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TULSA COUNTY • CS-2025-67

LVNV Funding LLC v. XIONG CHA

Filed: Jan 2, 2025
Type: CS

What's This Case About?

Let’s get one thing straight: we are not in a murder trial. There is no blood. No forensic drama. No twist ending involving a long-lost twin. But what we do have—what has brought us together on this fine day—is something almost more terrifying: a debt collector suing a man in Tulsa for $1,434.50 over a Fingerhut balance. Yes. Fingerhut. The mail-order catalog that once mailed you a George Foreman grill in 2003 because you “pre-qualified.” The same company that sent you a free stuffed panda if you opened an account. That Fingerhut. And now, over four years after the last payment was made, the financial ghosts of online shopping past have returned—with lawyers.

Meet Xiong Cha, a resident of Tulsa, Oklahoma, who, like many Americans, once dipped a toe into the murky waters of subprime retail credit. At some point—April 3, 2016, to be exact—he opened a Fingerhut Advantage Credit Account issued by WebBank. This wasn’t a high-limit Amex. This was the kind of card designed for people rebuilding credit, or maybe just really into novelty kitchen gadgets. And for a while, things were fine. Payments were made. Debts were managed. Life moved on. Then, on February 26, 2020—right before the world shut down for a global pandemic—Xiong made his last payment. After that? Radio silence. The account went dark. The balance? A cool $1,434.50. Not chump change, but not exactly a fortune either. Still, in the world of debt collection, even modest sums have afterlives longer than The Walking Dead.

Fast-forward to October 13, 2020: WebBank officially “charged off” the account, which is banker-speak for “we’ve given up on getting paid, at least directly.” But here’s where it gets weird. In the shadowy, high-volume world of consumer debt trading, unpaid accounts aren’t just written off—they’re packaged, sold, and resold like bulk Halloween candy. And Xiong’s little Fingerhut tab? It went on a journey. First, WebBank sold it to BLST Receivables & Servicing, LLC in June 2021. Then, that company flipped it to Resurgent Acquisitions, LLC. Then—because apparently one middleman isn’t enough—Resurgent handed it off to LVNV Funding LLC, the plaintiff in this case. That’s three companies touching one $1,434.50 debt before anyone thought to actually sue. It’s like a financial game of hot potato, except the potato is your credit score.

Now, LVNV Funding LLC—despite the ominous name that sounds like a rogue AI from a sci-fi thriller—is not a bank. It’s a debt buyer. These companies don’t lend money; they buy defaulted debts for pennies on the dollar and then try to collect the full amount. Think of them as vultures, but with better dental plans and paralegals. In this case, LVNV paid some unknown amount—likely a fraction of $1,434.50—for the right to chase Xiong Cha down. And now, four years after the last payment and nearly five years after the account opened, they’re asking a Tulsa County judge to force him to pay the full balance. Plus court costs. Plus fees. Plus interest, though at this point, that ship has sailed—along with any chance of Xiong remembering what he even bought.

So what exactly are they suing for? Legally, it’s a classic “breach of contract” claim. The argument is simple: Xiong agreed to pay Fingerhut (via WebBank) according to the terms of the credit agreement. He didn’t. Therefore, he broke the contract. LVNV, as the current owner of that debt, says it’s entitled to the money. The filing is dry, formulaic, and packed with legalese—but the core of it is as American as unpaid gym memberships: you said you’d pay, you didn’t, now we’re taking you to court.

And what do they want? $1,434.50. That’s it. No punitive damages. No demand for Xiong to return a used crockpot or a lava lamp. Just the balance, plus whatever court costs rack up—sheriff’s fees, process server fees, attorney fees (though none are itemized here). Is $1,434.50 a lot? Well, for a debt buyer, it’s a rounding error. For a person in Tulsa, it could be a month’s rent on a studio apartment—or three car payments. But here’s the kicker: LVNV likely paid nowhere near that amount for the debt. Industry estimates suggest debt buyers pay between 1 and 10 cents on the dollar for charged-off accounts. So LVNV might’ve paid as little as $143 for the right to sue for $1,434.50. That’s a potential 900% return—if they win. Suddenly, this doesn’t look like justice. It looks like arbitrage.

