Help!!! Dealing with a debt collection company

[nane1104 146]

Does anyone had to deal with NCO Financial Services or another debt collection comapny?

A day after I got my new US cellphone, I started getting automated calls from NCO Financial Services. The recorded message said they were calling to collect debt, provided me with a callback number (the number that showed on my phone)

and a file number.

I first ignored the calls, then I noticed I got the same calls from different numbers, always the same company.

One day I was mad enough to call back, told them to stop calling me because obviously they had the wrong number. They asked me about the guy they were trying to call, Jason Whatever; of course I have no idea who that is.

So they told me they would take me off their calling list.

Indeed, the number I had called, didn't call anymore but two new numbers showed up on my caller ID.

I called both of these numbers, same procedure, they took me off as they said. Two days of no harrassing calls but you guess right...more unknown numbers are calling.

I called back a total of 6 numbers and it gets out of hand. For one, they are using up my minutes and if I ignore the calls, they fill up my voicemail with their messages.

He told me he would take me off the list and that was all he can do. I explained him that I had heard this numerous times before and something else needs to happen.

I asked for the companys mailing address to send a letter which he refused to give me. Well, I can probably find that online.

Then I asked to speak to a supervisor or manager. That's when he got really rude and just told me I was demanding and he already took my number off the list. I insisted I wanted to talk to his boss and he just told me he couldn't connect me since all his other lines were busy. When I didn't give in, he gave me the "extension" to call his boss directly...yeah right, when I call that number, it's ringing twice and then the line is dead.

Has anyone of you had to deal with people like that? What actions can I take to make them stop calling my cellphone all the time? It is beyond annoying at this point!

[rsn 135]

You can either change your number or continue to return these calls. There is no other solution.

[LiveLaughLove 2]

Try this link http://www.vaughns-1-pagers.com/economics/bad-collection-agencies.htm

You mentioned that their intended caller is not you. I would simply ignore their callhttps://www.donotcall.gov/s or get with your cell phone company and have your number changed. I've gotten several of these types of calls. Whenever I don't recognize the number, I let voicemail pick up, screen messages, then delete. Since I know I don't owe any creditors, I don't entertain their calls.

For telemarketing calls, you can register your number here https://www.donotcall.gov/

Edited August 5, 2011 by sweetheart428

[rsn 135]

The do not call list does not apply to debt collectors, among other things. In your case it sounds like a new number will be your only salvation

[LiveLaughLove 2]

***REVISED***

Try this link http://www.vaughns-1-pagers.com/economics/bad-collection-agencies.htm

You mentioned that their intended caller is not you. I would simply ignore their calls or get with your cell phone company and have your number changed. I've gotten several of these types of calls. Whenever I don't recognize the number, I let voicemail pick up, screen messages, then delete. Since I know I don't owe any creditors, I don't entertain their calls.

For telemarketing calls, you can register your number here https://www.donotcall.gov/

[IR5FORMUMSIE 850]

You can either change your number or continue to return these calls. There is no other solution.

Not even close to being true, don't be a victim. Contact them here: http://www.consumerh...isclosure.html. Keep a copy and make sure that if the nonsense doesn't stop, send a cease and desist letter to them. Notify your state's consumer protection agency. If your cell number is new, then I'd ask for it to be changed but otherwise I'd document everything and sic the law on them.

The do not call list does not apply to debt collectors, among other things. In your case it sounds like a new number will be your only salvation

No, that is not even close to being accurate.

Edited August 5, 2011 by IR5FORMUMSIE

[IR5FORMUMSIE 850]

Does anyone had to deal with NCO Financial Services or another debt collection comapny?

A day after I got my new US cellphone, I started getting automated calls from NCO Financial Services. The recorded message said they were calling to collect debt, provided me with a callback number (the number that showed on my phone)

and a file number.

I first ignored the calls, then I noticed I got the same calls from different numbers, always the same company.

One day I was mad enough to call back, told them to stop calling me because obviously they had the wrong number. They asked me about the guy they were trying to call, Jason Whatever; of course I have no idea who that is.

So they told me they would take me off their calling list.

Indeed, the number I had called, didn't call anymore but two new numbers showed up on my caller ID.

I called both of these numbers, same procedure, they took me off as they said. Two days of no harrassing calls but you guess right...more unknown numbers are calling.

I called back a total of 6 numbers and it gets out of hand. For one, they are using up my minutes and if I ignore the calls, they fill up my voicemail with their messages.

He told me he would take me off the list and that was all he can do. I explained him that I had heard this numerous times before and something else needs to happen.

I asked for the companys mailing address to send a letter which he refused to give me. Well, I can probably find that online.

