Debt Collection

Economics Summaries

Have you been tormented by a particularly obnoxious debt collection agency? You must take action.

This web page summarizes the worst debt collection agency of all, NCO Financial Systems, and offers websites where you can get help for stopping harassment from unscrupulous, third-party debt collectors.
UPDATED July 22, 2007 - Continuing documented violation of Federal Law - the illegal harassment continues.
What Congress Must Do!

NCO Complaints

NCO Financial Systems Complaints - Ripoff Report

NCO Financial Systems Complaints - Ethan Non Sequitur

NCO Financial Systems Complaints - My 3 Cents

NCO Financial Systems Complaints - The Better Business Bureau

NCO Financial Systems Complaints - Bud Hibbs

Why Did I Make This Page?

Month after month, I get AT LEAST TWO computer-generated phone calls EVERY DAY from NCO Financial Services. That's why I took the time to make this page.
They are attempting to collect an alleged 1996 credit card debt I DO NOT owe.
- I did not owe the debt, and I DO NOT owe the debt.
- Additionally, the statute of limitations has long since expired. NCO Financial Systems attempts to collect TIME-BARRED DEBT through ceaseless, pounding harassment.
There is NO JUSTIFICATION for DAILY HARASSMENT, FOREVER.

Due to their continuing, over-the-top debt collection harassment practices, I decided to join others who have told their stories online, so that there is more awareness of this relentless pounding tactic. This is the worst collection agency in the USA.
Want proof? Keep reading.
Here is a list of the top 10 worst collection agencies in the United States (Bud has dropped this format), from

Who Are They?
Top Ten List

from Bud Hibbs - America's Consumer Credit Expert
1. Giove Law Offices - Buffalo, Amherst, Rochester, West Seneca, Niagara Falls, Snyder, NY
2. Wolpoff & Abramson - Rockville, MD
3. NCO Financial Services - Horsham, Pennsylvania
      "More Complaints Daily than the Other Nine Combined" Bud has dropped this comment, and significantly changed his treatment of NCO. He now praises the wunderkind lead master. Looks like Budd has gone over, opinion-wise.
4. Shekinah, Inc. -        Huntington Beach, California
5. Unifund CCR Partners - Cincinnati, Ohio
6. LVNV Funding, LLC Resurgent Capital - Greenville, South Carolina
7. Frederick J. Hanna & Associates - Marietta, Georgia
8. Collect America, LTD - (CACV) & (CACH)
9. Asset Acceptance Corporation - Warren, Michigan
10. Bronson & Migliaccio, LLP - Buffalo, NY

Harassment Phone Numbers

The company never identifies itself. My caller ID always says "Out of Area".
There are many NCO numbers. The following are the numbers that have hounded me personally:

800-685-4343 - Harassment Number - #1
800-445-4918 - Harassment Number - #2
888-550-4514 - Harassment Number - #3

Here is the autodialer message transcription -
"This is an important message from NCO Financial Systems, Incorporated.
The law requires that we notify you that (unintelligible) debt collection company.
This is an attempt to collect a debt, and any information obtained will be used for that purpose. Please call Julio Elaine back today, at 1-800-445-4918.
Once again, the number is 1-800-445-4918.
Thank you.
CPS123 is your ID code.
Again, your ID Code is CPS123" (ID code changed)
Wednesday 10:38 AM, Feb. 21, 2007 (followed by many other "silent" calls - no message, just harassment hang-ups)

Cease and Desist Letter

BY FEDERAL LAW. the harassment must stop, once you send a "Cease and Desist" letter. You must send this letter by Certified Mail (PS Form #3800) with a Return Receipt (PS Form #3811), to prove that it was sent, and that it was received.

Cease and Desist letter from I Hate Debt

Cease and Desist letter from Credit Clean

Document all harassment that occurs after you send the letter. You may be entitled to a cash award, if it can be shown that the company acted in bad faith, and continued to violate Federal law, after the order letter was received.