Now, let’s talk about the statement. Exhibit 1, the last bill before charge-off, shows a “New Balance” of $1,434.50, with $31.44 in interest charged that month. The APR? A soul-crushing 29.99% on part of the balance. That’s not just high—that’s “call your local priest and ask about exorcism” levels of interest. And the warning on the statement? “If you make only the minimum payment each period, you will pay more in interest and it will take you longer to pay off your balance.” Example? Pay the minimum, and you’ll be debt-free in four years, having paid a total of $1,843. That’s more than the original balance—just in interest and fees. And yet, the last payment was made in February 2020. The charge-off came in October. That’s eight months of silence. Did Xiong lose his job? Was he hit by the pandemic wave? Did he forget? Did he move? The filing doesn’t say. And LVNV isn’t asking. They just want the money.

Here’s the absurd part: no one involved in this lawsuit actually provided the credit. WebBank did. Fingerhut ran the catalog. Xiong bought… something. But LVNV? They just bought the right to sue. They weren’t there when the account opened. They didn’t send the statements. They didn’t answer the customer service calls. They weren’t even in the room when the interest started compounding like a sci-fi horror experiment. And yet, they’re the ones standing in court, demanding full payment. It’s like if a stranger bought your car loan from the bank, then sued you for the balance—except you never even knew they existed.

We’re not rooting for deadbeats. We’re not saying people shouldn’t pay their debts. But this? This feels like the financial system’s version of a shell game. The original creditor is long gone from the equation. The product—whatever Xiong bought—is probably in a landfill by now. And the debt? It’s been bought, sold, and securitized like a digital ghost. And now, years later, a corporate entity with a name that sounds like a cryptocurrency scam is asking a judge to force a Tulsa man to pay over $1,400 for something he hasn’t thought about since before Tiger King was a thing.

So here we are. A man, a catalog, and a debt that outlived its usefulness. Will Xiong show up to court? Will he dispute the amount? Will he argue he already paid it? Did he return the goods? The filing doesn’t say. But one thing’s for sure: if this case goes to trial, the most dramatic moment will probably be someone reading a spreadsheet aloud. And honestly? That’s peak American civil justice in 2025. We’re entertainers, not lawyers—but even we can’t make this up.

Case Overview

Petition
Jurisdiction
District Court, Oklahoma
Relief Sought
$1,435 Monetary
Plaintiffs
Defendants
Claims
# Cause of Action Description
1 breach of contract defendant failed to make required monthly payments

