NCO calling

[zangry]

I heard a message on my answering machine the other day from a lady at NCO telling me to call her about a dept.
The next day they called and my wife answered and she didn't know what to do so she just hung up.
My wife said they said it was a debt from AT&T.
Back in 2006 I started a small business and signed up for bundle package with them(Phone and Internet). The agreement was I would get a discounted monthly price if I agreed to keep it for a year. After a few months I was offered a job somewhere else and decided to give up on business. I was scraped for cash, so I couldn't pay the rest of the montly payments.
I haven't recieved a bill from NCO, but I know I will soon.
I have been working to get my credit improved after I filled chapter 7 bankrupcy last yr.
My concern is, I don't want them to report to any cedit reporting agencies.
I'm pretty sure they haven't yet.
I can pay some if not all the debt since it is only about $500.
How do I deal with them to make sure they don't harm my credit reports?

How should I deal with them when they call?

Thank you,
zangry

[Trish]

Ok, so just to make sure.......you did not include AT&T in the BK?

If not.....and you want to pay/settle, this is what I would do..

Call AT&T and see if they will take payment from you/negotiate a settlement.
If it's possible for them to recall the debt from NCO, then you really have no worries. I always try to deal with an OC first. CAs are just shady.

IF AT&T tells you the debt was sold and they cannot recall it (a debt is either assigned or sold - if it's assigned, they have the power to recall the debt), then you will just have to deal with NCO.

One thing I would like to mention is that NCO violates the laws A LOT. Just beware of that. Now that they have made their initial contact with you (or your spouse) in person..... then by law, they have to send you written notice of the debt within 5 business days. (just keep that in mind)

So, if you have to deal with NCO......you can either wait for them to send you a collection letter and then fire off a DV to them OR you can just send them an "unknown" debt letter now. Let them send you validation of the debt (if they have it). That will also stop any phone calls until they send you proof.

Also read up on the FDCPA.......if NCO violates, that will give you some leverage........just in case you need it.

[Trish]

Oh.....p.s. if they call again, just tell them you chose to communicate through written correspondence.....and would like their address. They have several addresses so you need to know which one to send it to.

If they try to get you to pay over the phone......just tell them no and that you would like to see proof of the debt first. DO NOT give them ANY personal info other than your address. Try to stay calm and polite.......don't let them frazzle you.......that's what they are trained to do.

[zangry]

Thank you,
First of all I didn't put it in the Bankruptcy, because I forgot it. At&t was sending the bill to my old place of business, which was not occupied after I left.

I called AT&T they said I could pay them to satisfy the bill, they are sending me a bill too my correct address.
I asked them if they knew if NCO would report the debt to any CRP's. She said I would have to check with them/NCO.
Is there anything I need to worry about?

[Trish]

That's great that you can pay AT&T directly!
Really, there shouldn't be anything to worry about. If you pay AT&T, then it means it was just assigned and NCO will have no right to report it.

If you are taking care of this now before it is on your CRs, it is VERY unlikely it will show up later.

[Trish]

One thing you might want to do......is pay them by check and put a restrictive endorsement on the back that says "for deposit only to the acct of AT&T". That way they can't transfer payment to NCO.

Looks like AT&T is headquartered in TX......and restrictive endorsements hold up in court in that state.

[zangry]

Thank you,
You've given me some piece of mind, I'll sleep good tonight.