((Why have I not done this earlier? Laziness, and I thought I would just let them waste their time, was the best way to respond. But this has gone too far. It is ridiculous beyond belief. I have sent the Cease and Desist letter. I am reporting below the timeline of events after I mailed the letter. My phone ANNOUNCES that I record all calls (time-stamped.))

You Must Have Proof

Here are the 2 Post Office forms that you need -



USPS Form 3800 - Certified Mail Receipt





USPS Form 3811 - Domestic Return Receipt


In addition, you will probably have to
Send a Cease and Desist Order to Merchants' Credit Guide -
Merchants' Credit Guide Co.
223 W. Jackson Blvd., #900
Chicago, IL 60606

Timeline

Date

.
Summary of Recorded Calls

Feb. 23, 2007

Friday - 4 calls
Mailed "Cease and Desist" letter today to NCO Financial Systems.

I received my first call from "Merchants' Credit Guide".
888-249-4134 - Harassment Number - #4
Merchant's Credit Guide buys ancient, time-barred debts, and attempts to collect on them through intimidation and harassment. Looks like I need to file another Cease and Desist letter with Merchants Credit Guide.

2:54 PM - Merchants' Credit Guide
Transcription of call - Here is the autodialer message transcription -
"This is a message for "John Doe".
If you are not "John Doe", please hang up, or disconnect.
If you are "John Doe", please continue to listen to this message.
There will now be a 3 second pause in this message."
(2-second delay)
"By continuing to listen to this message, you acknowledge you are "John Doe" (???- How idiotic is this? This is a machine-to-machine message!)
"This is Merchants Credit Guide company.
By law, we are required to inform you that this is an attempt to collect a debt, and any information obtained will be used for that purpose.
Please contact us about an important business matter at 888-249-4134.
Again, that number is 888-249-4134."

According to online reports referenced above, Merchants' Credit Guide is a partner of NCO Financial Systems. Maybe my Cease and Desist just got noticed, and I just got shuttled over to Merchants Credit Guide. So, if you send a Cease and Desist order to NCO Financial Systems, they simply start hitting you with "Merchants Credit Guide" demands - the same debt collection effort, using different people, so they can continue harassing you, by circumventing Federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) law violations.

Feb. 24, 2007

Saturday - 2 hang-up harassment calls

Feb. 25, 2007

Sunday - 1 hang-up harassment call

Week 1

Feb. 26, 2007

Monday - 3 calls -
1:36PM - NCO Financial - "Call Julio Elaine"

DELIVERY CONFIRMATION of my CEASE and DESIST LETTER was received on Feb. 26, 2007. The signature of the agent was "S. Jay".

THE CLOCK IS RUNNING

1st Violation
2nd Violation
of
Federal Law

Feb. 27, 2007

Tuesday - 2 hang-up calls

Feb. 28, 2007

Wednesday - 3 calls so far - They DEFINITELY have the C&S letter by now. It's time for me to get others involved.
3:51PM - Another call from Merchants Credit Guide 888-249-4134.

Mar. 1, 2007

Thursday - 3 hang-up harassment calls
5:23PM - Another call from Merchants Credit Guide 888-249-4134.

Mar. 2, 2007

Friday - 3 hang-up harassment calls

Mar. 3, 2007

Saturday - 2 hang-up harassment calls

Mar. 4, 2007

Sunday - 2 hang-up harassment calls

Week 2

Harassment Calls

3rd Violation
4th Viollation
of
Federal Law

Mar. 5, 2007

Monday - 2 hang-up calls
9:57AM - NCO Financial - IN VIOLATION OF FEDERAL LAW, "JULIO ELAINE" CALLED AGAIN TODAY, ONE WEEK AFTER RECEIPT OF A CEASE AND DESIST LETTER.

