Should you pay Convergent Outsourcing collecting old unpaid debts?
Hello, I have a question on a debt that has transferred several times. The original creditor was Beneficial Co. It went to collection and had since passed through at least 3 collectors, the latest being Convergent. I have never received any written correspondence from Convergent, only phone calls.
The collector before them was Jefferson Capital. The last written correspondence from Jefferson was in the form of a settlement offer that was still very much beyond my ability to pay. The date of offer was Jan 2014. I did not respond. But I looked at the back of the offer and noticed that it said that because of the debt's age, it was time-barred against legal actions. It also said that any payment would not restart the aging. And, that if said debt was transferred to a new owner that they would be required in writing to do the same.
At this point what are my best options?
How should I handle a time-barred debt Convergent is trying to collect?
—CC
Convergent Outsourcing is a large debt collector with offices in several cities in the US and in Central America. They are more diverse with the types of debts they collect than most collection agencies.
Not all debts are created equal, and it takes familiarity to train and set up collection call centers with focuses on unpaid credit cards, signature loans (like your was with Beneficial), medical bills, and commercial debts.
Convergent also collects on partial or full zombie debt, as evidenced by your account being time barred.
Partial Zombie Debt – An unpaid bill that has passed the statue in your state that limits how long a legitimate lawsuit can be filed to collect through the courts.
Fully Dead Debt – An unpaid bill that is time barred, and also is too old to remain as a collection account on your credit reports.
Options for Resolving Debts with Convergent
Not everyone being contacted by convergent will be dealing with as old a debt as you are. And we all have different goals, which would suggest resolving an old bill works best for one; while waiting for collections to drop off your credit report is best for another; and where telling a debt collector to cease all communications, or requesting debt validation, may be ideal for you. Hang with me here, while I cover all of those.
As with most unsecured debts that are outsourced to a debt collector, you can negotiate a reduced lump sum settlement with Convergent. The older the account is that Convergent is collecting, the lower my negotiation targets would be on a percentage basis. It also can matter who Convergent is collecting for. In your case, they may be collecting for Jefferson Capital still, or new debt owner.
If I were negotiating your debt today, I would target less than 30 percent, and only if my goal was to have the account updated as zero balance owed on my credit report. That is because I know they cannot sue to collect in my state, but with it still on my credit (if it is), I can accomplish some finance goal I have, like getting a mortgage. If the debt is full zombie, I would not negotiate any pay off with Convergent, no matter the offer. Not unless my purpose for doing so were personal, like a sense of obligation, which is fine. I would still aim low, as the current debt owner would have paid little to purchase the legal rights to collect on your debt.
I would not be looking for options to set up payments with Convergent.
Any arrangement I were to make, I would want to get in writing.
Convergent and Debt Validation or Cease Communication
I use debt validation requests sparingly. They are a bit over hyped on the internet when it comes to dealing with accounts in collection. But there are times where validation requests are critical to understanding who you may owe, how much, and whether the collection agency trying to get you to pay is even the correct party.
There are reasons to use debt validation as stall tactic to meet a different goal, and it also can have the affect of telling a debt collector to go away. The reasons are:
- If a debt collector needs to get more details from the debt owner so that they can meet their obligation to validate, it could take a while, and in some instances, they never can. You can buy time to gather funds to settle with a lump sum, or more time to pass your states SOL.
- By sending the validation request, you have indicated to a debt collector that you are interested in protecting your rights. That can also often mean you have now willingness or ability to pay. Collectors would rather spend their time trying to collect from people that have both of those qualities. They now know you are not an easy fit into either.
Finally, as far as your situation goes, if Convergent, or the debt owner that hired them, is not on your credit reports due to the original account dropping off from age, you can send the cease communication letter.
I do not recommend sending a cease communication notice to debt collectors unless you are certain the debt is passed your state SOL and time barred. The reason is that it effectively shuts down any form of communication. Convergent cannot call or write. That leaves collection through the courts as the only option to seek payment from you, which you can disregard because of how long it has been.
And I caution sending this type of bug off letter if the account is still on your credit reports, and when you may have financing goals you want to accomplish before it drops off your credit. Unpaid bills on your credit can hold up the ability to get a home loan.
If you do send a letter to a collection agency, validation, bug off, or otherwise, always use certified mail return receipt requested. And keep a copy of the letters and green cards you get back for your records.
You are welcome to post in the comments below for any clarity or feedback. Anyone with questions or concerns when dealing with Convergent Outsourcing, or their many affiliated companies, is welcome to post in the comments below for response.
About Michael BoveeMichael started CRN in 2004 with a mission to provide people in need with detailed debt and credit help and education. Michael has participated as an expert panelist in federal consumer protection rule making, collaborated on state law changes governing debt consolidation, has worked as an expert witness in court matters related to the debt relief industry. He is available to speak with you about your financial struggle and helps people resolve their debt problems daily.
I received a phone call from Convergent. I called the phone number back and was told it was from an account from 2017. He said it was 500.00 but with interest and late fees it’s now another 2,000. dollars more. The debt was when I lived in Illinois. I now live in Arizona. I want to get a mortgage in the next 6-9 months. It’s not on my credit report. When I probed for more information he said if I’m disputing the debt then it will now show up on my credit report in the next 72 hours. I’m wondering what I should do? Do I try to settle for less ? I just wasn’t sure if me trying to settle will prevent them from the debt being reported. to my credit report.
If you stopped paying the account more than 7 years ago it should not appear on your credit. Depending on the state you live in, the account is likely passed the statute to sue in order to collect as well. That means the account Convergent is collecting on is unlikely to interrupt your home purchase plans, or anything else, unless they try to put it back on your credit illegitimately.