Petition Text

3,164 words
IN THE DISTRICT COURT OF TULSA COUNTY STATE OF OKLAHOMA LVNV FUNDING LLC, Plaintiff, vs. XIONG CHA Defendant(s). PETITION COMES NOW the Plaintiff, by and through counsel, Nelson & Kennard, and herewith alleges the following and seeks redress as hereafter delineated. 1. Plaintiff is a national debt collection agency, which transacts business within the State of Oklahoma. 2. Venue is proper in this County, as the Defendant(s) either reside(s) in this County at the commencement of this action, or the contract which is the subject matter of this action was made, executed, and delivered in this County. 3. The last four (4) digits of the Defendant’s account number, used by the original creditor as of the date of default are XXXXXXXXXXXXX4450. 4. Plaintiff’s claim arises when the Defendant(s) opened a credit account and failed to make the required monthly payments as agreed. The credit account charged off for non-payment on 10/13/20, the balance due at time of default is as follows $1,434.50. A true and accurate copy of the last periodic statement provided to the Defendant(s) prior to charge-off is attached hereto as Exhibit 1. A true and accurate copy of the ownership of the credit card account is attached hereto as Exhibit 2. 5. The Defendant(s) breached the Contract by failing to make the required periodic payments. 6. As a direct and proximate result of the Defendant(s) default, the total amount of debt claimed is $1,434.50. 7. The date of the last payment made by the Defendant(s) is February 26, 2020. 8. Plaintiff seeks court costs, and for such further relief as the Court may deem proper in the premises. ||| || | WHEREFORE, Plaintiff, LVNV FUNDING LLC prays for judgment against the Defendant(s), XIONG CHA in the amount of $1,434.50, plus all costs herein expended, including but not limited to, court costs, sheriff’s fees, and special process server fees, attorney fees; and for such other and further relief as the Court may deem proper in the premises. Dated this December 12, 2024. Nelson & Kennard By: Ashton Dewayne Sears, OBA # 35737 12596 W. Bayaud Ave., Ste. 120 Lakewood, CO 80228 Phone: 866-920-2295 Attorney for the Plaintiff EXHIBIT 1 Previous Balance 1,403.06 Payments & Credits 0.00 Purchases & Debits 0.00 Fees Charged 0.00 Interest Charged 31.44 New Balance 1,434.50 Credit Limit 0 Available Credit 0 Statement Closing Date 09/15/20 Days in Cycle 31 Past Due Amount 420.10 Minimum Payment Due 491.82 Interest Charge Calculation <table> <tr> <th>Type of Balance</th> <th>Annual Percentage Rate (APR)</th> <th>Balance Subject to Interest Rate</th> <th>Interest Charge</th> </tr> <tr> <td>Non Deferred</td> <td>29.99%</td> <td>550.79</td> <td>13.76</td> </tr> <tr> <td>Non Deferred</td> <td>24.90%(v)</td> <td>852.27</td> <td>17.68</td> </tr> </table> (v) APR will vary with the market, based on the Prime Rate. <table> <tr> <th>Fees</th> <th>Date</th> <th>Order Number</th> <th>Description</th> <th>Amount</th> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="4">TOTAL FEES FOR THIS PERIOD</td> <td>0.00</td> </tr> <tr> <td rowspan="2">Interest Charged</td> <td>09/15/20</td> <td></td> <td>INTEREST CHARGE</td> <td>31.44</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="3">TOTAL INTEREST THIS PERIOD</td> <td>31.44</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="4">TOTAL FEES YTD 2020</td> <td>120.00</td> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="4">TOTAL INTEREST YTD 2020</td> <td>259.64</td> </tr> </table> New Balance 1,434.50 Minimum Payment Due 491.82 Mail Payment By 10/04/20 Payment Due Date 10/11/20 Late Payment Warning: If we do not receive your minimum payment by the Payment Due Date listed above, you may have to pay a late fee of up to $40.00. Minimum Payment Warning: If you make only the minimum payment each period, you will pay more in interest and it will take you longer to pay off your balance. For example: <table> <tr> <th>If you make no additional charges using this card and each month you pay:</th> <th>You will pay off the balance shown on this statement in about:</th> <th>And you will end up paying an estimated total of:</th> </tr> <tr> <td>Only the minimum payment</td> <td>4 years</td> <td>$1,843</td> </tr> </table> If you would like information about credit counseling services call 1-888-364-2268. To avoid additional interest charges, pay the New Balance by the Payment Due Date. NOTICE: See Reverse Side for Important Information Inquiries Regarding Your Fingerhut Advantage Credit Account issued by WebBank: English: 1-800-208-2500 En Español: 1-800-56-3208 Or tear off and return with your payment by mail. Make your check payable to Fingerhut. Account Number XXXX-XXXX-XXXX-4450 Customer Number [REDACTED] PAYMENT DUE DATE 10/11/20 MINIMUM DUE $491.82 New Balance $1,434.50 Amount Enclosed [REDACTED] XIONG CHA APT B 426 S MINGO RD TULSA OK 74128-1014 Make your check payable to Fingerhut and mail to: PO BOX 70281 PHILADELPHIA, PA 19176-0281 IMPORTANT NOTICE Your payment will be credited to your account on the same day we receive it if the bottom portion of this statement