Lakeside Collections on Credit Report, What To Do?
We know it’s not easy dealing with negative marks on your credit report — but we’ve successfully helped remove Lakeside Collections accounts for our clients.
If you’re seeing Lakeside Collections on your report, you’re not alone. Before we dive into how you can dispute and remove it, let’s first talk about who Lakeside Collections is and why they’re showing up on your credit report in the first place.
Important Disclaimer: This article is intended for general informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. We make no claims regarding the practices, character, or reputation of any company mentioned, including Lakeside Collections. Any references to third-party companies are based solely on publicly available information. Readers are encouraged to conduct their own research and seek professional advice if needed.
Who Is the Lakeside Collections ?
Lakeside Collections (also known as Lakeside Receivables LLC or Lakeside Recovery Solutions) is a third-party debt collection agency based in New York. It is not the retail “Lakeside Collections ” home-goods brand, but rather a company that buys delinquent debts and tries to collect payment.
According to consumer sources, Lakeside Collections specializes in purchasing overdue customer accounts (often credit cards, medical bills, or other loans) and seeking repayment.
Better Business Bureau (BBB) profiles show that Lakeside Collections has little public information and a problematic track record.
For example, Lakeside Receivables LLC is listed in Tonawanda, NY. The BBB gives it an “F” rating with dozens of complaints. One legal source notes that over 100 complaints were filed in recent years, many describing aggressive or harassing collection.
In short, Lakeside Collections is a small debt buyer/collector with many consumer grievances.
Confused with the Lakeside Collections catalog retailer? There is also a mail-order brand called “The Lakeside Collections” under LTD Commodities, but that is unrelated. The Lakeside Collections on your credit report refers to the debt collector, not the home décor retailer.
Why Do Lakeside Collections Appear on Your Credit Report?
Seeing Lakeside Collections on your credit report usually means one of your old debts has been placed with them. Under normal credit reporting, third-party debt collectors report collection accounts to the credit bureaus. For example, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau notes that collections tradelines come from agencies that either work for creditors or buy debts outright. If Lakeside purchased your delinquent debt from the original lender, it will show up as a collection tradeline under the name “Lakeside Collections.”
It’s quite common for Americans to have at least one collection account. In fact, according to Urban, roughly 28% of Americans had a debt in collections in 2021. Collections often arise from unpaid credit cards, medical bills, utilities, or rent. If any of those debts went unpaid and were sold to Lakeside, you would see their name on your report.
Some common scenarios when Lakeside shows up:
Unpaid debt sold to Lakeside: A past-due credit card, loan, or bill was bought by Lakeside, which then reported it.
Reporting error or identity mix-up: Sometimes the bureaus or collectors can make mistakes. For example, if a creditor incorrectly reported the debt owner or you share a name/address with someone else, Lakeside Collections might appear by error. (If the debt isn’t yours, be sure to check for identity theft or mistaken identity.)
Old debt beyond statute: Even if a debt is too old to be sued (“time-barred”), some collectors still report it. If Lakeside is listing a very old debt, it may violate rules – but either way it would remain on the report unless you dispute it or time passes.
If you find Lakeside Collections on your credit report, review the details (original creditor, balance, dates). This helps determine whether the entry is valid or an error. Keep in mind that collection tradelines are generally harmful, as they drop your credit score and stay up to 7 years from the original delinquency date. Inaccurate collections can often be removed under the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA), so it’s important to verify the debt before taking action.
How Common Is It to See Lakeside Collections on Your Credit Report?
While Lakeside isn't as big as giants like Midland Credit Management or Portfolio Recovery, it’s not unusual to find them on credit reports.
There’s no published stat for Lakeside specifically, but seeing a lesser-known collector like Lakeside is not unheard of. The CFPB reports that the total number of collection tradelines on credit reports is in the hundreds of millions, so many small agencies will appear from time to time. Lakeside is just one of many debt buyers active nationwide.
In practical terms, most people don’t see Lakeside unless they have a relevant delinquent account. If your report shows Lakeside, it means they reported at least one collection on your file. Other common collection agencies include names like Midland, Portfolio Recovery, Allied, etc. Lakeside is less common than those giants, but it does show up for consumers whose debts they acquired.
Regardless of frequency, any collection account can hurt your credit. The key is to address it promptly. Even if it seems uncommon, you have the same rights under FCRA (to dispute and correct credit data) and the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (to challenge debt collectors) as you would with any other collector.
How to Remove Lakeside Collections From Your Credit Report
Fortunately, you have several tools under federal law to challenge a Lakeside Collections entry. The steps below outline an effective strategy:
Obtain and review your credit reports.
Get free copies of your credit reports from AnnualCreditReport.com (the official site for free annual reports). Find the Lakeside Collections entry and note details: the account number, original creditor (if listed), and the date. Compare these to your records (billing statements, payment history, etc.) to see if the debt is truly yours. Keep all documentation and correspondence as you work through this process.
Dispute inaccurate or unknown debt (FCRA rights).
If any information is wrong – for example, the account isn’t yours, the balance is wrong, or it’s past the 7-year reporting limit – you can dispute it with the credit bureaus. Write to Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion (their addresses are on your report or the FTC site) and clearly explain the error. The FTC’s sample dispute letter suggests stating each mistake and asking for it to be corrected or removed. Under the FCRA, both the credit bureau and the data furnisher (Lakeside) must investigate and fix any incorrect or incomplete info for free. Disputes typically must be responded to within 30 days. If Lakeside or the bureaus can’t verify the debt’s accuracy, the entry must be deleted from your report.
Send a debt validation letter to Lakeside (FDCPA right).
