service balances and retail credit accounts.
For a broader understanding of how third-party collection agencies operate and what their relationship to the original creditor means for consumers, ACB's article on what is the difference between a creditor and a collector explains this distinction in detail.
Consumer Complaints and Litigation History
Valentine & Kebartas has accumulated a significant complaint and litigation record. The company has been involved in over 230 federal court cases alleging violations of consumer protection laws, including the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA).
The Better Business Bureau has recorded multiple complaints against the company. Common issues reported by consumers include receiving calls about debts they do not believe they owe, persistent and repeated phone calls including calls that disconnect when answered, text messages directing consumers to click payment links without adequate identification of the debt, collectors failing to properly identify themselves or the company during phone calls, collectors misrepresenting themselves as calling from the original creditor rather than from Valentine & Kebartas, contact with third parties such as family members or coworkers about a consumer's debt, and unauthorized withdrawals from consumer bank accounts.
In one notable case, a consumer alleged that a Valentine & Kebartas collector identified himself as working for Verizon and calling from a law firm, failing to disclose that the call was from Valentine & Kebartas and that it was an attempt to collect a debt. The FDCPA requires collectors to identify their company name and state that the communication is an attempt to collect a debt in every call. Failure to do so is a violation of federal law.
Multiple consumers have also reported receiving text messages from Valentine & Kebartas with links to make payments, without having any prior relationship with the company or any outstanding debts. This type of contact raises legitimate concerns about the accuracy of the company's records and, in some cases, about potential fraud. Always verify any collection contact independently before clicking links or providing personal information.
BBB Rating and Status
Valentine & Kebartas has maintained a BBB profile, and the company has responded to consumer complaints filed through the BBB. Their responses typically include a statement that their collection associates are trained to follow the FDCPA and state laws. However, the volume and nature of the complaints suggest that training alone has not prevented the issues consumers report.
The BBB has closed multiple complaints against Valentine & Kebartas in recent years, with common complaint categories including billing and collection practices and problems with the company's products or services.
What to Do If Valentine & Kebartas Contacts You
Do Not Ignore the Contact
Whether the debt is valid or not, ignoring collection attempts allows the situation to worsen. The account may be reported to credit bureaus, the balance may grow, and legal action, while uncommon with this particular company, is always a possibility. Engaging with the situation protects your interests.
Request Written Validation
Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you have the right to request written validation of the debt within 30 days of Valentine & Kebartas's first contact. The validation must include the amount owed, the name of the original creditor, and your right to dispute. If Valentine & Kebartas cannot validate the debt, they must stop collection activity. ACB's article on what is a validation notice and why do I need one explains this process step by step.
Verify the Debt Is Yours
Given the volume of complaints about Valentine & Kebartas contacting the wrong people, verifying that the debt actually belongs to you is critical. Check your records for any past accounts with the creditor they identify. If you have never had an account with that company, dispute the debt in writing immediately.
Check Your Student Loan Status
If the debt is related to a student loan, verify your loan status through studentaid.gov before negotiating with Valentine & Kebartas. You may have options available through federal programs that offer better terms than anything a collection agency will negotiate. Loan rehabilitation, for example, can bring a defaulted federal student loan back into good standing and remove the default notation from your credit report.
Be Cautious With Text Messages
Multiple consumers have reported receiving text messages from Valentine & Kebartas containing links to payment portals. If you receive one of these messages and are not expecting it, do not click the link. Instead, verify the debt independently by calling the company at their main number or contacting the original creditor directly. Phishing scams frequently mimic collection agency communications, and even legitimate collection texts deserve verification before you provide payment information.
Negotiate If Valid
If the debt is legitimate and you want to resolve it, Valentine & Kebartas may accept a settlement for less than the full balance. Because they collect on behalf of creditors rather than owning the debt themselves, settlement authority typically comes from the creditor. Get any agreement in writing before sending payment. ACB's article on how to pay a debt collection agency covers the settlement process in detail.
Know Your Rights
Valentine & Kebartas is bound by the FDCPA and all applicable state collection laws. They cannot call you before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m., harass you with excessive calls, use abusive language, misrepresent who they are, discuss your debt with unauthorized third parties, or continue collecting on a disputed debt without first verifying it.
How Valentine & Kebartas Compares to ACB
Valentine & Kebartas and Advanced Collection Bureau operate in different segments of the collection industry. Valentine & Kebartas focuses heavily on student loan debt and financial services receivables, collecting on behalf of major student loan servicers and credit card companies. ACB specializes in residential rent recovery, medical debt, and small business collections.
ACB differentiates itself with twice-monthly credit bureau reporting, contingency-only pricing, a strict policy of never charging interest on debts in its care, and a compliance-first approach that has not generated the type of litigation history associated with Valentine & Kebartas. For businesses evaluating collection partners, ACB's article on the pros and cons of contingency-only collection agencies provides a framework for comparing collection models.
Filing a Complaint
If you believe Valentine & Kebartas has violated your rights, you can file a complaint with the following agencies.
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau accepts complaints online and by phone at (855) 411-2372.
The Federal Trade Commission accepts fraud and consumer protection complaints.
The Massachusetts Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division handles complaints about businesses operating in Massachusetts.
If you are dealing with a debt and need a collection partner that prioritizes compliance and results, contact Advanced Collection Bureau at (321) 633-4999 or visit advancedcb.com.
