Collections NCO

[duetoboredom85]

Hi all, so I recently checked my credit score and was reminded that I have an open collections account from 3 years back. The original account is from the Justice Court over a parking ticket and got sent to collection agency NCO.

 

I recently read that simply paying off the collections account does not improve your credit score and that I need to send a 'demand to validate' letter to NCO before I pay. I also read that you can negotiate a 'pay to delete' agreement. Is this accurate? If so, can anyone elaborate on the process and what needs to be included in the letter? Also, can the negotiation to delete the information from my credit report be done over the phone? Does anyone have experience dealing with NCO?

 

Thank you for the replies.

[breeze]

Welcome! Check your state's statute of limitations first.

[mindcrime]

Do not negotiate a PFD over the phone. Everything in writing.

 

And yes, you are correct a paid collection won't help your scores and could even lower them in the short run with a newer DOLA.

[Vettecor]

A pay for delete (PFD) should ONLY be used as a last resort when EVERYTHING else fails. As Breeze stated check your SOL in your state first.

 

NEVER do a dispute over the phone or online. Always through the mail and send it certified mail. The only thing you "may" want to do over the phone is an address or phone number deletion. Even then you have no record or paper trail to prove you contacted the CRA to delete an address or phone number.

 

I did everything through the mail and NEVER contacted a CRA or CA by phone or online.

[Second Chances]

+1 to everything said above. My experience with NCO came before I discovered credit boards, and it was one of 3 (!) CAs I had at the time. For professional reasons I had to address them and paying them was the only way in my mind at that time. I paid 2 in full and am in a payment plan with the 3rd. NCO had one of two medical CAs and they actually deleted without me asking after I paid them over the phone, while the other medical CA is just marked "paid" on my report. However, I don't know if I just lucked out that day with a nice representative, so that should definitely be your last option.

[Guest]

+2 to everything said above, and NCO folds easy.

 

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[BamaInvestor]

+2 to everything said above, and NCO folds easy.

 

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+3 on NCO folding like paper when DV'd...IME anyways.

[Guest]

 

+2 to everything said above, and NCO folds easy.

 

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I527 using Tapatalk

+3 on NCO folding like paper when DV'd...IME anyways.

+4 was maybe the easiest delete I ever got when they popped up on mine, or tied with.

 

This is great, a thread with perfect info!

 

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[CG in TX]

Welcome! Check your state's statute of limitations first.

Actually, very few states have a SOL on parking tickets or any type of traffic fines. Some have a limitation on the time after the offense that the court appearance must be held, but those are seldom missed. Once the court hears the case, it becomes a fine with no SOL. There have been cases where 25 year old parking tickets come back to haunt people, as municipalities realize they can generate revenue from these old and all-but-forgotten offenses.