If that happens, post an update and let’s go from there.
You may want to double check when the account went delinquent in 2017. There could still be a few months for Convergent to legitimately show on your credit depending on the month you stopped paying.
I have a debt from sprint from around 2016 that I just got a debt collection settlement offer from convergent for. They are offering to settle my $351 debt at 30% of a settlement in full of $105 I would like to pay this and get it off of my credit report but want to make sure that by paying the settlement amount that they cannot come after me later for more. I was young and stupid when this debt and others were created but am looking at getting married in about 2 years and would like to come into the marriage debt free.
Check the letter for all the elements I point out here: https://consumerrecoverynetwork.com/debt-settlement-letters-agreements/
Make sure they have your payment by any offer expiration date.
Some places delete from your credit, and others do not.
Hi Michael, thank you for your wonderful resource and attention. Dealing with a Convergent outsourcing collection from Tmobile from mid last year for less than $150 that they tacked a fee on too. Want this OFF my report. Willing to pay it in full or write/online-form? fillout to do so. Debt is relatively fresh as you can see. What are the things you advise to do or try to get it off the cr?
Aside, do you have any stories of anyone getting a successful goodwill letter removal from convergent?
I do not have any first hand success stories of pay for delete with Convergent.
Thanks for your reply. So is paying it the only option to dealing with it, or is there anything else you suggest doing?
Some of us would still try to dispute it off our credit after it is paid.
I had an account with Sprint that I asked to have stopped after my husband died and daughter married. I could not afford the unused lines and because of the high prices of Sprint, did not want their years added to my line. Sprint sent a bill for 1134. for dropping the lines. The last payment I made was in 2013 I believe. Convergent Outsourcing has put it on different credit bureaus, reopening it with different start dates each time. They have put it as Convergent Outsourcing, COI, and Convergent Solutions at different times. Right now they have it on Equifax with a start date of January 2016. How do I get this removed, or do I still have to wait until the new start date is up from them, and how do I keep it from bouncing to another credit bureau again?
If you stopped paying in 2013 the 7 year shelf life is up sometime this year. Try to pin down the date you stopped and then count forward the 7 years. If it is still on your credit reports after that I would dispute it off: https://consumerrecoverynetwork.com/dispute-tradeline-diy-credit-repair/
I would try to gather any records of this debt from back then too, or create a chronology of events, in case you need that detail in your dispute. Using old credit reports, or collection notices, etc.
CONVERGENT OUTSOURCI has a debt on me for 1,200.00 bucks from T-Mobile. Thing is on my Credit Report it says opened for 1 yr 5 mon. Yet I know this was from like 2011 or 2012 which would be 8 years ago. In California. I’m now getting ready to buy a home and working on the loan part now. Do I just pay this off or can I say No your wrong its been too long?
If it is too old to be on there I would dispute it: https://consumerrecoverynetwork.com/dispute-tradeline-diy-credit-repair/
Did you speak to a debt collector about it? If so, unfortunately you most likely restarted the clock on the collection.
Why do you say that Jay?
Most states you do not restart the SOL with a phone call.
If you settle for a set amount with Convergient Outsource will they only with do that amount agreed upon
Can you rephrase the question and offer more of the details surrounding the account?
I have received a collection letter from convergent and they have reported a debt from T mobile . I had a collection from T mobile removed for 451 back in 2015 and another collection agency in 2016 for same amount. I have not had any tmobile service since 2007. Convergent reports a collection account on my report for a different amount 391 as of nov 2016 and jan and feb 2017 not only as collection but also reported again as an unpaid balance. Not only is the amount incorrect and changed by Convergent but this is past the statute of limitations and they will not remove nor will they send me any proof? How can I get this removed?
I would file a complaint against Convergent with the CFPB.
Hello michael after reading this information im curious about this letter i recieved regarding a debt i have with paypal from 2014. My total balance is of 718,20 and it says they will settle for 50% . The thing is i checked in my credit score and it does not show at all. Ik young and really dont know much about credit score so what do you recommend me to do thank you . I know my credit score is low and i am trying to fix it .
It is normal for an unpaid debt from 2014 to show on your credit reports. Something like that would typically be on your reports until 2021-ish.
If you are trying to fix your credit report, and have limited resources, I would look to resolve other things first, as this one is not showing at all right now. Just be aware that it could pop up, and often will as soon as you start to resolve other debts that get updated to your credit.
If you receive a collection notice from Convergent Outsourcing you need to completely verify one that it is true and two that it is a debt owed.
A small search on google will show that they are running a scam to take people for their money. There are SEVERAL complaints about this company.
Funny thing is when they tried to scam me, I filed a complaint with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau. You will find what happened next really funny. They closed the account and will no longer be contacting me.
Strange how when you involve the GOV, they quickly retreat. Do yourself a favor and report them. Shut these clowns down !!
Here’s my Convergent situation. Received a letter from them yesterday, saying that their client (T-Mobile) has authorized them to offer a 50% settlement. This account is not shown anywhere on my credit reports. I am, however, in the middle of buying a home. My concern is, that this pops up between now and my closing in 3 weeks.
The debt is fairly old (2012), I believe. I’m willing to pay this, for no other reason than putting it to bed so it doesn’t effect my mortgage in the next 3 weeks.
If I pay them immediately, with the issue be done with? Or, will they be able to report it as paid on my credit reports?? VERY CONCERNED!!
Thanks for any advice you may offer, in advance!!
CC
If it is a legitimate debt that is simply not appearing on your credit than it could show up and frustrate the loan closing. If it were me, and I wanted the home loan to go off without a hitch, I would probably pay it, and if it did show up on my credit before closing, it would show paid and possibly not stall the loan process. If it happened to show up now as unpaid that could certainly stop the loan from proceeding.
