Vengroff Williams Inc or VWI is a debt collection agency which receives a lot of consumer complaints to our law firm for debt harassment. Find out who they are, why they might be calling, and how you can stop them.
Vengroff Williams , Inc. (VWI) is a multi-service venture capital corporation that also offers first- and third-party debt collection. Based in Sarasota, FL, VWi has received many consumer complaints alleging practices such as abusive customer service; calling people at work to discuss financial matters; and attempts to collect debts not owed, all in violation of the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act (FDCPA). If you have been contacted by VWi, know your rights before attempting resolution.
The harassing company pays our fees.
They’re legit. According to the Better Business Bureau (BBB), VWI is a legitimate collection agency founded and incorporated in Florida in 1990, and the BBB opened its file on them in 1999. VWi is listed as a corporate collection agency and uses the following alternate business names: Asset Recovery Management; Vengroff Williams Investments, LP; Vengroff Billing Services; Equipment Return Services; and Asset Recovery Management. VWI has additional locations in California, New York, and Illinois. Buzzfile estimates VWi’s annual revenue at $11.7 million, and the size of its headquarters staff at 80 people.
VWI’s website contains a lot of complex business jargon that makes it difficult for the average site visitor to gain a clear understanding of their primary business function. Essentially, they describe themselves as a corporation offering “innovation that drives working capital solutions for sustainable business value.” Active in the insurance, healthcare, consumer packaged goods, transportation, manufacturing, technology, and media industries, VWI acts as venture capital and management partner to enable the automation and “optimization” of the day-to-day operations of their client businesses. This service is sold as a means to increasing efficiency and profitability with the added benefit of freeing business owners to focus “on their core competencies…to simplify, accelerate, and grow.”
Vengroff Williams provides first-party and third-party debt collection. VWI’s first-party collectors provide Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) services for healthcare providers and are “expertly-trained to manage…patient collections accounts with care.” Their “best-in-class” collectors “follow up with patients who owe for copays, co-insurance, deductible or non-covered transactions.” Their third-party collectors are “fully trained on all FDCPA guidelines plus extensive compliance and rigor or applied standards to ensure professionalism and proper collection techniques.” VWI takes the view that their automated processes have the benefit of reducing or removing the “time-consuming and manually intensive tasks [that normally] ensure accurate management of collections processes.”
Who are we? We are Lemberg Law, a Consumer Law Firm
Lemberg Law is a consumer law firm helping victims of collection harassment and abuse. We are ranked A+ by the BBB. We’ve helped more than 15,000 consumers stop harassment and recover money from debt collectors. Harassed? Abused? Misled by a collector? Call our Helpline today! There is no charge unless we win.
The BBB has closed 70 complaints against Vengroff Williams in the past three years, with 17 closed in the past twelve months. Almost all of these complaints allege problems with billing and collection. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has logged 13 consumer complaints against VWI since June 2015, mostly for attempts to collect debts not owed. Justia lists at least 7 cases of civil litigation naming VWI as a defendant.
Vengroff Williams, Inc.
2211 Fruitville Rd.
Sarasota, FL 34237-6116
Telephone: 1 (941) 363-5200
Website: https://www.vwinc.com/
It is illegal for a debt collector to make empty threats to sue you or garnish your wages. It is also unlikely VWI would sue you for a debt you may not owe or they cannot validate. However, debt collection agencies are known to have summoned debtors to court and garnish wages after a default judgement. Contacting an attorney BEFORE this could possibly happen would be a smart move. We’ve helped thousands of consumers fight back against unscrupulous debt collection harassers. Find out if we can help you too today!
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Unlawful Debt Harassment? Learn the Law & Sue the Collector.
Absolutely. Here are some Sample Cases
Vengroff Williams believes its highly automated and technologically advanced business processes designed to ensure the accuracy and integrity of the information in its client accounts necessarily result in a better and more effective collections effort. Ironically, many of the complaints against Vengroff Williams illustrate the problems caused by an overly-automated and depersonalized management system. In August 2017, a complainant indicated that he had received collection notices from VWI for $183.39 for a garage door installation charge his ex-wife had bought using her credit card several months earlier. For some reason, the billing information was issued in his name. He contacted a manager at VWI and informed him of the problem, and the manager told him it was likely because he had purchased items at the same store himself, so his name may have automatically come up when his ex-wife provided an address. The manager indicated he would correct the error and send the bill to his ex-wife. Unfortunately, at the time of the complaint, which occurred after his discussion with the manager, and after his wife had filed and discharged a bankruptcy that included the debt in question, he was still receiving collection notices from VWI for the same item. The complainant also contacted the bankruptcy attorney who had attempted to fax a cease and desist order to VWI, but the attorney indicated the fax number was not working. The complainant accused VWI of not looking “closely at this order and just assumed to put my name on this form,” and requested that VWI cease all efforts to collect the debt. VWI responded that they “investigated and reviewed the file based on the claimant’s dispute…closed the file as disputed…returned [it] to the client… [and indicated that] no further recovery efforts will take place from our offices.”