and your check are received by us on a processing day by 5:00 pm Eastern Time in the enclosed envelope at our processing center. Payments received after 5:00 pm Eastern Time will be credited on the next processing day. Please allow at least seven (7) days for postal delivery. Payments received at any other location in another form or with other documents may not be credited the same day we receive the payment. Our processing days are Monday through Sunday, excluding holidays for payments received by mail. Payments received on holidays will be credited as of the previous processing day. When you send us a check as a payment, you authorize us to use information from your check to make a one-time electronic fund transfer from your deposit account, or to process the payment as a check transaction. When we use information from your check to make an electronic fund transfer, funds may be withdrawn from your deposit account as soon as the same day we receive payment, and you will not receive your check back from your financial institution. If your check is returned to us due to non-sufficient funds we may also re-deposit it through a one-time electronic fund transfer. You may also make a payment anytime on your Fingerhut Advantage Account at fingerhut.com/MyAccount or via an automated phone payment at 1-800-208-2500. Online and automated phone payments will be posted as of the same day if made before 11:00 pm Central Time. If your statement shows a credit balance, you may request a refund of the credit by contacting Fingerhut Credit Services at the address shown below. You may pay the entire balance on your account at anytime without incurring any additional charges for prepayment. PAYMENTS Make checks payable to Fingerhut and mail to: Fingerhut Credit Account Services, P.O. Box 70281, Philadelphia, PA 19176-0281 Please write your Fingerhut Advantage Account number on your check. Do not send correspondence to this address. Mail your payment in the enclosed envelope with the payment coupon attached to the bottom of your statement. WHAT TO DO IF YOU THINK YOU FIND A MISTAKE ON YOUR STATEMENT If you think there is an error on your statement, write us at: Fingerhut Credit Account Services, P.O. Box 1250; Saint Cloud MN 56395-1250. In your letter, give us the following information: • Account Information - Your name and your 10-digit Fingerhut Customer Number • Dollar Amount - The dollar amount of the suspected error • Description of Problem - If you think there is an error on your bill, describe what you believe is wrong and why you believe it is a mistake You must contact us within 60 days after the error appeared on your statement. You must notify us of any potential errors in writing. You may call us, but if you do we are not required to investigate any potential errors and you may have to pay the amount in question. While we investigate whether or not there has been an error, the following are true: • We cannot try to collect the amount in question, or report you as delinquent • The charge in question may remain on your statement, and we may continue to charge you interest on that amount. But if we determine that we made a mistake, you will not have to pay the amount in question or any interest or other fees related to that amount. • While you do not have to pay the amount in question, you are responsible for the remainder of your balance. • We can apply any unpaid amount against your credit limit. YOUR RIGHTS IF YOU ARE DISSATISFIED WITH YOUR CREDIT PURCHASES If you use your card to make a purchase and you are dissatisfied with the goods or services that you receive, you may have the right not to pay the remaining amount due on the purchase. To use this right, all of the following must be true: 1. The purchase must have been made in your home State or within 100 miles of your current mailing address, and the purchase price must have been more than $50. (Note: neither of these are necessary if your purchase was based on an advertisement we mailed to you, or if we own the company that sold you the goods or services) 2. You must have used your card for the purchase. 3. You must have not yet fully paid for the purchase. If all of the criteria above are met and you are still dissatisfied with the purchase, contact us in writing at: Fingerhut Credit Account Services, P.O. Box 1250, Saint Cloud MN 56395-1250. While we investigate, the same rules apply to the disputed amount as discussed above. After we finish our investigation, we will tell you our decision. At that point if we think you owe an amount and you do not pay we may report you as delinquent. CREDIT BUREAU DISPUTES If you believe we inaccurately reported credit history information about you or your Account to a credit reporting agency, write to us at Credit Bureau Reporting Services, 6250 Ridgewood Road, Saint Cloud MN 56303. Please provide the Fingerhut Advantage Credit Account number along with a copy of your credit bureau report reflecting the information that you believe is inaccurate. HOW WE CALCULATE INTEREST CHARGES To calculate the interest charge payable each