Then I asked to speak to a supervisor or manager. That's when he got really rude and just told me I was demanding and he already took my number off the list. I insisted I wanted to talk to his boss and he just told me he couldn't connect me since all his other lines were busy. When I didn't give in, he gave me the "extension" to call his boss directly...yeah right, when I call that number, it's ringing twice and then the line is dead.

Has anyone of you had to deal with people like that? What actions can I take to make them stop calling my cellphone all the time? It is beyond annoying at this point!

What state are you in, Texas?

Here's the relevant info:

Don't Mess With Texas

Here's a recent case that might give you some moral support (it involved automated bill collection calls to the wrong person)

My link

Last week, the Dallas Court of Appeals found against First NationalCollection Bureau, Inc. on all issues asserted by it on appeal. Indoing so, the Dallas Court of Appeals affirmed and upheld the judgmentobtained by our law firm for our consumer-client. A copy of the DallasCourt of Appeals’ opinion is attached here—

Telephone Consumer Protection Act Appellate Opinion

The Dallas Court of Appeals determined a number of things in itstwenty-seven page verdict including what is summarized in this blogpost. The Dallas Court of Appeals analyzed the Supremacy Clause of theUnited States Constitution as it relates to applying the TelephoneConsumer Protection Act in state courts. The court determined that theTelephone Consumer Protection Act preempts Texas’ state law to theextent Texas state law purports to provide less protection forconsumers who are being harassed through the placement of prerecordedvoice and/or automated or robo calls to their cell telephones. A Texasconsumer can sue a harassing collection agency for calls “made” to theconsumer’s cell telephone. The federal Telephone Consumer ProtectionAct provides a “floor” for consumer protection, and states may onlyprovide protection to consumers which is greater than that provided byfederal law.

The court also found that First National Collection Bureau, Inc.’sargument that damages available for each call were only “up to” $500.00was inconsistent with, and clearly contradicted, the wording of thefederal statute. A person receiving calls on the person’s celltelephone from a company with whom the person has not done business,and further did not provide permission to make such calls, can receive$500.00 for each such call. In addition, the court noted that aconsumer may receive an additional $1,000.00 for every call that wasmade “willfully or knowingly.” Contrary to First National CollectionBureau, Inc.’s argument, a jury need not find by “clear and convincingevidence” that a collection agency placing prerecorded message callsdid so “willfully or knowingly,” but instead need base such a findingbased only on a “preponderance of the evidence.” A “preponderance ofthe evidence” merely means that a jury must find that it was morelikely than not that a company making artificial or prerecorded voicetelephone calls, or using an automatic telephone dialing system, did soin a “willful or knowing” manner.

First National Collection Bureau, Inc. also complained on appealthat the trial court should not have held the collection agency liablefor calls made by vendors used by First National Collection Bureau,Inc. to make calls using an artificial or prerecorded voice. However,the Dallas Court of Appeals noted that a First National CollectionBureau, Inc. employee, when testifying in response to cross-examinationby Mr. Malone, affirmed that:

• First National Collection Bureau, Inc. requested that vendorsGlobal Connect and TCN make telephone calls “on behalf” of FirstNational Collection Bureau, Inc. using an automatic telephone dialingsystem and/or artificial or prerecorded voices;
• First National Collection Bureau, Inc. expected Global Connect andTCN to make telephone calls at First National Collection Bureau, Inc.’sdirection;
• First National Collection Bureau, Inc. decided on a daily basiswhich accounts to send to Global Connect and TCN for that particularday and supplied those vendors with the data files for those accounts;
• The calls were made by Global Connect and/or TCN on the same daythat the data files were supplied by First National Collection Bureau,Inc.;
• First National Collection Bureau, Inc. instructed Global Connectand TCN not to make more than two calls per day to any one of thetelephone numbers;
• Global Connect and/or TCN left prerecorded messages providing FirstNational Collection Bureau, Inc.’s telephone number and/or stating thatthe calls were from First National Collection Bureau, Inc.; and
• If a “live person” picked up the telephone call, the callingequipment used by Global Connect and/or TCN transferred the call toFirst National Collection Bureau, Inc.

However, the Dallas Court of Appeals determined that First NationalCollection Bureau, Inc.’s lawyer waived any complaint on appeal as tothe issue of calls made on behalf of First National Collection Bureau,Inc. by Global Connect and/or TCN. In order for a court of appeals tofind that a trial court acted improperly, the complaining party mustgenerally show that it made the trial court aware of the problem byappropriate objection and obtained a ruling. In several respects, theDallas Court of Appeals determined that First National CollectionBureau, Inc. failed to do so and thereby waived points on appeal.