Federal laws protect you. The Fair Debt Collections Practices Act (FDCPA) regulates the behavior of collection agencies by prohibiting actions such as the use of abusive or threatening language; harassment; or the use of false or misleading information to collect a debt. The FCRA regulates how collection agencies and creditors report delinquent debts to credit reporting agencies. Additional consumer protection laws include the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) and the Consumer Financial Protection Act (CFPA).
But here’s the rub: If you want to enforce your rights, or recover money for violations — you need to sue. These laws provide individuals like you with a means to seek monetary damages in court. For example, the FDCPA allows consumers who have been violated to recover damages of up to $1,000, plus attorney fees and court costs.
“I would recommend your firm to anyone. You got the debt collectors off my back, and I can finally see the light at the end of the tunnel. Throughout the whole process your staff were professional and courteous. I was blown away by their efficiency as well. Thank you guys so much!”
“I just wanted to take a moment to say thank you! Being in debt is hard enough without being harassed by collection agencies, but thanks to you I no longer have to be a victim. I did not know what to expect when I emailed your company, but from the beginning you guys were on the ball.”
“I would like to thank you and your staff for all the help you’ve provided to me. Honestly, you have a wonderful staff that has dealt professionally and been very empathetic at a time in my life when I hit a speed bump.”
Chances are good that we can help. Call us today and we’ll explain.
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Sergei Lemberg is an attorney focusing on consumer law, class actions related to automotive issues, and personal injury litigation. With nearly two decades of experience, his areas of practice include Lemon Law (vehicle defects), Debt Collection Harassment, TCPA (illegal robocalls and texts), Fair Credit Reporting Act, Overtime claims, Personal Injury cases, and Class Actions. He has consistently been recognized as the nation's "most active consumer attorney." In 2020, Mr. Lemberg represented Noah Duguid before the United States Supreme Court in the landmark case Duguid v. Facebook. He is also the author of "Defanging Debt Collectors," a guide that empowers consumers to fight back against debt collectors and prevail, as well as "Lemon Law 101: The Laws That Lemon Dealers Don't Want You to Know."
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I received a letter from VWINC as well stating I owe them for services that were already paid for. I called and the receptionist transferred my call to Tony who never called back. I guess I need to watch my back with knuckleheads.
I was in a car accident with a friends car which later found out was not insured. Vwi contacted me with the license suspension so I agreed to pay. Gave them $1000 up front just get a run around with documents to notarize and email back. I did all of this and waited for my release. I contacted vwi again a couple days before the DMV dead line and got no response. I had to get a 20 day extension so now the dead line is 7/2/23. On 6/31/23 I emailed vwi and got no response. Again on the first then on late late afternoon on the 2nd they sent the release. I left my job which definitely effected business for my job went to the DMV to be denied because vwi didn’t even fill out their own document correctly. These are people who are very very bad at their jobs and at the very least they all need to be retrained how to fill out their documents correctly as well as many other things need to change for them. Finally on the third a day after my deadline they managed to fix the document. Wonder what the DMV will say today.
I got a letter in the mail from them for a ridiculous claim amount and I haven’t been in an accident in the past 2 years. I need help
I got in a accident and I owe money but I can not pay that much I am between jobs and they said it could revoke my license how do I go about paying a smaller amount so I don’t lose my license?
I recieved a letter from them 04/27/22 stating that a vahicle i had sold in Febuary was involved in a accident and i was responsible for the amount of 3,500. I called and spoke with a rep from there and told her that i had a release of liability on the 02/27/22. I was not responsible for any accident. I mailed over a copy of this release and i got a letter in the mail a few days later stating its date was 04/25/22. That i have 30 days to respond otherwise my licsene would be revoked or suspended. I got another message on Monday from them. This is crazy i think i ill need a lawyer.