month, we multiply the average daily balance times the monthly periodic rate. Your monthly periodic rate may vary each billing cycle. The monthly periodic rate is determined by dividing the APR by 12. Your Account is subject to a minimum interest charge of $1.00. Average Daily Balance - We figure the interest charge on your Account by applying the monthly periodic rate to the "average daily balance" of your Account, including current transactions. To get the "average daily balance" we take the beginning balance of your Account each day, add any new purchases, charges, and other fees, and subtract any payments or credits. This gives us the daily balance. Then we add up all the daily balances for that billing cycle and divide the total by the number of days in the billing cycle. This gives us the "average daily balance." Interest charges begin to accrue on each purchase on the date of the purchase if you paid the new balance on your previous Statement by the payment due date shown on the statement, then: (1) if you pay the new balance on your current billing statement by the payment due date shown, we impose no interest charges on purchases during the current billing cycle, and (2) if you make a payment by the payment due date shown on your current billing statement that is less than the new balance, we will credit that payment as the first day in your current billing cycle. In addition, if your Statement reflects a new balance and you did not pay that new balance in full by the payment due date on that previous statement, we will not impose interest charges on any purchases during the current billing cycle if you pay the balance shown on your current Statement by the payment due date reflected on that current statement. DEFERRAL PERIODS WebBank may offer Accounts promotional credit offers, including deferred payment offers. Special rules apply to promotional credit offers, which are described at the time of the offer. • The date, amount and description of each purchase are identified on your periodic statement for the period when you make the purchase. • Each periodic statement contains a summary of all active deferred offers, including unpaid balances, any interest charges and the date on which the deferral periods expire. • We figure interest charges each month by multiplying the average daily balance of each deferred balance by the monthly periodic rate. • We do consider all deferred purchases for purposes of determining your available credit. NOTICE OF ASSIGNMENT: The right to receive payment on your Fingerhut Advantage Credit Account has been assigned by WebBank to Fingerhut. QUESTIONS ABOUT YOUR STATEMENT E-mail us at [email protected] or call 1-800-208-2500 (English) 1-800-556-3208 (En Español) IMPORTANT! Has your address, phone number, or e-mail address changed? If so, please fill in any NEW information in the spaces below and we will update your account. Account Name Address City State Zip E-Mail Address Please provide your e-mail address for business transactions. (We will not send promotional material without your permission.) Check here if you'd like to receive e-mails about Fingerhut special deals and events. Consent for Use of Telephone Numbers: You authorize WebBank/Fingerhut, their affiliates, agents, and others calling at their request or on their behalf to contact you at any number (i) you have provided to us (ii) from which you have called us, or (iii) which we obtain and believe we can reach you at. We may contact you in any way, such as calling, texting, using an automated dialer or using pre-recorded messages. We may contact you on a mobile, wireless, or similar device, even if you are charged for it by your provider. EXHIBIT 2 FINGERHUT BB ALLIUM RECEIVABLES POST PRIMARY – RESURGENT ACQUISITIONS EXHIBIT F BILL OF SALE OF ORIGINAL CREDITOR OR ACQUIRER (WEBBANK) FOR VALUE RECEIVED, and subject to the terms and conditions of the Charged-Off Account Purchase Agreement ("Account Purchase Agreement") between WebBank ("Bank") and BLST Receivables & Servicing, LLC, dated January 10, 2013, Bank does hereby transfer, assign and convey to BLST Receivables & Servicing, LLC, as of the date hereof all right, title and interest of Bank in and to those certain Charged-Off Accounts described in Schedule 1 attached hereto and made a part hereof for all purposes. Terms used herein shall have the meanings set forth in the Account Purchase Agreement. This BILL OF SALE is executed without recourse and without representation of any warranty of collectability or otherwise, expressed or implied. Dated this ____ day of June, 2021. WEBBANK By: ____________________________________________ Name: Jon Sargent Title: Controller SCHEDULE 1 TO BILL OF SALE OF ORIGINAL CREDITOR ACCOUNTS SCHEDULE The individual Purchased Accounts transferred are described in the final electronic files named SHER_FHTBBALLIUM_PPS_20210628 and SHPP_FHT_BBALLIUM_TrueUpReport_06.29.2021 delivered by WebBank to BLST Receivables & Servicing, LLC, on or about June 25, 2021 the same deemed attached hereto by this reference. EXHIBIT B ASSIGNMENT AND BILL OF SALE BLST