Quick Answer: Northland Group Inc. is a third-party debt collection agency based in Minnetonka, Minnesota that collects primarily for Capital One on credit card debt. Their most commonly reported phone number is 800-955-6600. A federal appeals court ruled their settlement letters could mislead consumers about time-barred debts — verify everything in writing before paying anything.
| Company Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Company Name | Northland Group Inc. |
| Type | Third-party debt collector / debt buyer |
| Headquartered | Minnetonka, Minnesota |
| Primary Creditors | Capital One (credit cards); also collects for LVNV Funding |
| Primary Phone | 800-955-6600 |
| CFPB Complaints | 78 filed with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau |
| Federal Court Cases | Multiple FDCPA lawsuits including a 6th Circuit class action |
| Governed By | Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) |
Northland Group Inc. is a debt collection agency — if they’re in your call log, they believe you owe money on an account, most likely a Capital One credit card.
That doesn’t mean the debt is valid, within the legal window to sue over, or even yours. A federal appeals court has already ruled that Northland’s settlement letters can mislead consumers about their rights on old debts. Here’s what the public record shows about how they operate.
Who Is Northland Group Inc.?
Northland Group Inc. is a third-party debt collector based in Minnetonka, Minnesota. They work both as a collection agency hired by original creditors like Capital One and as a servicer for debt buyers like LVNV Funding — purchasing charged-off accounts for cents on the dollar and then attempting to collect the full balance. Whether they own your debt or are collecting on behalf of someone else affects who you negotiate with and what settlement terms are realistic. Ask them directly: “Did you purchase this account, or are you collecting on behalf of the original creditor?”
You landed here because someone is chasing you for money. That part does end — and what happens next is the part almost nobody writes about.
In the latest issue (Sep 16): The truck was $28,999 online. At the desk it’s $31,400. As of yesterday, the FTC says the ad was the lie.
I write Your Money Actually most weekdays — actionable money information you will not find anywhere else, and the small decisions that compound. It is free, I sell nothing, and I take no money from any company I write about.
Northland Group Phone Numbers
Northland Group uses multiple phone numbers when contacting consumers. If you received a call from any of the numbers below, it was Northland Group — and the same legal rights apply regardless of which number appeared on your caller ID.
The Daily Money Brief — Free, at 10 AM
Money you may be owed, scams to dodge, and the fine print decoded — the consumer money news that affects your wallet, every weekday.
| Phone Number | Reported Use | Consumer Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 800-955-6600 | Primary collections line | Most commonly reported number in CFPB complaints |
| 866-699-2652 | Collections line (referenced in federal court filings) | Documented in Buchanan v. Northland Group, 6th Circuit |
Why Is Northland Group Calling You?
- Unpaid Capital One credit card balance charged off and sold or assigned to Northland Group
- LVNV Funding placed the account — Northland collects for this large debt buyer on older charged-off accounts
- Identity theft — the #1 complaint category in the CFPB database for this company
- Wrong person or already-settled debt — 17 CFPB complaints specifically for collecting debt not owed
A call from a debt collector is not proof you owe anything. It’s an opening position. Treat it like one.
What CFPB Complaints Reveal About Northland Group
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s complaint database contains 78 consumer complaints referencing Northland Group Inc. The most common categories:
Read Consumer Complaint Narratives (4 published accounts)
“I am a victim of identity theft and do not owe a debt to Northland Group Inc. A representative from Northland Group continuously called me back and harassed, verbally abused me and threatened me with legal action.”
“I had a collections account for a XXXX charge off with Northland Group. I paid Northland Group to settle the account. I accepted a settlement offer with the understanding the XXXX account would reflect as settled/paid in full. This has not happened.”
“I received a letter from Northland Group stating I have a past due balance of {$200.00} but it does not state from where the debt originated from.”
“I have written several certified letters asking Northland Group’s client for verification pursuant to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act including but not limited to Section 807-8. I also requested they stop contacting me by phone.”
Source: CFPB Consumer Complaint Database. Narratives published only when the consumer provides consent. Personal information redacted by the CFPB.
Northland Group in Federal Court
Northland Group has been named in federal lawsuits alleging violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. The most significant case went all the way to a federal appeals court.
Buchanan v. Northland Group Inc. (6th Circuit, 2015): A federal appeals court ruled that Northland’s settlement letters could mislead unsophisticated consumers into thinking they could be sued over a time-barred debt. Northland had sent a settlement offer to collect a charged-off debt without disclosing that Michigan’s statute of limitations had already expired — meaning they had no legal right to sue. The court also flagged that accepting a partial payment on a time-barred debt can restart the limitations clock, a fact Northland did not disclose. The Federal Trade Commission filed an amicus brief supporting the consumer. The 6th Circuit reversed the lower court’s dismissal of the class action.
Additional federal cases naming Northland Group:
- Gallego v. Northland Group Inc. (2nd Circuit, 2016) — FDCPA lawsuit in federal appeals court
- Johns v. Northland Group Inc. (E.D. Pa., 2014) — FDCPA case in federal district court
- Berger v. Northland Group Inc. (D. Mass., 2012) — FDCPA case in federal district court
Court records are sourced from CourtListener, the free legal research database maintained by the Free Law Project.