Any way to know whether they would wait for the offer to expire before reporting it, if they’re going to? I’m only 3 weeks from closing. I already have my clear to close, with the final credit pull being performed next week, to confirm debts/etc. I’m definitely going to pay it, and take the offer – I just want to do it in the way that has the lowest odds of creating a problem.
Ask your loan officer or broker what their experience with this is. If they are not new they will have seen this play out many times.
See Michael thats exactly what they want you to do. I repeat DO NOT PAY A THING to them until you VERIFY it is actually a real debt that you owe.
It is not complicated to verify whether a debt is valid and one that you owe. No one should pay a debt that is not theirs, and there are times where it may not be wise to pay a debt that is yours. I am not sure why you think we have an argument.
All caps posters get deleted. Only warning.
I have one for you. I received a notice from Convergent Outsourcing to a business name I used to own at a PO BOX address. It was for a paypal debt that i don’t recall owing. It mentions that it’s outside of the limits to file a lawsuit and also it’s in my business name and doesn’t have my real name or ssn listed anywhere (Business is long gone 9+ years ago). Also it’s not on ANY credit report that i can find. I was just going to toss it in the trash but i’d be curious to what your thoughts are? (I had a paypal account for that business 15+ years ago, maybe there was an issue they never contacted me about, but this is the first collection i’ve ever seen in reference to it).
If a debt is passed your states statute of limitations to file a legitimate lawsuit, and has dropped from your credit report after 7 years, it is what can be referred to as Zombie debt. If it were me I would not do anything about zombie debt other than perhaps send a cease communication letter certified mail.
Thank you. At this point i’m just going to ignore the letter and we will see if they send anything else. The debt has NEVER showed up on my credit report at anytime (I’ve been monitoring my credit for the last 10 years at least).
Thank you again!
Hi, I was wondering when the 7 years on your report starts? is it from the last Payment date, or the date it was reported?(which is Mar 2013)
It says that I have 1 closed account An old HSBC Credit card bill I haven’t paid. it says charged off owe $0 was wondering how that affects my credit and what i should do
The clock start with when you stopped paying HSBC. Now that HSBC is showing a zero balance owed to them you know they sold the legal rights to a debt buyer.
I have an old T-Mobile bill that is trying to be collected through Convergent. It was for a line that I wanted to say I opened in 2009, once I received the phone I realized there was no signal in my area for T-Mobile, I called back to see if I could cancel and return and was told No that I would have to pay a large fee. Well that wasn’t happening for a phone that their map told me would work in my area! Anyways I disputed the bill the beginning of this year through CreditKarma, and it came back with incorrect info so it was deleted off my credit reports. Well fast forward and I checked my credit for the first time in a while about a month ago and saw that they reopened the report and now the open date shows as June of this year! What would you recommend and how do I obtain my original date of first delinquency? Thanks.
I would dispute the account off your credit reports again. I would use the process laid out in that link.
If the account comes back verified post an update and lets go from there.
Hi Mike,
I have a similar situation to one of your other readers. I received a collection notice from Convergence that I owe over $2,000 on an outstanding bill to Verizon. But three things make this very suspicious – 1. i have never opened an account with Verizon; 2) my last name is misspelled; and 3) I haven’t lived in the US for nine years. Lastly, there is no date of the outstanding payment so I have no idea if it meets any SOL for the state.
Due to my international status I cannot request a credit report online (it must be a US IP address), and they say it can take up to five weeks to get it via the US postal service. I requested it but that’s going to take some time, and the company requires a response within 30 days about the bill per the fine print. Since I didn’t have an account with Verizon, I can try to call them and ask about the status of the account but they may tell me to take a hike without an account number.
Do you recommend that I simply skip checking my credit report and go right to asking for complete information on the billing statement from Convergence regarding the outstanding invoice? Frankly I’d rather not get in touch with them at all if I can help it. Would it be possible to open an account in someone else’s name with a misspelling of a last name? I’m wondering if there was an attempt at identity theft here as well.
Thanks so much for providing your service and opinion, it’s much appreciated.
Best wishes,
Stephanie
If it were me I would both request debt validation from Convergent, and review my credit reports. Calling Verizon if you never had an account with them is not likely to lead to anything productive.
Do you have anyone state side that you trust enough to try to pull your reports while you are on the phone or on skype together? You can have them email them to you real time that way. I am similarly concerned about ID theft for you.
I have three separate credit issues and looking to get advice:
I’m in NY and I am looking to purchase my first home in the next 3-4 so…
#1. I recently pulled all three credit repots and I see a 5yr old collections account from one of the credit bureaus from my old dentist for $267 that I don’t believe I owe (because the dentist did the extra service without asking me and billed me after I got out the chair.) I’m thinking of paying it now because its such small amount but I’m terrified to contact them and re-set the statue of limitation or possibly have them tell me I owe hundreds more in interest or something. What do you think the best steps are? Should I let it fall off?
#2. I just received two letters from creditors within the month. One from Convergent with an old Cablevision bill for $378.54. I didn’t see this on my credit report and I’m not sure how old it is but on the back it states, “We cannot sue to collect debt providing a partial payment may revive the creator’s ability to sue to collect the balance” Should I address this with them or leave it alone since its not on my credit report? Can they add it later on? (My fear is them adding it on while I’m trying to get a mortgage)
#3. The other letter I received was from another collection agency for a Paypal account debt. (also not on my credit report) This one I thought they had the wrong person. i went into my paypal account and saw the debt. It was for a purchase that got sent back for some reason. This is the first time hearing of the debt. Its over a year old and for over $2000 which is a lot for me. Is there any advice you can give me BEFORE I contact them. My goal is for this to NOT go on my credit report. And hopefully get them to lower the amount so i can pay it all off at once. Any advice?