Mar. 6, 2007

Tuesday - 3 hang-up harassment calls

Mar. 7, 2007

Wednesday - 3 hang-up harassment calls

Mar. 8, 2007

Thursday - 3 hang-up harassment calls

Mar. 9, 2007

Friday - 2 hang-up harassment calls
1:23 P.M. - NCO Financial - IN VIOLATION OF FEDERAL LAW, "JULIO ELAINE" CALLED AGAIN TODAY, 11 DAYS AFTER RECEIPT OF A CEASE AND DESIST LETTER.

Mar. 10, 2007

Saturday - 0 calls

Mar. 11, 2007

Sunday - 2 hang-up harassment calls

Week 3

Harassment Calls

5th Violation
of
Federal Law
-
Continuing
harassment

Mar. 12, 2007

Monday - 0 calls

Mar. 13, 2007

Tuesday - 2 hang-up harassment calls

Note that this is a NEW COMPUTER GENERATED HARASSMENT message -
Call is configured so that CALLER IS NOT IDENTIFIED.

10:24 AM - " ... since, press 2 now.
To take a message, press 3 now.
If this is the wrong number to reach "John Doe", press 4 now.
(3-second pause - music)
If you are "John Doe", please press 1 now.
To place this call on hold to get the right person, press 2 now.
To take a message, press 3 now.
If this is the wrong number to reach "John Doe", press 4 now."
(3-second pause - music)  Hang-up"

AN ANSWERING MACHINE CANNOT PRESS BUTTONS.  HELLO?

Pure harassment!

Mar. 14, 2007

Wednesday - 1 hang-up harassment call

Mar. 15, 2007

Thursday - 0 calls

Mar. 16, 2007

Friday - 2 hangup harassment calls

Mar. 17, 2007

Saturday - 1 hang-up harassment call

Mar. 18, 2007

Sunday - 9:52 AM - Hang-up harassment call
Sunday - 7:36 PM - Hang-up Harassment call

Week 4

Harassment Calls

Mar. 19, 2007

Monday - 0 calls

Mar. 20, 2007

Tuesday - 0 calls

Mar. 21, 2007

Wednesday - 0 calls

Mar. 22, 2007

Thursday - 0 calls

Mar. 23, 2007

Friday - 0 calls

Mar. 24, 2007

Saturday - 0 calls

Mar. 25, 2007

Sunday - 0 calls

Week 5

Harassment Calls

6th Recorded violation of Federal Law
-
Continuing harassment

Mar. 26, 2007

Monday - 0 calls

Mar. 27, 2007

Tuesday - 0 calls

Mar. 28, 2007

Wednesday - 0 calls

Mar. 29, 2007

Thursday - 10:30 AM - NCO Financial - IN VIOLATION OF FEDERAL LAW, "JULIO ELAINE" CALLED AGAIN TODAY, 31 DAYS AFTER RECEIPT OF A CEASE AND DESIST LETTER. These people are not only obnoxious, they are incredibly STUPID! Having A.T.T. document these violations is going to result in SUBSTANTIAL MONETARY FINES - $1,000 for each violation.

Mar. 30, 2007

Friday - 0 calls

Mar. 31, 2007

Saturday - 0 calls

Apr. 1, 2007

Sunday - 0 calls

Week 6

Harassment Calls

Apr. 2, 2007

Monday - 0 calls

Apr. 3, 2007

Tuesday - 0 calls

Apr. 4, 2007

Wednesday - 0 calls

Apr. 5, 2007

Thursday - 0 calls

Apr. 6, 2007

Friday - 0 calls

Apr. 7, 2007

Saturday - 0 calls

Apr. 8, 2007

Sunday - 0 calls

Week 7

Harassment Calls

7th Recorded violation of Federal Law
-
Continuing
harassment

Apr. 9, 2007

Monday - 0 calls

Apr. 10, 2007

Tuesday - 0 calls

Apr. 11, 2007

Wednesday - 0 calls

Apr. 12, 2007

Thursday - 0 calls

Apr. 13, 2007

Friday - 8:23 AM - NCO Financial - IN VIOLATION OF FEDERAL LAW, I RECEIVED ANOTHER HARASSMENT CALL AGAIN TODAY, 46 DAYS AFTER RECEIPT OF A CEASE AND DESIST LETTER. From 1-800-249-4134 - At this point, they know G.D. well that they will receive NOTHING from me EVER. The continuing calls are therefore made for the sole purpose of HARASSMENT.