What this means for you: If Northland Group is offering you a settlement, verify whether your debt is within your state’s statute of limitations before paying or making any partial payment. A partial payment on a time-barred debt can reset the clock and expose you to a lawsuit they couldn’t have won before. Use my free Statute of Limitations Checker first.
Free Tool — Statute of Limitations Checker: Dealing with old debt? The free Statute of Limitations Checker tells you if the collection clock has expired in your state — including the zombie debt and clock-restarting traps collectors use. Check My Status →
What To Do Right Now
- Don’t pay or acknowledge the debt until you verify it in writing. Request written validation — the original creditor, exact balance, and Northland’s authority to collect — by certified mail within 30 days of their first written notice. They must pause collection until they respond.
- Check your statute of limitations before any payment. The Buchanan case shows Northland has collected on time-barred debts without disclosing the deadline. A partial payment can restart that clock. Use my free Statute of Limitations Checker.
- Send a cease-communication letter if you want the calls to stop. One certified letter legally requires them to stop contacting you. Keep the tracking number.
For the full step-by-step guide on responding to a debt collector, see: Your Rights When a Debt Collector Calls.
Your FDCPA rights in brief: Northland must stop collection if you send a written cease request. You can demand written debt verification within 30 days of first contact. FDCPA violations — threats, lies, calls after a cease request — can be sued in federal court for up to $1,000 plus attorney fees. Full rights breakdown here.
Key Takeaways
- Northland Group Inc. is a legitimate debt collector based in Minnetonka, Minnesota
- Their primary known phone number is 800-955-6600; secondary line 866-699-2652 appears in federal court filings
- They collect for Capital One and LVNV Funding on credit card accounts
- 78 CFPB complaints — the #1 issue is collecting debt not owed
- A 6th Circuit appeals court ruled their settlement letters can mislead consumers about time-barred debts — verify the statute of limitations before any payment
- Check your state’s statute of limitations before paying or negotiating anything
Frequently Asked Questions About Northland Group Inc.
Who is Northland Group Inc.?
Northland Group Inc. is a third-party debt collection agency headquartered in Minnetonka, Minnesota. They collect primarily on Capital One credit card accounts and also service accounts for LVNV Funding, a major debt buyer. Their primary contact number is 800-955-6600, though 866-699-2652 also appears in court records. The company has been named in multiple federal FDCPA lawsuits, including a 6th Circuit class action.
Is Northland Group a scam?
Northland Group Inc. is a real, registered debt collection company — not a scam operation. However, a federal appeals court has ruled their settlement letters can mislead consumers about whether a debt is within the legal window to sue over. That’s not a scam, but it means you should not take their letters or calls at face value. Always verify the debt and your state’s statute of limitations before paying anything.
Why is Northland Group calling me if I don’t owe money?
The most common CFPB complaint category against Northland Group is “attempting to collect debt not owed” — 17 filed complaints in that category. Common reasons for incorrect contact include identity theft, a similar name on the account, an already-settled debt, or a debt that was paid but not properly recorded. A written debt validation request — sent by certified mail — legally requires them to verify the debt or stop collection activity.
Free Tool — Debt Validation Letter Generator: Being contacted by a debt collector? The free Debt Validation Letter Generator creates a personalized FDCPA validation letter in seconds — forcing the collector to prove the debt is real before they can continue. Generate My Letter →
What was the Buchanan v. Northland Group lawsuit about?
In Buchanan v. Northland Group Inc. (6th Circuit, 2015), a federal appeals court ruled that Northland sent settlement letters offering to resolve debts without disclosing that Michigan’s statute of limitations had already expired — meaning they couldn’t legally sue to collect. The court found that an unsophisticated consumer receiving such a letter could reasonably believe Northland had the legal right to pursue the debt in court. The Federal Trade Commission filed a brief supporting the consumer. The case was filed as a class action.
How do I stop Northland Group from calling?
Send a written cease-communication letter by certified mail to Northland Group Inc. Under the FDCPA, once they receive your written request to stop contact, they may only reach out to confirm they’re ceasing communication or to notify you of specific legal action. Keep a copy of the letter and your certified mail tracking number as proof.
Can Northland Group sue me?
Northland Group can file a lawsuit, but only if your debt is within your state’s statute of limitations — typically 3 to 6 years for credit card debt. The Buchanan case documented that Northland has sent settlement offers on debts where that window had already closed without telling consumers. If the debt is time-barred, they cannot win a court judgment against you. Use my free Statute of Limitations Checker to look up your state.
Should I pay Northland Group or ignore them?
Neither extreme is right. Ignoring a legitimate debt they own can lead to a lawsuit and judgment. Paying immediately — especially a partial payment on an old debt — can restart the statute of limitations clock, a risk the Buchanan court specifically called out. The right move: verify the debt in writing, check your statute of limitations, then decide whether to pay, negotiate a settlement, or dispute.
Know Your Rights: If a debt collector is contacting you, you have legal protections. See the complete list of FDCPA violations collectors commit most often. Use the free Debt Validation Letter Generator to demand proof of the debt, or check this collector’s complaint history with the Scam-O-Meter.
Dealing With Debt? Before you pay a collector, understand all your debt relief options — including ones the collector won’t tell you about. If the debt feels unmanageable, take the 2-minute bankruptcy quiz to see if the math favors a fresh start. Federal Reserve research shows filers recover faster than those who don’t file.