When you say you want to buy a home in “3-4” is than months or years? If years, you could let Convergent and the dentist go, and just settle the PayPal account. Who is collecting on that PayPal account right now?
If you are trying to buy a home in the next few months, you can settle the dentist bill. New York is unique in the fact that paid collections are removed after 5 years, not 7. That means the dentist office collection will drop from your credit. Also, paid medical debt does not impact credit scores the way it used to.
The Convergent bill is too old to sue, which is a 6 year SOL in New York. If Convergent is not on your credit reports today, it could be because it is 7 or more years old. Not much to be concerned about here if that is the case.
Thanks for your reply! We’re looking to buy in the next 3-4 months. And American Coradius International (ACI) is collecting on PayPal. I’m going to reach out to them, any tips on getting them to reduce the amount??? Or tips on getting them. It to report to the bureau (I know that’s probably a long-shot)
One more question… In New York does the ‘paid collections’ drop off my credit reports starting from the date paid in full or starting the date owed?
Thanks again!!!
Most of what I cover in this article (and in the comments) about negotiating with a debt collection agency will apply to you.
Unpaid debt in New York will stay on your credit reports for up to 7 and one half years. But paid collections in New York only stay on for 5 years.
I have recently been receiving computer generated telephone calls from Convergent Outsourcing asking me to call a 1-855 number. They do not offer any explanation of the call and I am not aware of any debt/s. What action do you recommend I take? There is a ‘Do Not Call’ procedure on Convergent’s website. Do you advise that I should submit this DNC request?
If it were me I would first call them and find out what they are calling about. You may not think you have a collection account because you pay everything on time, but what if this is an early warning of identity theft?
After you determine they are making a mistake by contacting you, then submit any do not call details.
I have a debt from verizon that I am paying through convergent. My questions is: they told me that because I made payment agreements with them, it is not reported in my credit score. Os this true?
How long ago was it you stopped paying Verizon? Is this on your credit reports right now?
I got the letter from verizon on December of 2015 amd I started paying through convergent on June of 2016. It is still showing in my Credit Report.
They lied to you if you have been paying for that long and it is still on your credit reports. It is not normal to be offered a pay for delete.
I have received a letter from Convergent stating they are trying to collect on a past due bill from Comcast in the amount of over $1200.00. My problem is that I have never used Comcast nor had an account with them. I have received two letters from them but no phones calls. I would prefer to not engage in communication with them at this point as I know it would probably lead to the phone calls and more. What would you suggest I do at this time?
I would request debt validation from Convergent. Send your request in writing certified mail.
Is this appearing on your credit reports?
What about if the debt is incorrect? Comcast charged me $191.00 for not turning in their equipment which I did do! I called them right away & they said they would take care of it. That was 4 years ago & I never heard another word from them. Two months ago I was looking at my credit report & saw that I had a negative for $191.00 from Comcast. I disputed it with credit karma & it was taken off my credit report. I just received a letter from Convergent saying the Debt was valid but now I owe $762.33!! How can they do that, & what should I do? I refuse to pay for something I did not owe!
You will likely want to communicate with the Bureaus. Check out this post about sending credit report disputes.
I received a letter from Convergent to settle a debt through Verizon for 20% of the debt. I paid the settlement, my questions are will it come off my credit report, if not how do i get it removed?
Convergent will drop from your credit report organically after 7.5 years of when you stopped paying Verizon originally. That is the normal time frame. You do not need it off of your credit, you just need it to show resolved, in order to improve your credit and finance options.
My husband and I are trying to purchase a home, but unfortunately he has an old t mobile bill that is now in collections with convergent that needs to be resolved. The last time he paid t mobile was in 2007, but on his credit report convergent is showing up as “opened” in September of 2015. We are in PA and I know the SOL is 4 years. We just want this off his credit report or at least out of collections, but we refuse to pay the $2000 convergent is claiming he owes. What is our best plan of action here?
Thanks!
I would file disputes with the credit bureaus that are showing the debt. If it has been more than 7 and one half years since a payment was made, the account should not be there. Let me know what happens with the dispute and I can offer more feedback from there.
I would like to know if convergent removed your collection. I am in the same situation had a T-Mobile account back in 2011. Convergent is saying we owe $2,066 and had it reopen in 12/15. They also reported it different (open closed late/monthly late since 2/16) to all 3 credit agency’s! It is the only item on my credit report stopping my from being pre approved for purchasing a house. Please let me know how you made out and what action you took.
Thank You
I am glad I saw this posting. I am a banker with perfectly clean credit. I used to have a Paypal account many years ago. I remember telling Paypal to close my account as my wife opened one, so we did not need 2. The letter from Convergent arrived today totally out of the blue. It says I owe funds to Paypal and they will settle for 35%. There is nothing on my credit reports and I monitor Equifax. It probably is 8-9 years since using Paypal and not once did I ever get a notice from Paypal about owing any monies. So, I wrote a letter (not mailed yet) asking them for any and all documents, files, correspondence, proof of monies owed and whatever other information they have in their files to validate the debt. My letter states that I want more than a simple statement of account, that is not proof in my book.I don’t know the exact date of what Paypal is saying the owed amount is from nor does the letter say when Convergent was given this assignment. I do not wish to call them, I could leave this alone too with the hope it goes no further, not really sure. What do you think?
It also says they cannot sue. I am in Florida, I wonder what the laws state regarding a matter such as this.