Apr. 14, 2007

Saturday -

Apr. 15, 2007

Sunday -

Week 8

Harassment Calls

Apr. 16, 2007

Monday - 0 message calls

Apr. 17, 2007

Tuesday - 0 message calls

Apr. 18, 2007

Wednesday - 0 message calls

Apr. 19, 2007

Thursday - 0 message calls

Apr. 20, 2007

Friday - 0 message calls

Apr. 21, 2007

Saturday - 0 message calls

Apr. 22, 2007

Sunday - 0 message calls

Week 9

Harassment Calls

8th Violation
of Federal Law
-
Continuing
harassment
(hang-up calls)

Apr. 23, 2007

Monday - 0 calls

Apr. 24, 2007

Tuesday - 0 calls

Apr. 25, 2007

Wednesday - 0 calls

Apr. 26, 2007

Thursday - 9:56AM - NCO Financial 445-4918 - The CEASELESS, ILLEGAL HARASSMENT continues.

Apr. 27, 2007

Friday - 0 calls

Apr. 28, 2007

Saturday - 0 calls

Apr. 29, 2007

Sunday - 0 calls

Week 10

Harassment Calls

9th Violation
of Federal Law
-
Continuing
harassment
(hang-up calls)

Apr. 30, 2007

Monday - 0 calls

May 1, 2007

Tuesday - 0 calls

May 2, 2007

Wednesday - 0 calls

May 3, 2007

Thursday - 8:51AM - NCO Financial 445-4918 - The CEASELESS, ILLEGAL HARASSMENT continues, 66 days after receipt of the Cease and Desist letter.

May 4, 2007

Friday - 0 calls

May 5, 2007

Saturday - 0 calls

May 6, 2007

Sunday - 0 calls

Week 11

Harassment Calls

May 7, 2007

Monday - 0 calls

May 8, 2007

Tuesday - 0 calls

May 9, 2007

Wednesday - 0 calls

May 10, 2007

Thursday - 0 calls

May 11, 2007

Friday - 0 calls

May 12, 2007

Saturday - 0 calls

May 13, 2007

Sunday - 0 calls

Week 12

Harassment Calls

10th Violation
of Federal Law
-
Continuing
harassment
(hang-up calls)

May 14, 2007

Monday - 0 calls

May 15, 2007

Tuesday - 0 calls

May 16, 2007

Wednesday - 0 calls

May 17, 2007

Thursday - 5:38PM - NCO Financial 800-445-4918 - The CEASELESS, ILLEGAL HARASSMENT continues.

May 18, 2007

Friday -

May 19, 2007

Saturday -

May 20, 2007

Sunday -

Week 17

Harassment Calls

11th RECORDED
Violation
of Federal Law
-
Continuing
harassment =
$11,000

June 18, 2007

Monday - 0 calls

June 19, 2007

Tuesday - 0 calls

June 20, 2007

Wednesday - 11:07PM - NCO Financial 800-445-4918 - "JULIO ELAINE" CALLED AGAIN TODAY, 113 DAYS AFTER RECEIPT OF A CEASE AND DESIST LETTER. The CEASELESS, ILLEGAL HARASSMENT continues.

