NCO is crazy! Yell at you even when paying.

[etechjc]

I have a friend who Unintentionally went into collection for a $295 debt from Citi. NCO got a hold of this debt and calls her up. Well she just got her taxes and wanted to go ahead and pay up. While talking with this guy at NCO she agrees to pay the full payment plus additional fees but states she doesn't like giving account info over the phone. She asks for an address to send the M.O. to.

The gal on the other side suddenly gets downright abusive, calling her a "Retarded Deadbeat" and telling her that she agreed the debt was hers and if she didn't give the info over the phone they were going to ruin her credit get a judgment and take the money anyways. Shes stunned and the only thing my friend can bring herself to do is hang up and ignore when NCO called back.

Now get this, Few days later she gets a letter from NCO asking to please send payment to an address. WTH!!!

She ended up calling Citi, Citi hadn't completely discharged the debt and she was able to pay them directly. They even waived the Late fees and went as far to offer to re-instate the account. She was smart and left the account closed.

[Flamingo]

The abusive caller on the phone works on commission...if she was able to get your friend to pay that bill right then and there, it would be to her benefit.

[frogger]

The abusive caller on the phone works on commission...if she was able to get your friend to pay that bill right then and there, it would be to her benefit.

Exactly. The collector makes money when the account gets paid. There is however, no excuse for shouting or abusive behavior on the part of any collector. Anytime this happens, you need to always get the name of the collector and complain to their supervisor. The supervisor can not be all places at all times, so if they don't know what their collectors are doing, abuse like this can happen.

[GoingDown]

Exactly. The collector makes money when the account gets paid. There is however, no excuse for shouting or abusive behavior on the part of any collector. Anytime this happens, you need to always get the name of the collector and complain to their supervisor. The supervisor can not be all places at all times, so if they don't know what their collectors are doing, abuse like this can happen.

Of course, sometimes the supervisors knows this is going on and either ignores it or even encourages it. Some collection agencies see the very rare FDCPA violation lawsuit just the cost of doing business.

The original poster's friend did the right thing by not paying the collection agency or giving them any checking account or debit or credit card information. Paying the creditor directly cut them out of some money.

If you are willing and able to pay a debt in full, then I would always suggest trying to go back to the creditor rather than dealing with a collection agency. Once it gets to the junk debt buyer level, it doesn't seem to matter which one you deal with because they are both rather abusive.

At that point, I would just play chicken with them and see if they actually end up filing a lawsuit over it. I have not yet been sued by a junk debt buyer. But I think they looked into my assets and employment and didn't like what they found, and decided not to bother suing me.

[frogger]

Of course, sometimes the supervisors knows this is going on and either ignores it or even encourages it. Some collection agencies see the very rare FDCPA violation lawsuit just the cost of doing business.

True. However, NCO normally does not behave in this manner. They do try to collect plenty of old and junk debt, but usually behave pretty well.

[debtprison]

She may not get any commission at all if you send it in or perhaps just less.

In my opinion the best policy is to never deal with a collection agency unless you have no choice (court).

[Flamingo]

She may not get any commission at all if you send it in or perhaps just less.

In my opinion the best policy is to never deal with a collection agency unless you have no choice (court).

In order for the abusive collection agent above to get commission, she needed the account information for payment right then and there (that is why they threaten, call names, etc. hoping the person will provide payment/bank account/credit card information). If the caller hung up and did not provide information for immediate payment, there is no commission.

[mlsj2009]

True. However, NCO normally does not behave in this manner. They do try to collect plenty of old and junk debt, but usually behave pretty well.

Frogger, I really don't know where you are getting your information from, NCO is one of the worst violators of harassment of any junk debt buyers in existence, and they are one of the largest. Google NCO complaints, and you will see many other complaints and lawsuits.

I personally was told by Shell Oil Company that I owed them money one time after moving in 2001. Where it is possible I could have owed them, it is not likely because I had no record of it. When I sent Shell a certified request for proof I owed them and copies of the purchases in question, they ignored my legal request and sold my debt to NCO's parent company who immediately began harassing me. After sending them a certified letter to cease and desist, I started getting calls from NCO. The first guy that called was nice when I explained to him what had happened and that I didn't owe the debt, and he agreed, but another guy called and ranted and raved at me and said his fellow employee was just weak. He wanted my social security number and personal ID and admittance I owed the debt. I refused on all issues, sent them a cease and desist request, but it took a call from my lawyer to get them to back off. Still waiting TODAY (2011) for them to remove their lying comments from my report. The negative report caused me to have to use my wife's credit to refinance an arm on our home mortgage. This cost me almost 3% in interest which is substantial over 30 years. NCO is a pile of dung just like the rest of the scavenger debt companies. My brother works in the collection industry and he doesn't behave like that at all. He is very polite to people, gives them every opportunity to pay, and uses the full force of the law only to collect. By the way, I have never filed for bankruptcy, owe no one but my mortgage company and will be completely debt free in four years, God willing. I empathize with all you on this bankruptcy forum because bankruptcy can happen to anyone, including me.

[nokia123]

I agree that they can be a bit much to deal with at times.

[ryan]

Personally, I have come to the conclusion that I never take an NCO call. When their number displays on my phone, I ignore it and my day goes fine. :-)

[shark66]

Personally, I have come to the conclusion that I never take an NCO call. When their number displays on my phone, I ignore it and my day goes fine. :-)

I could say the same for every single creditor and/or collection agency that still persists to call our house...you'd think they would've learned by now, but no...

Good luck to us all.