Today received a collection letter from VWI asking for $900 plus for an accident that didn’t happen. They are trying to get my liability insurance to pay for an accident that did not occur. This absolutely was pulled out of their hat (or ass for that matter). I left them a message stating it was a scam. I told them I would contact the Colorado state AG, the BBB and the Consumer Protection Agency. I threatened to sue THEM. I’m an old lady. They’re trying to suck blood out of a turnip. I tore up the letter and I will continue to do so if they contact me again. It’s a totally fraudulent claim.
Was in an accident in April 2021
Just received a noticed from VWI threatening to have my license revoked got the notice on 6/21 another notice was sent out on 6/22 saying I hadn’t responded how can I within a day of receiving the initial notice.
Vengroff Williams Inc said if I didn’t pay $500 upfront that they sent a petition to suspend or revoke my licenses and I needed to get a conditional release to the dmv to stop that so I paid $500 and got it 5 days later signed, notarized, sent it back and then Vengroff Williams Inc signed, notarized and sent it back to me and I went into the dmv today on 11/12/2020 and they were utterly confused what it was for or why they would have me bring it in when there was absolutely nothing on my licenses. I got in an accident on March 2020 and state farm called from the claims department asking what happened I told them mind you this is the other person’s insurance and they said someone from their collection department would CALL me to set up a payment plan to pay back for the damages and then in September I recieve a letter from Vengroff Williams Inc and when I called kimberly robinson was threatening to suspend or have my licenses revoke unless I paid the $500 and set up a plan. Well I looked real dumb going to the dmv today. And was told it’s possibly a scam and now I’m on hold with the licensing department of Illinois I am very concerned I paid $500!! And they said oh well, if there is nothing on your licenses you are fine just continue to make your payments but if you do get something in the mail take that copy to the dmv and it’ll clear it all up that is what was said from Christine at Vengroff Williams Inc at the sarosta FL one.
I was in a car accident. My insurance had lapses and I didn’t know (not excusing that).
Vengroff Williams is threatening to suspend my license if I don’t pay the damages/medical expenses of the other driver. The accident was in NJ, a no fault state, meaning:
“if you’re in a car accident, your auto insurance carrier is responsible for paying certain damages from the accident, regardless of fault. So, the other driver could be clearly at-fault for the accident, but your auto insurance picks up the tab for your medical bills. This is in contrast to at-fault states, where the at-fault driver is responsible for paying the other driver’s damages.”
The accident was over a year ago. Do I need a lawyer?
I have been harassed by Vengroff Williams. They have been harassing me on a consistent basis. They’ve threatened to shut off my driving license if I didn’t “pay up” and have discussed this alleged legal case with relatives not related to this case in attempts to coerce money from them as well. It is embarrassing that they went to non related parties and threatened actions they legally can’t take. Please help
Nice how they try to scare you with “affect your driving privileges”
This is Michelle with Vengroff Williams Incorporated on behalf of our clients State Farm regarding an accident that happened on November 13th, 2018. This matter could affect your driving privileges. Please give our office a call. Our phone number here is 1 800-278-3309, and refer to reference number #####
Tried to come after me for an invalid debt. When i asked for proof I owed any money, they told me they would have my license revoked if I did not agree to pay. Miserable scum.
Vengroff Williams sent me a collection notice for someone else’s debt. On September 18, 2018, Vengroff Williams sent me a collection notice for $395.86 on behalf of U-HAUL OVERTIME (LB). The last time I used a U-Haul service was in 2015, so I was certain this was an error. After checking my email archives, my bank account records, and my online U-Haul account, I confirmed that I paid in full for the U-Haul services three years ago. The account number referenced on the collection notice is linked to another person with a similar name in the online U-Haul payment system, which I am able to see by using the account number. That is how I discovered that Vengroff Williams has sent me a collection notice for a debt owed by someone else, who happens to have a similar name. My first and last names are both very common, so it is unbelievable that Vengroff Williams could send out notices based on such little identifiable information.
I am just starting the process to fight it, but I am furious that I will have to spend hours of my time disputing a debt that has absolutely no connection to me. I hope to resolve this directly with Vengroff Williams in a timely fashion, but I am interested in anything I can do to hold them accountable. It is outrageous that they continue to make these errors over and over when the consquences could be disastrous for innocent consumers.