You can simply ignore super old debt like this that Convergent is trying to collect. If you can no longer be sued, and the account does not appear on your credit reports, it is often considered zombie debt.
If you do not want to ignore it, and would prefer to stop getting Convergent phone calls and mail, you could send a letter that you want all communication to stop. I would typically only send a cease communication letter regarding really old debts like yours. Send anything like this using certified mail.
Thank you. I do not believe I am getting any phone calls but I generally don’t answer called from unidentified numbers. So, are you saying to send a cease communication letter or not or just ignore this letter? If I ignore it, could they then file a collection or if I send a letter, would that just validate my existence, so to speak, and fall into a bigger hole? My first thought is to ignore it. I don’t really think they actually know where I live although it is correct, maybe they are just fishing, don’t know. I could have moved by now. since the debt is so old. On my monitoring service for Equifax, nothing is there, it is perfect, no collections. Maybe I should monitor all 3 bureau’s, do you have any suggestions on who to secure this from? Equifax offers it as does Experian. I don’t know at this moment if this Convergent is on my Experian or TransUnion reports.I don’t hear anything from TransUnion although I am pretty sure they offer a monitoring service too. So, how do I monitor all 3 of my credit bureau’s and know it’s accurate? Who do I go with? Is there another choice or option to monitor all 3? I have 2 CC’s. My FICO score is 727 according to one of my CC companies who offers that score on their statements. My other CC company, Barclay’s Bank, also shows a FICO score but it is considerably less. I am wondering why this occurs? It’s a 40 point difference which is significant. I don’t understand how one bank can show a higher FICO score and then another a much lower one.
As a side note which I did not mention, I was forced to file a Chapter 13 in August, 2009 due to a very serious spinal injury, I accrued $1,o00,000 in bills after 4 major lower back fusions and then a cervical fusion. Insurance paid a bunch and I paid a ton of money towards the outstanding balances but could not pay off a very significant portion. It was discharged in October, 2014 I was successful in having any and all collections removed from my reports. It is my understanding it will drop off in August, 2016, 7 years from filing. I am sure that will have a significant impact on my FICO scores? You can imagine that a career bank executive having to file this action was pretty embarrassing but my bank fully understood, thank god.
Sorry for all of the questions/comments but I was hoping you could provide your expertise. Thank you!
PS, I did see my TransUnion reports and Experian reports a lot over the past 18 months, removing collections and late accounts. This collection agency was not on there at that time either.
You are a bit more worried about this old bill with Convergent than you need be. The debt cannot harm you legally at this point, or your credit reports. If anything like that were to occur, post an update and I will help you from there.
Many credit score models are approximations and not the real deal. And even the score you see that is real may not be the one a car dealer would see if you were at a dealer applying for financing, that may be different still when compared to what a mortgage lender would see. There are too many variables.
Your credit is in good shape. I would not be monitoring the score, but would want to pull a report every 4 months to check for accuracy. You can do that at http://www.annualcreditreport.com – and this is free. You have access to one report from the major 3 bureaus every 12 month period from that site. You can pull one every 4 months and look for any issues.
I will often recommend using a monitoring service when someone is looking for major financing and has to resolve some debts or make improvements to their credit over a period of several months.
Hi, can you tell me again how long a Chapter 13 remains on your credit? I had to file for one due to $1MM in medical bills in August 2009, it was discharged in August 2014. When will the “public record” come off of my credit report? I think it will be August of 2016, 7 years from the original filing date?
Based on what you shared it should fall off your credit this year.
Should it fall off in August of this year? That would be 7 years from the date of filing. How do I make sure it comes off timely? Is it automatically done by the credit bureau’s? I would think my credit score should increase substantially when it does? Thank you.
It will often drop off timely by itself, but you should monitor and make sure that it does. If need be, post an update about it staying on longer than it should and I can help you from there.
Hello. I recently received a letter from convergent outsourcing. The letter just like everyone else said i can pay in payments or a settlement. I know I owe this money and it has been charged off on my credit report. I have no problem paying the settlement. As long As it’s taken off My credit report. Will that happen?? Also another concern was if convergent outsourcing was a legit company. I know They are not accredited by the BBB.
Convergent is not a scam or fake collector. You can make sure they are legitimately collecting by contacting your original creditor or current debt owner.
Getting the original creditor to delete an item from your credit reports is not something Convergent can do, and they are not all that likely to delete their own credit reporting in exchange for money (watch this video I just posted on this topic yesterday).
I’ve been gradually rebuilding my credit. I just received a letter from Convergent Outsourcing for a Directv bill of $539 from March of 2010. They want me to pay 40% or $215.80. Prior to this I don’t believe Directv was even reporting this account to the credit bureaus. Equifax now shows a collection from convergent. The date of first delinquency says 3/2010. I don’t now what the Iowa statute of limitations is for this type of debt. I found this online:
Iowa Statute of Limitations on Debt Collection
Open account: 5 years from last charge, payment, or admission of debt in writing. Unwritten contracts: 5 years from breach.
Written contracts: 10 years from breach.
I guess a Directv account could be considered a signed contract.
I initially disputed it through the credit bureau which is only a day or two old.
My main concern is the credit report more than the money. I can pay the 215.80 but i’m worried that convergent might change the rolloff date. What do you suggest
The statute of limitations you are referring to is applied to how long you could be legitimately sued in court to collect. The credit reporting time limit on something like this is 7 and one half years from when you stopped paying.
Settling with Convergent will not change the credit reporting drop off date. If that did happen post an update as it is simple to remedy. Save a copy of any credit reports you have right now just in case.
