NCO is often hired to come in and collect a debt for a lender they also will purchase debts and collect for themselves. They have a reputation for ruthless collection methods that often run afoul of the law.

NCO was punished in 2004 for violating the Fair Credit Reporting Act. They were caught working the credit system in an attempt to keep a delinquent debt on the borrowers' credit report for longer than 7 years. They were forced to pay $1.5 million dollars to the FTC.

Collection agencies are known to use disreputable tactics. They have called places of employment, relatives and neighbors in attempts to humiliate the borrower into paying the debt. In order to prevent them from contacting you in the future you must mail a letter to them requesting them to cease contact.

I strongly recommend sending this letter certified mail, so you have proof that it was sent. Also fax a copy and save all documentation of any communication between you and the agency. This will help when filing a complaint or filing a lawsuit against the collection agency.

Upon receipt of this letter, the collection agency will be able to contact you one more time with how they plan on continuing their collection effort. Then contact must stop according to the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act. This act was made by congress to protect debtors from the abuse of debt collectors.

The FDCPA says that debt collectors must be ethical in their collection methods. Meaning they can not misrepresent themselves or use undue influence to force you to make a payment. Often this law is overlooked by collection agencies.

The FDCPA was an attempt by congress to protect debtors from being abused by debt collectors. Collection agencies are frequently brought to court because they do not comply with the FDCPA. However agencies have become very skillful at hiding assets and changing their operation name to avoid a lawsuit or paying on a successful one.