June 21, 2007

Thursday -

June 22, 2007

Friday -

June 23, 2007

Saturday -

June 24, 2007

Sunday -

Week 18

Harassment Calls

12th RECORDED
13th RECORDED
Violation
of Federal Law
-
Continuing
harassment =
$13,000

June 25, 2007

Monday - 0 calls

June 26, 2007

Tuesday - 0 calls

June 27, 2007

Wednesday - 1:17PM - NCO Financial 800-445-4918 - "JULIO ELAINE" CALLED AGAIN TODAY, 120 DAYS AFTER RECEIPT OF A CEASE AND DESIST LETTER. The CEASELESS, ILLEGAL HARASSMENT continues.

June 28, 2007

Thursday -

June 29, 2007

Friday -

June 30, 2007

Saturday - 10:25PM - NCO Financial 800-445-4918 - "JULIO ELAINE" CALLED AGAIN TODAY, 123 DAYS AFTER RECEIPT OF A CEASE AND DESIST LETTER. The CEASELESS, ILLEGAL HARASSMENT continues. Duly recorded, and archived off-site, as always.

July 1, 2007

Sunday -

Week 19

Harassment Calls

July 2, 2007

Monday - 0 calls

July 3, 2007

Tuesday - 0 calls

July 4, 2007

Wednesday -

July 5, 2007

Thursday -

July 6, 2007

Friday -

July 7, 2007

Saturday -

July 8, 2007

Sunday -

Week 20

Harassment Calls

July 9, 2007

Monday - 0 calls

July 10, 2007

Tuesday - 0 calls

July 11, 2007

Wednesday -

July 12, 2007

Thursday -

July 13, 2007

Friday -

July 14, 2007

Saturday -

July 15, 2007

Sunday -

Week 21

Harassment Calls

14th RECORDED
Violation
of Federal Law
-
Continuing
harassment =
$14,000

July 16, 2007

Monday - 0 calls

July 17, 2007

Tuesday - 0 calls

July 18, 2007

Wednesday - 2:20PM - NCO AGAIN - With an identification of "TAM Answering - A NEW MESSAGE, using TWO people - The first (mystery) woman is loud and carefully makes sure the "from NCO" part of the message is NOT recorded - the second woman is "Miss Bernard" - "Please call 1-800-445-4918." I'll transcribe it later - too busy right now with Tom Corbett and These Guys.

NCO FINANCIAL CALLED AGAIN TODAY, 140 DAYS AFTER RECEIPT OF A CEASE AND DESIST LETTER. The CEASELESS, ILLEGAL HARASSMENT continues. Duly recorded, and archived off-site, as always.

July 19, 2007

Thursday -

July 20, 2007

Friday -

July 21, 2007

Saturday -

July 22, 2007

Sunday -

Week 22

Harassment Calls

July 23, 2007

Monday -

July 24, 2007

Tuesday -

July 25, 2007

Wednesday -

July 26, 2007

Thursday -

July 27, 2007

Friday -

July 28, 2007

Saturday -

July 29, 2007

Sunday -

Date

.
Summary of
Recorded Debt Collection Harassment Calls

Feb. 21, 2007 - Wed.

-

10:38 AM

NCO Financial - Call Julio Elaine - Call 800-445-4918

Feb. 22, 2007 - Thurs.

12:07 PM

NCO Financial - Call Julio Elaine - Call 800-445-4918

Feb. 23, 2007 - Fri.

2:54 PM

Feb. 26, 2007 - Mon.

1:36 PM

NCO Financial - Call Julio Elaine - Call 800-445-4918
Cease and Desist letter receipt confirmation

Feb. 28, 2007 - Wed.

3:51 PM

Mar. 1, 2007 - Thurs.

5:23 PM

Mar. 5, 2007 - Mon.

9:57 PM

NCO Financial - Call Julio Elaine 800-445-4918

Mar. 9, 2007 - Fri.

1:23 PM

NCO Financial - Call Julio Elaine 800-445-4918

Mar. 13, 2007 - Fri.