As I stated earlier, I disputed the item with Equifax and received a reply that they had re-investigated and that the item has been removed from my credit report. However, since I haven’t replied to Convergent Outsourcing, they could still sue. (assuming that a directv account falls under the ten year statute). If I pay it they might put it back on the report as a partially paid collection or something similar if they sue and win. I’m not sure they would go to the expense to sue over $215 or even the full amount of 539.
Not sure what to do. As I said I want to protect my credit reports above all.
Equifax deleting Convergent from your credit reports is a fortunate outcome. Do not be surprised if it pops back up on your report though. And you may later see Convergent on TransUnion or Experian.
Paying Convergent now is certainly high risk for the account then reappearing on your credit reports. If I were you, with the same goal of keeping this off my credit, I would not pay. If the collection pops back on any of my reports I would call Convergent and negotiate a new pay off, get it sent to me in writing, and then pay the deal. The alternative would be credit reporting disputes that may not be as productive as your recent one, at least until the account drops off your credit reports from age.
I certainly appreciate your advice. Thank you.
I originally discovered the Equifax collection via Credit Karma, Which as you no doubt know, is run by Trans Union. At that time and, up till now,Trans Union didn’t/doesn’t show a collection. Back then I promptly ordered all three credit bureau reports. Experian also showed the collection. Today after learning that Equifax had removed the item, I went to Experian and it was gone there too and I didn’t file a dispute with them Could convergent have removed them both?
Anyway if I don’t pay and later this collection shows up on one or more reports and I call Convergent to get a payment arrangement in writing, will it do any good for me to get in writing that if I pay, they will remove all collection information from my credit reports?
You can call Convergent to negotiate a lump sum payoff amount. Try to get the best discount you can. Do not pay anything until you see the agreement in writing.
It is highly unlikely to get a creditor or debt collector that furnishes information to the credit bureaus, regularly and in volume, to put in writing that they are exchanging money for deleting a negative on your credit. They have to be more concerned about their relationship with the credit bureaus than they do collecting on a single account.
I do see scenarios like yours play out where a pay for delete is the end result, but it is not part of the written agreement.
Hi Michael,
I recently received an update on Credit Karma stating Convergent collection on behalf of T-mobile. I am aware of the debt, however its about $150 more than the original debt from 2011. So far it looks alike its only on Equifax. What can i do to totally remove it? is a PFD feasible with this company?
Thank you and God bless for you helping all of us!
I do not see many pay for deletes succeed that are not medical or utility bill related. Are you looking to pay the full amount owed, or trying to negotiate a lower payoff amount? Are there other collection items on your credit besides Convergent?
Michael,
Thank you for answering our questions for those of us trying to get our credit in better shape.
After ruining my credit when I was just starting college, I started using cash. 22 years later and my credit finally fixed itself, albiet I’m on the road to actually getting better credit.
I used Credit Karma and Convergent is reporting an $113 Comcast bill to Transunion with an open date of March 2014. However the Comcast account was closed over 20 years. I’ve disputed it with Transunion however if it’s not resolved then my option would be a ‘validation of debt’ to Convergent via a registered letter? Since I live in Florida, am I required to include any other addional information?
Thanks again for helping us out.
I would skip all that and file a credit reporting complaint against Convergent and TransUnion with the CFPB.
can u recommend a good undeceptive credit reporting agency? i have no idea what my credit report says as i have never pulled it before or cared about it, foolishly albeit. i recently had to get a cosigner on a newly leased vehicle and am thinking of starting my own business in 2016. ive been turned down by credit cards and my banker suggested freecreditreport.com which is experion-owned. ive read bad reviews about them. is credit karma a better co or which do you recommend? i also have an unpaid debt fr sprint being collected by convergent and would like to see if its still on my credit report. i dont know what yr the original debt occured in and also dont know what ohio’s sol is
The three major credit reporting agencies are Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion. You can get your credit reports free every 12 months from these three bureau’s at http://www.annualcreditreport.com. I recommend pulling one of the three every 4 months so that you have a 4 month rotating view of your credit.
Credit Karma and other free report providers are not as accurate and can be on an information delay.
If I were to use a paid version of getting my credit reports I would use any of the services available by the 3 majors. Some people find one easier to read than the others.
Post an update if you find Convergent on your credit report.
Convergent outsourcing has a collection account from a sprint account from 2010. The amount seems to be higher than what a typical phone bill would have been. I need to get a resolution from them as I am seeking new employment. The balance is showing 700.00…..
Based on it being from 2010 and the balance being $700.00 what do you think a fair offer would be to get the collection account closed with them?
Thank you
What state are you in? If the SOL to collect legitimately through the courts has expired I would target 30% or less. WHen you are negotiating with Convergent do not let on about your credit reporting needs or any other tip off that would suggest to them to hold out for more money.
Michael,
I have a credit card judgement I have 14 days to reply to a show cause for revival of judgement I was served tonight . The collection which had the original judgement has sold the judgement to Jefferson capital the judgement will expire or would have expired may of 2016. Jefferson capital is willing to settle or let me make payments .The judgement amount was $1,394. 5 yrs ago I think I have pd $200. maybe the amount now including interest ,etc is$3,835 this wS a $300 credit limit card I do understand that interest is occurring and if I was in a pymt plan the interest stops .? my question is IS THEIR IS NO Way to not pay and is it OK to try to make arrangements . I DO OWN MY HOME ONLY INCOME IS ssdi which I do not like to disclose ,been since 1997 . what kind of cause do I have to show… I do owe the debt .just 2500 $ in interest; s ridiculous .but I signed the credit card agreement.
advice please !!