If the debt is yours but you need proof, send Lakeside a written debt validation request. Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, within 5 days of first contacting you they must send a “validation notice” with the debt details. Once you get that, you have 30 days to dispute the debt in writing.
In your letter, request all documentation (like the original contract or account statements) that proves you owe the debt. Send this letter by certified mail and keep a copy for your records. If Lakeside fails to provide adequate verification, they cannot continue collection efforts – and the collection may have to be removed from your report.
Negotiate a settlement or pay-for-delete (if debt is valid).
If the debt is legitimate and you owe at least part of it, consider working out a deal. One strategy is to offer payment in exchange for deletion of the collection. This is known as “pay-for-delete”: you pay an agreed amount, and the collector agrees in writing to remove the account from your credit file.
Not all agencies will agree to this (it’s somewhat controversial under FCRA), but it never hurts to try. Another approach is to negotiate a lesser payment to settle the debt (often called a “settlement” or “pay-as-you-can” offer). If you settle, ask Lakeside to report the account as “paid in full” or “settled” rather than “unpaid”. Always get any agreement in writing and keep proof of payment.
Write a goodwill deletion letter (after paying).
If you ultimately pay or settle the debt, you can also send a goodwill letter. In this letter to Lakeside (or sometimes the original creditor), politely explain your situation (such as financial hardship) and request that they remove the negative collection entry as a courtesy. Some people have success getting collectors to remove paid collections as a goodwill gesture. It’s not guaranteed, but it’s worth trying if you’ve already paid.
Example phrasing: “I have paid my debt in full and respectfully request that Lakeside Collections remove the negative tradeline from my credit report, which would greatly help me recover financially.”
Follow up and monitor your credit report.
After any disputes or payment, check your credit reports again. The credit bureaus must update or delete items that were found inaccurate or resolved. Give them 30-45 days to process changes. If you reach a pay-for-delete or settlement agreement, wait for Lakeside’s confirmation (get this in writing) and then verify the account disappears or shows as paid on your reports.
Example: Suppose you mailed a dispute or pay-for-delete request. Once the bureaus complete their investigation or the collector removes the entry, your report will no longer show “Lakeside Collections.” The image above illustrates a credit report page after a Lakeside account has been removed (note that the negative collection line is gone). In practice, this means your credit score may improve as the collection is erased.
Enforce your rights (and get legal help if needed).
Throughout this process, remember that federal law protects you. Lakeside Collections must follow the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and the FCRA. If they violate these laws – for example, by refusing to validate a disputed debt, harassing you (calling you repeatedly, using abusive language), or failing to remove a deleted account – you have the right to take legal action. You can report any violations to the CFPB or FTC, or file state complaints.
In more serious cases, consult a consumer protection attorney. Under FDCPA, you can sue for damages: if a court finds a violation, it can award you actual damages (like any out-of-pocket harm) and statutory damages up to $1,000 plus attorney’s fees, even if you didn’t suffer real loss. If you’re unsure what to do, many attorneys offer free consultations on debt-collection issues.
By following these steps – disputing errors, validating debt, negotiating or paying, and monitoring your credit – most consumers can eliminate a Lakeside Collections account from their credit report. The key is to act methodically and keep records of everything you send and receive.
Lakeside Collections: Frequently Asked Questions
Can I sue Lakeside Collections?
Yes. If Lakeside Collections violates the law, you can take them to court. Under the FDCPA and FCRA, collectors must obey strict rules. For example, if they continue to report a debt after you’ve disputed or paid it, or if they harass you with calls and threats, that’s illegal. You have one year from the violation date to sue. Courts can award you actual damages (like lost wages) plus attorneys’ fees, and even without proof of specific harm you’re entitled to up to $1,000 in statutory damages.
In short, if Lakeside breaks debt-collection laws, you have the right to sue and recover damages.
How long does it take to remove a collection account?
It depends. After you send a dispute to the credit bureaus, they have about 30 days to investigate and must promptly delete any unverified or erroneous information. So if Lakeside can’t prove the debt, it may be off your report in roughly a month or two. If you negotiate a pay-for-delete or settlement and get agreement in writing, removal can happen shortly after payment is posted (you should follow up with the bureaus a few weeks later). On the other hand, if the debt is valid and undisputed, a collection account can legally remain on your report for up to 7 years from the date of first delinquency.
Paying or settling does not automatically erase a valid debt; it only changes the status (for example, to “paid”). The only ways to remove a legitimately reported collection sooner are via dispute (if there’s an error) or a specific agreement with the collector (like pay-for-delete), or when the 7-year period naturally expires.
Other common questions:
“Is Lakeside Collections legitimate or a scam?” Lakeside is a real company, but with mixed reviews. It has an official business presence (though BBB warns it lacks proper license in some states). Many consumers file complaints about aggressive behavior, so proceed with caution. Always verify any debt by asking for validation in writing.
“What if the Lakeside Collections debt isn’t mine?” Dispute it immediately with the credit bureaus and consider filing an identity theft report. Under FCRA, they must remove debts that aren’t yoursconsumer.ftc.gov.
“Where can I get help?” You can contact the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) or your state attorney general’s office for guidance. Non-profit credit counselors or consumer law attorneys can also advise you on removing collections.
Final Thoughts: You Have Options!
If Lakeside Collections is on your credit report, don't panic — but don't ignore it either.
By disputing errors, validating the debt, negotiating strategically, and monitoring your reports, you can successfully remove Lakeside Collections and start rebuilding your credit score.
By understanding your rights and following the steps above, you can often remove an unwanted Lakeside Collections entry from your credit report. Remember: every consumer has the right to accurate credit information, and federal law is on your side in disputing or correcting errors.