Hopefully, the Dallas Court of Appeals’ opinion will assist otherconsumers who receive on their cellphones unwanted artificial orprerecorded voice telephone calls and/or calls made using an automatedtelephone dialing system. Far too often, people receive unwanted callsas a result of businesses choosing to use technology which maximizesprofits at the expense of invading the privacy of consumers. There iscertainly nothing wrong with using technology to collect debts, butthose who use it should do so responsibly and legally.

Texas Case

[IR5FORMUMSIE 850]

The do not call list does not apply to debt collectors, among other things. In your case it sounds like a new number will be your only salvation

HE is your only salvation but the AG of the Great State of Texas is HIS instrument in these matters.

[thongd4me 69]

I get a recurring automated call from "Nelnet Student Loans" because

the previous owner of my cell phone number skipped out on her student loan,

among other things. I was able to stop the calls from the agency that handled

her credit card obligations, but this company is plain dumb, you can't contact

them without being shuffled from one automated area to another and now

I just hang up whenever I see one of their numbers calling in.

If it was a person instead of a robot calling my number, they would have

seen from my voice mail message that clearly I'm not her. If they had

even a grain of curiosity they might have an actual HUMAN call me

to see what is up, but no they just keep on with the robot....

I may call one of those consumer protection agencies, but now I don't have the time,

getting ready for Thailand trip. I'll let them call my voice mail for a month and see

if they get tired while I'm not there to answer.

[IR5FORMUMSIE 850]

I get a recurring automated call from "Nelnet Student Loans" because

the previous owner of my cell phone number skipped out on her student loan,

among other things. I was able to stop the calls from the agency that handled

her credit card obligations, but this company is plain dumb, you can't contact

them without being shuffled from one automated area to another and now

I just hang up whenever I see one of their numbers calling in.

If it was a person instead of a robot calling my number, they would have

seen from my voice mail message that clearly I'm not her. If they had

even a grain of curiosity they might have an actual HUMAN call me

to see what is up, but no they just keep on with the robot....

I may call one of those consumer protection agencies, but now I don't have the time,

getting ready for Thailand trip. I'll let them call my voice mail for a month and see

if they get tired while I'm not there to answer.

They seem to have momentary spurts when they call, then they stop and so on. If it becomes oppressive then contact the AG of your state. In the meantime, have a great trip. :thumbs:

[thongd4me 69]

They seem to have momentary spurts when they call, then they stop and so on. If it becomes oppressive then contact the AG of your state. In the meantime, have a great trip. :thumbs:

Yes this is true, they don't call every day; kind of a mild annoyance that I prefer to ignore.

Going to try and get a visa for Vietnam on Monday to be delivered (hopefully) by next Friday.

Thanks my friend and

This topic is proof that technology is dumber than a live person, no matter how much money is spent on it.

[Niels Bohr 72]

If I were you, I'd be careful. Sooner or later, someone will mess up at the Credit Bureau and will think Jason "whatever" is an alias you also use. Therefore, your credit report will show your name and this other person name as one person. At this point, you'll be in big trouble that takes awhile to fix. Happened to me.

Make sure you make it known. Write a letter to the credit bureau, and also to NCO indicating that you and Jason "whatever" are two different people.

Edited August 5, 2011 by Niels Bohr

[IR5FORMUMSIE 850]

If I were you, I'd be careful. Sooner or later, someone will mess up at the Credit Bureau and will think Jason "whatever" is an alias you also use. Therefore, your credit report will show your name and this other person name as one person. At this point, you'll be in big trouble that takes awhile to fix. Happened to me.

Make sure you make it known. Write a letter to the credit bureau, and also to NCO indicating that you and Jason "whatever" are two different people.

Consolemaster, that is very good advice. These vermin do this kind of nonsense all the time. I'm sorry that it happened to you. They just assume that you are an alias, they don't mess up, it is a deliberate act on their part. I would notify everyone: Equifax, Transunion and Experian. Check your credit report (you should be doing this anyways) every so often. First thing the OP should do is to contact NCO and tell them to knock it off.

[웃 910]

It sounds to me like you recently changed your number or got a cell phone with a new number.

I would simply walk into the cell phone store and get the number changed. You should be in and out of the cell phone store with a new number in less than 5 minutes. It is a very simple process.

There are other solutions (maybe?) but this one will immediately stop the calls.

[IR5FORMUMSIE 850]

It sounds to me like you recently changed your number or got a cell phone with a new number.

I would simply walk into the cell phone store and get the number changed. You should be in and out of the cell phone store with a new number in less than 5 minutes. It is a very simple process.

There are other solutions (maybe?) but this one will immediately stop the calls.

That's what I was thinking, unless she's attached to that number for some reason. The other stuff is a pain unless she really wants to keep the number.