[edit: removed phone number and address]
I would be highly motivated to settle the judgment for the lowest pay off amount possible. With your limited income being from an exempt source like social security, you can often negotiate a good settlement with Jefferson Capital.
That would be my preference over a payment plan, but raising the money you need is not always withing reach. Can you pull together $1,300 or so? How long would it take?
Received a letter today from Convergent Outsourcing, Inc. claiming I owe their client, Paypal Inc., $511.19 for a past due balance. I have a couple of problems with this. First, they miss-spelled my last name. Second, my paypal account is in good standing. I opened it in 2006, and used it last in 2009. All were purchases from eBay. I have checked, and there have been no transactions since my last one in 2009.
I did some checking online and it appears I’m not the only one to get this letter. Should I just ignore this as one of their scams?
I would contact PayPal directly and make sure there is nothing behind what you can see when logged in to your accounts.
I would also send a written dispute letter to Convergent outlining your concerns and that you think the debt is not valid. Send certified mail and keep a copy of everything.
Is PayPal or Convergent Outsourcing appearing on your credit reports?
I received a Settlement Offer from Convergent Outsourcing dated 9/15/2015 Current Owner: Midland Funding, LLC, Original Creditor: HSBC. Total Balance: $1649.01 Settlement in Full: $824.51. The bottom part can be detached and sent in with my payment or I can fill in my CC information (no way!) They also offer 2 other settlement options – 70% over 3 months and full payment spread out over 12 months. I’ll try to be brief but this is complicated. I was having problems back in 2005 paying 3 accounts that totaled around $3000 because I lost my job so I contacted the companies to negotiate lower payments but was unable to get HSBC to do this probably because I wasn’t aware of the proper process to follow ie: speak to a supervisor etc. So I just stopped paying completely because I could no longer afford the minimum payment after I finally did get a job. So my last payment to HSBC was in the summer of 2005. Sometime in 2007 or maybe 2008 I got something about arbitration and since I was going thru a lot of personal things at the time I freaked out and decided to ignore it. I never heard another thing about it. In the years since, I have seen this debt drop off of my credit report (2012 or 2013). My credit report hasn’t been an issue for me in the past 10 years because I have been living debt free and didn’t plan to use credit but I have recently decided I want to purchase a small inexpensive home to pay off before I retire in 10 years at the age of 70 so I won’t have rent or mortgage to deal with once I’m too old to work. I’ll be lucky if I can actually survive on what I will be bringing in at that time as is. This seems to be old debt past the SOL in Nevada where I live but I have finally got my credit score up over 750 from not even having a score at all a few years ago due to no history on my report so I am mostly concerned about my credit in this matter. I have finally been able to save money and have a few thousand so yes I could send them the total settlement but I’d rather not and I wonder what you would recommend. The offer gives me 45 days to settle but on the back it mentions “unless you notify this office within 30 days after receiving this notice that you dispute the validity of this debt or any portion thereof, this office will ASSUME THE DEBT IS VALID…” The all caps emphasis is mine not theirs and I’m sure you understand why. There is more if you’re interested. I’ve made lots of mistakes in my life and I’m just trying to do the right thing for myself and my future. Sorry if the length of this has turned you off but I’m desperate for advice and I really hope you can help me. I’d love to talk to you on the phone if possible but at this point I’ll take what I can get. Thank you
You can always call for a consult Vicky. That is why I publish the hot line number on the site. Call 800-939-8357, and choose option 2 to connect with me.
You may not have to do anything with this account, but if there was an arbitration award all those years back that was filed as a judgment with your local court, that could change my thoughts on this.
Have you lived in the same county all this time? Look in your county courts records and see if anything turns up under your name related to this.
I forgot to mention that on the back of the “offer” along with the part that tells me I have 30 days to notify the office that I dispute the validity of the debt it also says that they will obtain verification of the debt or obtain a copy of a judgment and mail me a copy of such. Then there is a blank space followed by “The law limits how long you can be sued on a debt. Because of the age of your debt, our client will not sue you for it”.
I want to thank you for the assistance you gave me on the phone today but I had forgotten to tell you about that part and want you to know about it in case that makes a difference. I hope to hear back from you again but in the meantime I am typing up the letter to have it ready to send day after tomorrow because I have to be out of town tomorrow for a Dr appointment and won’t be back in time to get it sent off until the next day.
Vicky
Sounds good Vicky. That information does not change my opinion of the situation. That can be catchall language to cover their butt. I see that statement on collection notices when there is a known judgment and case number on the actual letter that also contains that disclosure.
I would still progress in the way we talked about on the phone.
Hello. My daughter was living out of state with a boyfriend. Daughter moved back and the boyfriend stayed. My name ended up on the gas bill. This was after my daughter returned. Long story short, he didn’t pay the gas bill. Back in 2010 is when this happened.
I rec’d collection letter and about fell off my chair as I’ve always had great credit.
In a panic I paid the account (after calling the gas company to verify the debt). That was 3 years ago. Low and behold 2 weeks ago I receive a letter from Convergent on the same gas bill.
Unfortunately, I did not save any records from paying the debt 3 years ago. I’ve tried to find the payment in my checking account and asked for copies of my statements from my credit card company but haven’t rec’d anything yet.
I’m planning to call the gas company to see if I actually do owe them anything. 3 years ago I called them after I paid the collection and verified hat my name was off of the bill. They verified that yes, my name was removed. so this can’t be new debt.
After researching Convergent online I’m finding many negative reviews along with many BBB complaints.
Do I pay these fools just to get rid of them? I do not like having my credit messed with.
Any advice is greatly appreciated.
I would probably send a written dispute to Convergent, not waiting to see if you are able to document that payment (in case it takes more than 30 days to here back from your bank).
