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Debt Status Codes

Every debt record in Foundation carries a status — where it sits in its lifecycle, from first review through resolution. These are the values defined on the Debt model. They’re the shorthand you’ll see in the portal, in staff tooling, and in conversation; this page is the plain-language key.

Status What it means
Blank / None No status set yet — the debt has been created but not triaged.
In Progress Actively being worked.
Validated We’ve confirmed the debt is legitimate — the creditor provided the documentation required to prove it (see Validation).
Invalidated The debt could not be validated; the creditor failed to substantiate it.
Settled Resolved via a negotiated payment for less than the full balance.
FDCPA Pending A Fair Debt Collection Practices Act matter is open and awaiting action.
FDCPA Resolution An FDCPA matter has reached resolution.
FCRA Resolution A Fair Credit Reporting Act matter has reached resolution.
TCPA Resolution A Telephone Consumer Protection Act matter has reached resolution.
Pending Complaint A formal complaint is being prepared.
Active Lawsuit Litigation is underway on this debt.
Judgment Entered The court ruled in the creditor’s favor — a judgment now exists.
Lawsuit Dismissed The suit was dismissed.
Removed From Credit Report The item has been deleted from the consumer’s credit report.

A debt also records the consumer’s relationship to the account — the whos_debt field. This determines who is actually liable and how we correspond about it.

Applicant · Co-Applicant · Authorized User · Borrower · Co-Borrower · Co-Signer · Maker · Joint · Individual · Participant · Deceased · Terminated · Undesignated

Every person is assigned to a portfolio, which routes them to the right company book of business:

  • RESPRO — Resolution Processing.
  • MLG — the law-group portfolio.
  • MLG-BK — the law-group bankruptcy portfolio.
  • OTHER — anything not covered above.
  • Validation — the legal process of proving a debt is legitimate; the creditor must provide documentation on request.
  • Charge-off — an account the original creditor has written off as a loss. Still collectable, and often where a debt buyer enters the picture.
  • Debt buyer — a collection agency that purchased the debt from the original creditor.

Source: foundation/debts/models.py (Debt.Status, Debt.WhosDebt) and foundation/people/models.py (portfolio choices).