Complaint Review: First National Collection Bureau Inc. - Sparks Nevada

Kathy,

Ask the collections rep for a V.O.D (a validity of debt), ask them verbally and also ask for their mailing address and fax number as well. When you send the letter, send it certified registered mail and make them sign for it. Also ask that they only contact you in writing moving forward and to cease all phone calls in writing (if you have received any to begin with). Once they sign for the letter, they have 30 calendar days to provide any and all documentation that would certify the validity of the debt. If they fail to do so, the debt is then deemed invalid and can no longer be collected upon(depending your local state laws of course, I am not an attorney and this should in no way be considered legal advise.) Being in the collection industry in the past I know that it's extremely frustrating for the consumer when an invalid debt is placed upon someone, however most statutes and state laws are in the consumer's favor. Just handle the paperwork properly and do things through the proper channels and you'll be able to squash it. Best of luck to you!

To the person who wrote the defammatory post about low-lives, Ex-Cons and Drug addicts being the majority of people who work for collection agencies is defammatory and entirely incorrect. I am a 31 year old professional, in sales. I have been in sales for the past 12 years of my life and started my career off in collections. I am in no way, shape, or form a low-life, ex-con, or drug addict. I make over $100k/yr and live very comfortably. I also know many people who started their careers in collections as well and are in the same boat as me, so before you make uneducated, defammatory and false comments, perhaps you should look inlthe mirrior, maybe you're just reflecting your personal problems onto other people? 

Secondly, the fact of the matter is, collection agencies don't take people's "hard earned money" as you put it, they take money owed to a company or organization that was never paid. If you pay your bills correctly, and on time, you should not have to deal with collection agencies. Perhaps you have numerous collection agencies calling you because you in fact, do not pay your bills? Maybe you like to rack up credit cards and then just not pay them? Perhaps you like to take things that you promise to pay for and then never pay for them and get to enjoy the fruits of something you didn't earn? 

I am not going to defend all credit collection agencies, because some of the people who call are just downright rude and ignorant, however, I always tried to conduct myself professionally and act with courtesy and respect. I never knew the circumstances as to why someone did not pay their debt. Maybe a mother had a newborn baby and her husband passed away? Maybe someone has become disabled and is unable to work? Maybe someone is taking care of a sick sibling, spouse, or family member and has had to cut back their hours at work? Fact of the matter is, not all collection reps are scumbags, and not all people in debt are losers. Don't generalize statements, you never know who you're dealing with or what their circumstances are. 

To Sarah, it's no surprise.  The reason people work for collection agencies is that they are not able to work anywhere else.  Drug addicts, ex cons, people with antisocial personalities, people on parole, first time kids desperate for any kind of work-- these comprise the bulk of bill colllectors. 

Now, when you have a junk debt collector like First National, you get the very bottom of that barrel.  Think about it: anyone that wants to go to work every day and take peoples' hard-earned money from them has to have something a little wrong with them.  If nothing else, it shows a severe lack of empathy.  The term sociopath comes to mind, in fact.

Make no mistake about it: in the break room bill collectors talk about the people they call and laugh at them.  They actually enjoy making the people they call afraid.  They think it's funny.

My best advice: don't answer the phone to any number you don't recognize.  If your computer has a modem, connect a phone line to it, then download and run Phone Tray Free.  You can program it to block calls from specific numbers, or even from entire area codes, and even give out "this line is disconnected" messages.

Remember, First National is a junk debt collector.  Legally, they can do nothing.  If the debt is over seven years old, it isn't even on your credit report. 

Unfortunately, what will happen is they will give up, and sell your name to even scummier collectors.  In that case, use Phone Tray to block the new callers and you'll be fine.  No matter what, stick to your guns.  NEVER talk to them.

Wow! If Stan the Man's response is any indication of the education level of this company's employees, that has to say something about this so-called "debt collecton" company. In just six short sentences, I counted eight spelling/grammar mistakes. That does not take into account the lack of spaces between the periods. Most of the "deadbeats" that you people harass either don't owe the debt and you are contacting the wrong person or the debt is so old that it is not legally collectable. Kathy, do what Steve says and all will be well and ignore ill-mannered, uneducated jerks like Stan. Stan, you might want to consider enrolling in a grammar class so that you'll sound smarter when you speak.