10:24 AM

Unidentified harassment caller - message transcript above

March 29, 2007

10:30 AM

-

Apr. 13, 2007

8:23 AM

NCO Financial

-

-

-

I receive approximately 12 - 20 silent, hang-up harassment calls EVERY week. NO IDENTIFICATION, no caller ID, just harassment! This is the time to get your phone company involved. They can identify harassment callers, and provide you with the records you will need in court.

June 20, 2007

11:07 AM

NCO Financial - Call Julio Elaine 800-445-4918

June 27, 2007

1:17 PM

NCO Financial - Call Julio Elaine 800-445-4918

June 30, 2007

10:25 AM

NCO Financial - Call Julio Elaine 800-445-4918

July 18, 2007

1:23 PM

NCO Financial - Mystery woman Bambi, then "Miss Bernard" - "Please call 1-800-445-4918 . . . Idiots.

-

-

-

-

DO THIS NOW -
File a formal online complaint with the Attorney General of Pennsylvania, Tom Corbett.
Unfortunately, your complaint may result in such "non-actions" as this -
Tom Corbett caves in, and endorses NCO - NCO Sweetheart Deal - Jan. 27, 2006
NCO was allowed to deny the accusations, and continue business as usual. The Commonwealth's case was negotiated by Senior Deputy Attorney General Thomas J. Blessington, who gave NCO his "blessing". What a crock! TOAB.
THEN -
File a formal online complaint with the Federal Trade Commission of the United States.
Federal action is required, to stop this illegal activity nation-wide. The Feds are your best bet. They need to be buried in complaints. This, and only this, will precipitate Federal action. Maybe, even enforcement.


Addendum
Pseudonyms - a.k.a. - NCO is also known as -
NCO Financial Systems (115K Google results, when searched using parentheses)
NCO Financial Services (50K Google results, parentheses)
NCO Portfolio Management (13K Google results) - Parent Company - "Purchaser of delinquent accounts"
"Harasser of the masses" might be a more appropriate tag line.

Pseudonyms - a.k.a. - MCG is also known as -
Merchant's Credit Guide (800 Google results)
aka
CFB Financial III, LLC (615 Google results)
Apparently, "The Henchman's Henchman", MCG is used for the purpose of continued harassment.






NCO Financial Systems and Merchant's Credit Guide are driving people crazy, with their over-the-top debt collection practices. They are going too far. Apparently, they always do. This would be an excellent subject for

John Stossel of ABC News -
The LATEST SCAM -
CRIMINAL DEBT COLLECTION HARASSMENT FOR TIME-BARRED DEBT.

Congress needs to
PROHIBIT THE USE OF COMPUTER-AUTOMATED EQUIPMENT
for the purpose of UNCONSCIONABLE HARASSMENT ACTIONS
by 3RD PARTY DEBT COLLECTORS
attempting to collect on PENNY-PURCHASED, TIME-BARRED DEBT.
"POUND away, until they pay, whether they owe or not." . . . their unspoken motto

The common tactic they use, as reported on various websites, and the Pennsysvania lawsuit, is "Debt Date-Changing". They LIE, and CHANGE the date of many debts, so that the debt appears to be MUCH newer than the ACTUAL DEBT OCCURRENCE. "Corbett said that the alleged violations included engaging in or using unfair or deceptive debt collection acts and/or practices, and engaging in or using false, deceptive, or misleading representations ... "

They do this to avoid the "Statue of Limitations", under which these debts legally belong. If you ask for "Proof", they obviously cannot provide it, so they respond with intimidation and threats, to illegally get you to pay them. THIS NEEDS TO STOP. It is unconscionable for the United States Government to continue to allow these unbridled, illegal attacks upon U.S. citizens, by powerful U.S. corporations.

Disclaimer
The data on this page was found on the web. Although every attempt has been made to verify the accuracy of statements on this page, errors can occur. The opinions stated above are the opinions of the webmaster, and he alone.

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