Receivables & Servicing, LLC, for itself and as agent for BB Allium Borrowing LLC ("BB ALLIUM") (collectively "Seller") has entered into a Purchase Agreement ("Agreement") dated June 28, 2021 for the sale of Accounts and associated receivables, described in Schedule 1 hereto ("Purchased Accounts"), to Resurgent Acquisitions, LLC ("Buyer") upon the terms and conditions set forth in that Agreement. This ASSIGNMENT AND BILL OF SALE is for the Purchased Accounts, as further described in Schedule 1 which is hereby included by reference, delivered by Seller to Buyer on June 29, 2021 with a Closing Date of June 29, 2021. NOW, THEREFORE, for good and valuable consideration, Seller hereby sells, assigns and transfers to Buyer all of Seller’s rights, title and interest in each and every one of the Purchased Accounts described in the Agreement. This ASSIGNMENT AND BILL OF SALE is executed without recourse or warranties except as stated and provided for herein and within the Agreement. All of the information contained in Seller’s Accounts Information (a) constitutes Seller’s own business records regarding the Purchased Accounts and (b) accurately reflects in all material respects the information about the Purchased Accounts in Seller’s possession. All of Seller’s Accounts Information has been kept in the regular course of Seller’s business and was made or compiled at or near the time of the event and recorded by (or from information transmitted by) a person (i) with knowledge of the data entered into and maintained in Seller’s business records or (ii) who caused the data to be entered into and maintained in Seller’s business records. It is the regular practice of Seller’s business to maintain and compile such data. IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Seller has signed and delivered this instrument on the 29th day of June, 2021. Seller: BLST Receivables & Servicing, LLC 13300 Pioneer Trail Eden Prairie, MN 55347 By: ________________________________ Name: Richard J. Winship Title: SVP of Credit Buyer: Resurgent Acquisitions, LLC Attention: Jon Mazzoli 55 Beattie St. Suite 400 By: ________________________________ Name: Jon Mazzoli Title: Vice President BB Allium Borrowing LLC By: BLST Receivables & Servicing, LLC, as agent 13300 Pioneer Trail Eden Prairie, MN 55347 By: ________________________________ Name: Richard J. Winship Title: SVP of Credit SCHEDULE 1 TO ASSIGNMENT AND BILL OF SALE ACCOUNTS SCHEDULE The individual Purchased Accounts transferred are described in the final electronic files named SHER_FHTBBALLIUM_PPS_20210628 and SHPP_FHT_BBALLIUM_TrueUpReport_06.29.2021 delivered by the Seller to Buyer on or about June 29, 2021 the same deemed attached hereto by this reference. Declaration of Account Transfer Resurgent Acquisitions LLC ("RALLC"), without recourse, to the extent permitted by applicable law, transferred, sold, assigned, conveyed, granted and delivered to LVNV Funding LLC ("LVNV") all of its right, title and interest in and to the receivables and other assets (the "Assets") identified on Exhibit A, in the Receivable File dated June 28, 2021 delivered by BLST Receivables & Servicing/BB Allium Borrowing on June 29, 2021 for purchase by RALLC on June 29, 2021. The transfer of the Assets included electronically stored business records. Resurgent Acquisitions LLC a Delaware Limited Liability Company By: [Handwritten signature] Name: Jackson Walker Title: Authorized Representative LVNV Funding LLC a Delaware Limited Liability Company By: [Handwritten signature] Name: Daniel Picciano Title: Authorized Representative Exhibit A Receivables File 06.29.21 SHER_FHTBBALLIUM_PPS_20210628 Transfer Group Portfolio Transfer Batch 748305 38925 N/A ACCOUNT SUMMARY REPORT 10/18/2024 12:32:06 PM This account summary has been prepared by Resurgent Capital Services on behalf of LVNV Funding LLC. It is not a credit card or other account statement from the original creditor. <table> <tr> <th>Borrower Information</th> <th>Current Account Information</th> </tr> <tr> <td>Name: XIONG CHA<br>Address: 3205 S 147th East Ave Apt M<br>City: Tulsa<br>State: OK<br>Zip Code: 74134-4623</td> <td>Owner: LVNV Funding LLC<br>Resurgent Reference #: 706966044<br>Original Creditor: WebBank<br>Account Number: xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx4450<br>Merchant: Fingerhut<br>Current Balance Due: $1434.50<br>Date of Last Payment: 02/26/2020</td> </tr> </table> Recent Payment Transactions No Transactions Found Historical Account Information The original creditor for this account was: WebBank<br>215 South State Street Suite 800<br>Salt Lake City, UT 84111 The origination date with original creditor was: 04/03/2016 The account charge-off date was: 10/13/2020 The account charge-off amount was: $1,434.50 The account was acquired on or about: 06/29/2021 The account balance at time of acquisition: $1,434.50
Disclaimer: This content is sourced from publicly available court records. Crazy Civil Court is an entertainment platform and does not provide legal advice. We are not lawyers. All information is presented as-is from public filings.