Cavalry SPV / Cavalry Portfolio Services: How to Respond and Make Them Stop

If a letter showed up from Cavalry SPV I, LLC — or Cavalry SPV II, or Cavalry Portfolio Services — take a breath. You have 30 days from their first contact to demand proof that you actually owe this debt. If they can't back it up, they're legally required to stop collecting.

That right is yours under FDCPA SS 1692g. And Cavalry, despite being one of the most lawsuit-happy debt buyers in the country, has to follow the same rules as everyone else.

This page breaks down who Cavalry is, what power you actually have, and the two letters that put you back in control.

Who Is Cavalry SPV?

Cavalry SPV I, LLC is a special purpose vehicle — a legal entity created specifically to hold portfolios of purchased consumer debt. It's operated by Cavalry Portfolio Services, LLC, which is headquartered in Greenwich, Connecticut and backed by private equity money.

Here's how it works: banks and credit card companies charge off accounts they can't collect on. Cavalry buys those accounts in bulk — credit cards, auto loans, telecom bills, medical debt — for a fraction of what's owed. Sometimes pennies on the dollar. Then they come after you for the full balance.

Why this matters to you:

1. +

   Cavalry didn't lend you money. They bought a spreadsheet with your name on it. They have no firsthand knowledge of your account, and the documentation that transferred with the sale is often incomplete or missing entirely.

2. +

   They're aggressive. Cavalry files thousands of lawsuits every year against consumers. They're not a collector that sends a few letters and gives up — they escalate. That makes it even more important to respond in writing early, because it forces them to actually prove their case before they can keep pushing.

3. +

   The "SPV" structure is intentional. By placing debt into separate legal entities (SPV I, SPV II, etc.), Cavalry compartmentalizes its risk. But from your perspective, all Cavalry entities are debt collectors bound by the FDCPA. The entity name on your letter doesn't change your rights.

Cavalry shows up frequently in the CFPB complaint database, with consumers reporting issues ranging from attempts to collect debts they don't owe to harassment and failure to validate.

What Cavalry Can and Cannot Do

Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), Cavalry is bound by the same rules as every other third-party debt collector.

They cannot:

• +Call you before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m. (SS 1692c)
• +Call your workplace if you tell them your employer prohibits it (SS 1692c)
• +Contact you at all after receiving your written cease and desist (SS 1692c)
• +Threaten you with lawsuits they don't actually intend to file (SS 1692e)
• +Misrepresent the amount you owe or who they are (SS 1692e)
• +Use abusive, threatening, or profane language (SS 1692d)
• +Discuss your debt with your family, friends, or coworkers (SS 1692c)

Every violation is worth up to $1,000 in statutory damages under SS 1692k, plus attorney's fees. If Cavalry crosses the line and you have documentation, you can sue them.

They can:

• +Contact you by mail, phone, or text (until you restrict it in writing)
• +Report the debt to credit bureaus
• +File a lawsuit to collect (if the statute of limitations hasn't expired)

Your 30-Day Validation Window — Don't Let It Slip

This is your most important deadline.

Under FDCPA SS 1692g, within 5 days of first contacting you, Cavalry must send a written notice that includes:

• +The amount of the debt
• +The name of the original creditor
• +A statement that you have 30 days to dispute it

If you dispute the debt in writing within those 30 days, Cavalry must halt all collection activity until they provide verification. No calls. No letters. No threats. Nothing — until they prove the debt is real, the amount is right, and they have the legal authority to collect it.

The 30-day clock starts on the date of their first contact — not when you open the envelope. Don't sit on it.

Two Letters That Shift the Balance

Letter 1: Debt Validation Letter

This letter triggers your rights under SS 1692g. It:

1. +Demands that Cavalry prove the debt — original account documentation, chain of ownership from the original creditor, and an itemized accounting of the balance
2. +Formally disputes the debt until they provide that proof
3. +Puts them on notice that any continued collection activity without verification is a federal violation

With debt buyers like Cavalry, validation requests are especially effective. They buy accounts in bulk and often lack the original signed agreements, account statements, or assignment documents needed to verify. If they can't produce it, they have to stop.

