NCO Group, NCO Financial Systems ripoff NCO Group contacted me on 7/6/05 to seek payment of $3719.10 for a Chase Providian credit card they claim the account was opened on 3/1/88. I've never had this type of credit card They have called me 4 times total & when I did'nt return thier calls, they sent me a threatening letter demanding money. Philadelphia, Horsham Pennsylvania
NCO Group contacted me on 7/6/05 to seek payment of $3719.10 for a Chase Providian credit card they claim the account was opened on 3/1/88. I've never had this type of credit card & also filed bankruptcy @ the end of 1992, which went through in early 1993.(Jan. or Feb.)They have called me 4 times total & when I did'nt return thier calls, they sent me a threatening letter demanding money.
On 7/6/05 I was contacted by NCO Group demanding money on a Chase Providian credit card.I told the person I spoke to that I never had one of those
cards.
I was told that the account was opened on 3/1/88 and the last payment made was on 8/17/92.
I was insistant to this person that they were
mistaken & must of had me confused with someone
else.They asked me if the last 4 digits of my SS#
were____and the #'s were correct.I was then asked if I ever filed bankruptcy & told them I did at
the end of 1992 & it went into effect in early
1993.They said they would look into it & get back
to me.
I received another call from them on 7/12/05 at
8:49pm.I did not answer the phone, as I have
caller ID.They left no message.They called again
on 7/13/05 & again left no message.I received
another call on 7/18/05, this time a message was
left.This was the message;"this is Michael Harding.I need you to call me at (800)383-4761."
It was a very cold message.No mention of 'hi' or 'hello' or what it was in regards to or what company he was calling from.He hung up after that message without any form of 'thank you' or 'good- bye.'
On 7/23/05 I received a letter from NCO Financial
Systems stating that I originally owed $2127.72.
Added interest @ 6%:$1591.38 bringing the total
to $3719.10.They threatened that if I do not
notify them within 30 days or pay in full within
30 days, this info would be reported to all
national credit bureaus, also I would be subject
to further collection.
The letter also states that if I do not respond
in 30 days, the office will assume the debt is
valid.
They sent me no dates or list of transactions or
payments yet wrote that if I respond in the 30
day period, they will 'obtain verification of the
debt or obtain a copy of a judgement & mail me a
copy.If I request this office in writing in 30
days the office will provide me with name/address
of original creditor, if different from current
creditor.'
I've never received any requests regarding this
alledged balance in the past & wonder why 12 yrs.'later this has come about.I now have an excellent credit report, my bankruptcy has been removed and I just took out a home improvement loan a year ago and this info was not on my credit report.I believe this is a scam & I plan
on sending them a brief note telling them that I know nothing of this situation& unless they can provide me with proof(in writing)including dates, transactions,payments,etc., I will not put up with this nonsense.I also am requesting that they commmunicate with me through US Postal only and for them not to call my home.I am on disability and therefor, I do not work or have any other phone # for them to call me on. Can you help me with this situation,i.e.;my rights & privacy protection?
I have done my homework and know that bankruptcy
is removed from credit reports after 10yrs. Negative credit is removed after 7yrs. I look forward to hearing from you & I stumbled across your web site by accident, but the stories I've read from consumers that have emailed you have given me confidence that you may be able to help me with this, even if it's to add another
Rip-off Report about NCO. Thanks for taking the time to read this.It means alot to me & I am more than willing to supply you with any additional info you may need.
Donna
Lynn, Massachusetts
U.S.A.
Click here to read other Rip Off Reports on NCO Financial
3 Updates & Rebuttals
Rob
Clinton,Utah,
U.S.A.
Collections after Bankruptcy
#4Consumer Suggestion
Fri, August 05, 2005
I have heard of this kind of stuff happening frequently years after a Bankruptcy has been discharged. Numerous companies buy old debt and attempt to collect on it. The debt they are trying to collect probably is an old debt that was discharge in your bankruptcy. As often as credit companies are sold to other larger companies you may indeed not know exactly who the debt came from.
Do make sure you verify who the original debt was with. If it is a debt that was discharged in your BK take all the paperwork to a lawyer as now you have grounds to sue the credit card company and the collector as it is a violation of federal law to attempt to collect on any debt that was discharged through bankruptcy.
This happened to a friend of mine and not only did he get a settlement that was more than the debt they were trying to collect the company also was fined quite heavily by the Federal Court. Good luck in your efforts.
Jonathan
Eventually The Truth Will Catch Up To You,Georgia,
U.S.A.
Helpful information - "Drop-Dead" Letter to Collection Agencies
#4Consumer Comment
Fri, July 29, 2005
This was just pulled down from the clarkhoward.com website.
Hope it helps.
Rules debt collectors must follow - March 29, 2004
Do you get frequent visits and calls from debt collectors? If you owe money for bills or other debts, you should pay them without question. But sometimes collectors behave inappropriately and even illegally to get your money. If a collector is worried you're about to file for bankruptcy, some may even try to get money out of you before you do file. But there are things they cannot do! First of all, if you tell them not to contact you, they cannot contact you again. You must send them a drop dead letter telling them you do not want to be contacted anymore. They can't threaten you or cause you physical harm. They can't pretend that they are attorneys, and they have to send you a letter within five days of first contacting you. It must inform you what you owe and for whom they are collecting it. If you think it's not valid, you have to write them back and tell them. You also have the right to ask questions and refuse to pay until they provide verification of the debt. Many people don't know their rights or don't know they have rights - when they are contacted by a collector. But you have rights. Get to know them!
Here is the Drop Dead letter.
"Drop-Dead" Letter to Collection Agencies
(Date)
To Whom it may concern:
I have been contacted by your company about a debt you allege I owe. I am instructing you not to contact me further in connection with this debt. Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, a federal law, you may not contact me further once I have notified you not to do so.
Sincerely,
(Name)
(Account No.)
and link;
http://clarkhoward.com/library/tips/misc_scams.html
Sherri
Piedmont,California,
U.S.A.
EXTORTION, PLAIN AND SIMPLE
#4Consumer Suggestion
Fri, July 29, 2005
You now have excellent credit and they know that you want to maintain it, so they are hoping that you will send them money just to keep your credit clean. Send them a letter such as this one:
In accordance with Section 809-Validating Debts of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, I respectfully request that you provide to me, in writing, the following:
1. Explain and show me how you calculate what you say I owe.
2. Provide me with copies of any papers that show that I agreed to pay what you say I owe.
I have disputed this debt, therefore, until validated, you know your information concerning this debt is inaccurate. Thus, if you have already reported this debt to any credit reporting agency, then you must immediately inform them that this debt is in dispute. Reporting information that you know is inaccurate of failing to report as disputed violates the FCRA e1681s-2. If you do not own the rights to this debt, please send a copy of this dispute letter to the original creditor, so that they will have documentation that they will be aware that this remains in dispute. I do NOT deal with collection agencies or debt buyers, so if there is an issue, it will be resolved with the original creditor. In this case, there is no original creditor, as I have never had a Providian account. If you are unable to validate, this must be removed within 30 days from today, or I will sue for damages under the FCRA. You cannot verify what does not exist.
Finally, in accordance with section 805 (c )Ceasing Collections, of the FDCA, please do not contact me regarding this, except by official mail and then only to inform me that your collection efforts are being terminated or that you are taking specific actions allowed by law.
Your cooperation anticipated and appreciated.
Send this certified mail. It is their job to prove you owe it, not your job to prove you don't.