Complaint Review: Credit Collection Services - Newton Massachusetts

I worked for Credit Collection Services (CCS) some time ago

as a Customer Service Representative (CSR’s – aka bill collector), and just

wanted to shade some light on how things ran from the inside.

 

In order for CCS to collect money for their clients, ( i.e.

– Insurance firms, phone companies ect …) they have to first contact the person

who owes the alleged debt. Because people change their addresses, phone

numbers, get married or whatever happens in their life, usually their creditors

never get their new contact information. Sometimes all CCS receives from their

clients is the persons name, and the amount they owe. So what does CCS do in

this case? They have employees perform a task known as skiptracing, which

involves using what little information they have, to do various searches

(usually on the web) to gather more info. Facebook is a useful tool, where all

you do is type a name in, and you can find out where they work, what clubs they

belong to ect…

 

So you may just be the victim of improper skiptracing on

their end. Which is why the names in your name are in a different order. Maybe

the debtor’s first name is your middle name, and their last name is your maiden

name. Houston is also a big city, and it may be possible to run into someone

with a name similar to yours. Although even if this was a mistake, it’s still

unfortunate for innocent people having to go through the harassment.

 

To them, you’re the debtor until proven innocent. The reason

they work with that as their philosophy is because of how they get paid. The

CSR’s are not paid commission, but they receive monthly bonuses if they collect

above a particular threshold. So you can see why they don’t back down at the

first sign of objection. And many get desperate, especially at the end of the

month to maintain their level of income. THEY’LL DO WHATEVER THEY HAVE TO, TO

GET EVEN THE WRONGFULY ACCUSED TO PAY.

 

This is what I would do if I were you:

 

1st – Request in a certified letter (receipt

return included) that you want validation of the debt (aka – a breakdown). The

validation should include the period of time the bill is in question. You have

30 days to do this, from when you received CCS’s statement.

 

If they don’t send you validation,

the law is on your side and they will have to stop contacting you (In case they

do, save your receipt of letter as evidence). They can only contact you further

if they sent you a valid breakdown. If they sent it:

 

2nd - 

Send another certified letter which contains a copy of your phone bill,

and a copy of proof of payment. Make sure the period of time in question is

written clearly on the bill, and write to the attention of your CCS account

number on the bill. Proof of payment is either the front and back of a cleared

check, or an EFT on your bank statement, it’s not a confirmation number.

 

If they contact you after not

receiving validation of debt (within 30 days), or if they contact you after

sending in proof that the debt is not yours – you may be able to collect $1,000

dollars for each letter or each call you receive from them:

3rd – Send a threatening certified letter to

them, telling them that you went online and filed a compliant with the state

attorney general, and that you’re taking them to court. State the number of

times they contacted you as well. Most times, they will just compensate you for

the number of times they contacting you, and try to avoid taking it to court.

 

As you know already, don’t call CCS and talk to a CSR.

You’ll get nowhere, and anything you say will be used against you.

 

Good luck to you, and hope all ends well