Letter 2: Cease and Desist Letter

Under FDCPA SS 1692c(c), you can order any debt collector to stop contacting you — period. Once Cavalry receives your written cease and desist, their only legal options are:

• +Send one final letter confirming they'll stop
• +Notify you of a specific legal action they plan to take (like filing a lawsuit)

Any other contact after that is a violation. Given Cavalry's reputation for aggressive collection tactics, having this on the record is important protection.

You can combine both letters into one document. DebtStrike generates your personalized Debt Validation + Cease and Desist letter in under 60 seconds.

Generate Your Letter Now ->

How to Send It (This Part Matters)

Send your letter by USPS Certified Mail with Return Receipt Requested. Here's why:

• +Certified Mail gives you a tracking number proving the date they received it
• +The Return Receipt (green card) comes back with their signature
• +This is your evidence if Cavalry violates the law after getting your letter

With a collector as litigious as Cavalry, documentation is everything. Keep the envelope, the receipt, the tracking confirmation, and the green card. If they call you, text you, or send another letter after receiving your cease and desist, you have proof of a federal violation.

Do not call them. Do not email them. Certified mail only.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between Cavalry SPV and Cavalry Portfolio Services?

Cavalry Portfolio Services is the parent company that manages debt collection operations. Cavalry SPV I, LLC and Cavalry SPV II, LLC are special purpose vehicles — essentially separate legal entities set up to hold specific pools of purchased debt. Think of it like this: Cavalry Portfolio Services runs the show, and the SPV entities are the buckets where the bought debt sits. For you as a consumer, it doesn't matter which name appears on the letter. They're all governed by the same federal rules, and your rights are identical regardless of which Cavalry entity contacts you.

Can Cavalry SPV sue me for this debt?

They can — and they do, more than most collectors. Cavalry is known for filing thousands of collection lawsuits every year. But they can only sue within the statute of limitations, which in California is 4 years from your last payment on the original account. If the debt is older than that, it's time-barred and they can't win even if they file. Sending a validation letter does not reset this clock or give them more time.

I got a letter from Cavalry SPV but I don't recognize the debt. What should I do?

This is extremely common with debt buyers. Cavalry purchases old accounts in bulk from banks and credit card companies — often debts that have been sold multiple times. By the time it reaches you, the amount may have changed, the original creditor's name may not appear, or the debt may not be yours at all. Send a debt validation letter within 30 days of their first contact. They're required to prove the debt is yours, that the amount is correct, and that they have the legal right to collect it. If they can't, they have to stop.

Will sending a letter hurt my credit score?

No. Exercising your rights under the FDCPA has no effect on your credit score. Cavalry may already be reporting the debt to the credit bureaus — that's a separate issue. But disputing the debt in writing and demanding they cease contact does not add any negative mark. In fact, if they can't verify the debt after you dispute it, they're required to stop reporting it too.

What if Cavalry already filed a lawsuit against me?

If you've been served with a lawsuit, you need to respond by the court deadline — usually 30 days from the date you were served. Do not ignore a lawsuit. Even if the debt is old or you don't think you owe it, failing to respond means Cavalry gets a default judgment, which lets them garnish wages and freeze bank accounts. A validation letter is a good first step, but if there's active litigation, consider consulting with a consumer rights attorney. Many take FDCPA cases on contingency, meaning you pay nothing upfront.

The Bottom Line

Cavalry SPV is one of the most aggressive debt buyers in the industry — private-equity-backed, litigation-heavy, and relentless. But aggressive doesn't mean untouchable. They're bound by the same federal rules as every other collector, and most of the debt they buy comes with gaps in the paperwork.

You have 30 days to demand proof. You have the right to make them stop contacting you entirely. Every contact they make after receiving your written cease and desist is a federal violation worth up to $1,000.

One letter, sent certified mail, is how you take back control.

Generate Your Debt Validation + Cease and Desist Letter ->

DebtStrike letters cite FDCPA SS 1692g and SS 1692c by name. They are personalized to you and the specific collector. Nothing on this page is legal advice — it is plain-language information about your federal rights under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.