STAN THE MAN is a bottomfeeder of the worst kind. His response is exactly what I expect to hear from a bogus debt collection attempt. BY LAW you are required to validate when requested by the person you contacted. You cannot state that we'll validate in court. When you refuse to - it just shows that you are trying to rip off this person.

"Stan the Man", Listen up bottomfeeder, as you desperately need some education. It is clear that you have a severe attitude problem, but you run up against me, I will fix it for you. Guaranteed. First of all, there is NO LEGAL REQUIREMENT to sign a "debt validation request". The FDCPA does not require it, nor does any other state or federal law. A printed name and/or initials is just fine. If you disagree, SHOW ME the specific law that requires a signature. Show me now. Or shut up and go back to your cubicle. Furthermore, taking retaliatory action against a legal request under the FDCPA will cause you to lose the case when the "lowlife debtor" as you put it hauls you in front of a judge for the FDCPA violations you engage in on a daily basis. Do you even know what the FDCPA is? Do you even know how to read? The fact is that MOST lowlife bottomfeeders like yourself, and the agency you work for WILL NOT SUE. That's right. You are all HOT AIR. Less than 3% of all collections actions end up in court. That statistic comes off a very credible website, go ahead and find it. And for your information, us "lowlife deadbeats" DO NOT have to prove anything! That's rigt, we do not have to prove the debt is not ours, but the LEGAL BURDEN of proof is ON YOU to prove the debt is OWED TO YOU! THAT is the law. Learn it. >>> Submitted: 9/8/2008 11:05:08 PM Modified: 9/8/2008 11:59:34 PM Stan The Man New York, New York U.S.A. First National Collection Bureau If the low life deadbeat consumer send a DEBT VALIDATION letter and don't sign it we will SUE.And yes we will do a validation of the debt in court in front of the judge.And sometime we will put the debt on your credit reports and tell you we are not collectiong on the debt at this time.We let you sweat your fat low life deadbeat A@@ on what to do next.And yes you say it is not MINE.We say prove it in court. >>>

If the low life deadbeat consumer send a DEBT VALIDATION letter and don't sign it we will SUE.And yes we will do a validation of the debt in court in front of the judge.And sometime we will put the debt on your credit reports and tell you we are not collectiong on the debt at this time.We let you sweat your fat low life deadbeat A@@ on what to do next.And yes you say it is not MINE.We say prove it in court.

been contacted by this company also and know that I do not have any outstanding bills with anyone. If a class action case is started for this company........please let me know.

These people are probably hoping to scare you into giving them money. Make them dot their i's and cross their t's. That's where they'll fumble.

Kathy, You are dealing with JUNK DEBT BUYERS who buy old debts of these type for pennies or less on the dollar, usually less than a penny on the dollar. And, the worst part is, they get only a printout with very limited information on the actual account status and the original debtor. Most important! STAY OFF THE PHONE!! never call, or speak to ANY third party debt collector / junk debt buyer on the phone!! This will NEVER produce positive results for you, and will ALWAYS make things worse for you. STAY OFF THE PHONE!! The very first thing you want to do is check all 3 of the major credit bureaus to see if this is on your credit report. If it is, immediately dispute it in writing by certified mail, return reciept requested. Be sure yo put the certified # on the letter itself and keep a copy for your records. Be short and sweet. Dispute for reason "not my account" and then request copies of all correspondence used in the "verification" process in handling your dispute. By the means above, send a "DEBT VALIDATION" request to the JUNK DEBT BUYERS / BOTTOMFEEDERS / Collection agency. DO NOT sign the letter, just print, and DO NOT provide any information to them that is not on the collection letter. Note: They will most likely ask you to do a "fraud affidavit" when they recieve your dispute. NEVER do this!! It is just a scam to get more information from you. In the DEBT VALIDATION request, simply DEMAND to see a contract with your signature on it as well as a full account history and itemization of ALL charges. Also demand proof that they own the debt or have the legal right to collect it as well as proof that they are licensed to do debt collections in both your state and theirs. Also dmenad that until the above requested proof is recieved by you, that any credit reporting be removed immediately. Also inform them that any damages suffered by you due to their frivolous and illegal collections actions will be recovered via civil lawsuit, as well as complaints being filed with appropriate government agencies. With this done, you will most likely never hear from them again. In most cases, they know they cannot validate the debt. If they refer you back to the original creditor, DO NOT do this. NEVER do this. They are totally out of the picture. Have fun with these morons. Then make them pay you when they screw up, and they will! Guaranteed!