Complaint Review: NCO Financial Systems Inc. NCO Financial

This is transcribed from written notes on an event that just occurred. This is, obviously, going to be from my point of view.

I received a prerecorded call from NCO Financial Systems Inc. this afternoon (June 19 2008) at 5:35 pm. They stated several times that they were a "debt collection firm", and that they "were calling to service a debt."

The number they gave was 1-800-511-8670 (the last seven numbers were "inserted" into the recording, if you can understand that.) The "Reference ID Number" they gave me was 1(C or 3)8ZQ4. I was urged to return the call immediately. The info was repeated twice (by pushing #), then disconnected.

I called the number immediately upon disconnecting the robocall. I was told to hold to speak to someone, then heard, "Your call cannot be completed at this time. Please call back." The answering recording then disconnected.

At this moment, I have no more information on this big, scary Debt Collection Agency aside from what I see on the Internet -- they have certainly given me no information about them, nor have they given me any detail on this "debt" I owe.

The second thing I did was google the company, thank goodness. I'm just documenting all of this here, now, at the very beginning. I'm hoping it will prevent it from becoming too ugly.
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When I think of who may have sicced this company on me, I immediately think of Verizon. I got a fantastic deal for broadband, voice, and TV this spring, so I took it and cancelled my Verizon phone service and DSL. A third party confirmed the switch and Comcast's end went through, but Verizon seems to think I still have an account.

At first I received an email saying they were going to continue billing me, when it was clear (from the 3rd party confirmation) that I was really and truly, actually and always, immediately, heretofore and forthwith, terminating the account.

Long story short, it's a bogus bill and I know it, so I won't pay it, and I don't feel the need to call any phone number they can provide me. Indeed, if this is a legitimate debt, they can call and talk to me personally. I'm disabled and available most of the day, most days.

I think this claim is for $39.99 (going without notes on this bit here.) So I wonder: did Verizon send this out to NCO Financial, just to get my attention, and possibly get my account back? Or maybe just for spite?

In the interest of full disclosure, I still owe Verizon over $200 for my previous DSL account -- the *inactive* account -- which I have not yet paid. They have yet to send me a bill (I've received one bill for the total, but the debt is now a few months old, I think) for it, and the collections may be for that, or for both. In any case, they went straight to their debt collectors with it. I suppose that that is their prerogative...

Stay tuned, and I hope to find some support here, whatever arises. I will update as things progress.

Leorising
Beaverton, Oregon
U.S.A.