I called this company after receiving a notice that I owe them X amount of money as I noticed they had raised the amount quite a lot since I last received a letter from them. I was making small payments but stopped because I currently have NO income.( lost my job ) I told the woman who answered that I have absolutely NO income and that they can't keep raising the amount. Well she started yelling at me and said 'yes we can' and kept saying 'you listen to me' but I wouldn't listen to her and boy did she ever get pissed off! I told her to stop yelling at me ( twice ) and then I cussed her out and called her an ignorant b---h. I was so upset after I hung up the phone as I don't usually speak to people in that manner but she was just so rude I lowered myself to her level and felt so bad. As if I don't have enough stress and anxiety going on, with owing the money and being unemployed, suffering from depression for months and worrying about living in the street. I wanted to call her back and cuss her out some more, but I realised that probably would have made her happy to see that she upset me that much. She was ignorant and arrogant but I will still say a prayer for her this evening.

About a year ago, I missed a call from a company called Nco Financial Systems, saying they’re trying to collect an outstanding debt of $610. I was very confused, I had never been sent a bill for that amount from anyone, and to my knowledge had everything paid off. Ten minutes later they called again. I picked up, and it was an automated message from a computer telling me to pay my debt.

I’m sorry but I will not pay a debt I know nothing of or who it’s originally intended for. So I hung up and went about my day. Fast forward a few months they called again, and again, and again. Everyday 2-10 times a day, always automated. I finally found a their “business” number and called them. Automated again, with an option to leave a message. Left a message never got a call back.

Finally I found an option and got their business hours. Well by the time I can talk to them they’re “closed” yet they call me with these automated messages upwards to 10pm at night. Now it’s been a year later, with no idea still what this debt is for, I still get the calls, and get no human to talk to.

So I decided to leave one more voicemail for them. This time I got very firm in the message. This message was also left at 5:30pm. Which is after their business hours? Five minutes later, I finally got a call from a live human. I asked what my debt is for, they say it’s medical.

I ask who it’s from, they say it’s medical. Then he changed subjects, and got talking about my message I left. He said it was very threatening, and to expect a police officer at my door to arrest me for “threatening” them. Well cop never showed up of course. I have told them to send a rep to my house with credentials, because I don’t believe their really is a debt.

They tell me they do not conduct business this way and to pay my debt or else. Well come today, I got 11 calls from them asking to pay the debt, can way say harassment.

NCOFinancial represents Sprint CLEC, a company that fraudulently presents itself as Sprint INC. Here is how the scam works: Sprint CLEC, posing as Sprint INC, sends out fake phone bills to consumers with phone numbers. Sprint CLEC even uses the Sprint Logo on the invoices. When victims refuse to pay, Sprint CLEC turns the fake bill over to NCO Financial, a company who gladly accepts this illegal business and the harassment begins until the victim gives in. This scam is well documented on the internet and has been going on for years now. The Sprint CLEC bill will have this address: PO Box 600670 Jacksonville FL 32260-0670.

NCOFinancial knows that Sprint CLEC is fake. The Sprint INC fraud department knows this is going on too. So does the FTC. Why this organizations allow this fraud to continue is beyond me.

My husband moved back into the United States after an 8 years absence this past year. Come tax time, we received notification that his taxes had been taken to pay back an outstanding debt with a credit card from back in 2001. Somehow, the debt had remained current and the default date was in 2004. Ironically, my husband wasn't in the country after 2002, so the notion that it could be current as of a time period in which he was not even in the U.S. just boggles my mind.

In an effort to resolve the issue that caused his taxes to be taken, my husband called several different agencies until finally he discovered that NCO Financial Systems possessed his "debt" somewhere in the vicinity of $1, 000. He recalled the debt vaguely, but after an 8 year absence, trying to recall the situation, let alone the debt and underlying circumstances was difficult. We checked his credit report and confirmed the amount of $800 from an old credit card.

So he contacted NCO Financial Systems and after several transfers and automated systems, spoke with a human being. The representative he spoke with was not informative! My husband asked the debt amount and was given an amount over $1, 000. Rediculous, how did the amount skyrocket when he had never even been contacted about the debt before his money was taken from taxes. My husband asked for more information and only got the runaround. Unfortunately, my husband decided to try and pay off the debt and reached an agreement with the representative to pay $100 a month until the debt was paid. So, this was March and at $100 a month, come August (now), the debt would be nearing pay-off status (about $200 shy). The representative took our money and then claimed he would contact us on the 4th of each month to seek payment. Come the next month, nothing. My husband tried contacting him, no answer. After multiple messages, my husband and I were at a loss of what to do and decided to let them contact us. They want the money so bad, why wouldn't they want us to pay it off.

We got our answer yesterday. We received a notice in the mail that stated an amount due of $1413! Interest had been accruing all along, which is why the representative had never contacted us. Basically, the debt became current as of March when a payment was made through our taxes and then again via the telephone. Once it became current, NCO refused our calls and wouldn't allow us to pay so that interest could accrue and the debt amount could raise substantially from it's original amount.

I am furious at this news. Especially when my husband and I were trying to be honest and upfront by paying the debt to begin with. He did not deny the debt's existence, nor did he try to avoid the questions! He paid them! Then, to have that thrown back in his face by refusing further communications, proves that this agency has no regard for fair debt collection practices!

After I finish posting this, I am going to contact the Federal Trade Commission regarding their shady business practices. The next phone call after that will be to the original creditor so I can see if they can remove NCO as the middle man if we agree to pay the original debt. I am outraged that collection practices like this go unchecked by government agencies! Shame on NCO and shame on our government for not taking care of the people who put them in office!

A lot of collectors mention frivolous disputes, demanding validation even when the debtor has all but admitted that they own the debt (Which always a matter of interpretation). I had a few thoughts on this…and just wanted to share some advice.

If you think it's frivolous, then stop trying to collect and refer the file to legal for authorization to file suit.


Let the proper personnel investigate the validity of the dispute. It's a waste of time to rely on your instincts, and it's dangerous; "I just know this guy is giving me the run around". If they know enough to dispute, then that should be a good enough indicator that some of the 'tactics' that you might employ to persuade those less sophisticated consumers to pay up aren't going to work. You're likely dealing with a consumer that could get you in trouble if you attempt said 'tactics'. It's not worth the risk, nor the time. If the amount of the debt makes it economically foolish to file suit…let your legal department, or the OC's legal department, as the case may be, cut their losses and you move onto the next file. It's not worth your time. You're not paid to be a lie detector. You're paid to collect, and if the debtor starts putting up legitimate walls as per the FDCPA, even if you think they're stall tactics, you're gut feelings mean precisely nothing. If you're a gambler, then by all means…have a ball - I invite you to throw those dice. As it's been pointed out…there's more and more debtors out there that are on a safari - and they want your head on the wall - don't wander into their camp looking for food.

We have a stupid cat that continuously burns it's whiskers on candles because it can't resist the allure of the flame - must investigate…smell it…bat at it…but it always ends up getting burnt, and then looking at me like it's my fault.

You stupid cat…by now…you know it's fire. The parallel I'm trying to draw here, is that if you see fire…you don't need stick your nose in it to know you could get burnt. The same thing goes for debtors that seem to know a little too much about your job, and the laws that protect them. There's still plenty out there that aren't illuminated, (Their wicks aren't yet lit by this knowledge, if you will), and you'll be safer to concentrate on them…but better do it quickly. It only takes one match to light a thousand candles. Knowledge passes quickly from person to person.