The he said she said part could come down to the gas company telling you that you were taken off the account but then weren’t. This could also be a case of the gas company passing along account information and yours being included. Perhaps Convergent Outsourcing is unable to get in contact with the correct person and is just erroneously trying to collect from you.
Post an update with what the gas company says they have in their records.
Hi Michael,
From one of your responses earlier, it sounds like I merely need to send the cease letter.
I am about 14 years out of some cc trouble from a bad business partner. I have nothing on my credit reports.
I want to verify that they can’t re-do the credit report or use the false refreshing of a debt by passing it along. I also want to verify with you that I have no need to make them verify anything.
If it’s the cease letter, do you recommend any specific version that you can link to? or
I took a copy from cfpb of their cease letter. But I can’t tell if I’m supposed to keep the last paragraph or not:
I am responding to your contact about a debt you are attempting to collect. You contacted me by [phone/mail], on [date]. You identified the debt as [any information they gave you about the debt].
Please stop all communication with me and with this address about this debt.
Record that I dispute having any obligation for this debt. If you forward or return this debt to another company, please indicate to them that it is disputed. If you report it to a credit bureau (or have already done so), also report that the debt is disputed.
I thought I left this entire situation behind in 2009, I’ve now had to spend a day off work trying to re educate myself from scratch again. Very frustrating!
Thanks for your advice in advance, it’s appreciated!
You could delete the CFPB last paragraph, or keep it if you like. The main thing is the demand that communication cease. Save a copy and send it certified.
If anything pops up on your credit post an update and we can go from there.
In this instance, I prefer to be told exactly what to do…but the basic answer is send anything. Or in another light, it doesn’t matter if I sent them anything at all as they are sending false threats to prey on the ignorant.
Thank you for your help.
My husband has a bill with the electric company we live in ct. The original price is 359.29 convergent says they can settle it for 75% of the total balance to make it 269.47. We got this by letter. They gave us a login in temp # that wont work because of some security reason and we have called them n they tell us to leave a message along with when my husband calls they ask if it is someone else on the recording. He has had that number for over a yr now. I see all these other questions n it makes me question if this is even a safe debt collector to use. Plz help right now we are living “off the grid” because we cant afford to pay the whole amount
You can verify who is collecting for the poser company by calling them to confirm. You may want to check to be sure that you can get the power turned back on if you are not paying the prior bill off in full.
Convergent regularly collects on utility bills.
I have a couple inquires, first exactly how long does it take for something to drop off my credit report, I am under the impression it is 7 yrs, but as I review it there are some that are still on there that have passed SOL, what can I do about this ? Also some of them are double, because they were CO and purchased by another lender. Does this renew the original debt, because the drop off dates are different as well as the date opened?
Generally speaking, collection accounts stay on your credit reports for up to 7 and one half years from the date you stopped paying. Those accounts accounts cannot be legitimately refreshed or renewed to cause a longer reporting time.
The dual collections/negative entry is standard and unfortunate. But both entries should drop at the same time,and only one can report an actual balance due an owing.
I don’t believe my last comment posted. Basically they called me yesterday after calling several times during work and not leaving me a message. I finally picked up and the lady said that she is calling on behalf of my electric company that I cancelled with last month looking for my last 2 bills of $340. I was planning on paying this very soon. I asked if I could handle this problem with my electric company and she said I was not able to but it seemed as though she was lying for some reason. So I called my electric company and asked if I could just pay them online like I usually do and they said that is perfectly fine. My question is, if I pay the bill directly to the electric company will Convergent be notified? Or will they keep calling looking for a collection/ do I owe my bill to them now or can I still just pay the electric company?
If it were me I would just pay my electric company like you had planned on doing.
Convergent Outsourcing may still try to contact you to collect until the bill is fully paid. Once fully paid they should stop. If they don’t, post an update and lets go from there.
Convergent has a collection on me from a mobile phone service- they are reporting date of last activity and the collection date as March of 2015, however the debt first went into collections around 2009! I’m thinking this can’t be legal! How do I get them to report the proper dates, therefore solidifying that the collection is removed in a timely fashion?!
You can send a credit reporting dispute to the credit bureaus requesting the collection account Convergent is reporting be corrected. Send any dispute in writing via certified mail. Keep a copy of all for your records.
If it does not get corrected post an update and lets go from there.
Michael,
I recently just agreed to settle a student loan debt with Convergent. But I am trying to call them back and of course, no one is picking up my calls. I am panicking and thinking whether or not I should tell my bank to cease all activity so that they won’t be able to. I settled for $5000 when my debt was $11,000. The loan is from 2004 and in 2014,i filed for ch. 7 bankruptcy. Should I or should I not call my bank?
Call me to talk about why you are suddenly so concerned at 800-939-8357 and choose option 2. Be sure to leave a message if you get voicemail. I will return your call shortly after as long as it is before 7 pm pacific.
I have a similar problem with agreeing to pay a reduced sum to convergent monthly. Unfortunately, I didn’t know much about this agency before the agreement over-the-phone. I allowed automatic payments from my checking account and cannot figure out how I can cancel the next recurring payments (2 pagments remaining due end of each month.) . Should I call my bank to cease future payments? Any guidance from here is appreciated.
Can you offer more details about your situation Julie? What type of account did you agree to pay? How old was the debt before you agreed to pay anything to Convergent Outsourcing? How much have you paid to date?
Michael, saw some great questions and great responses by you, hoping to hear what you think of my situation. I have been working on my credit now for 3 years and have gone from low 400’s to now over 700.
I just got a call a few minutes ago from Convergent Outsourcing for a TV I bought back when I was in college in 2004 at BestBuy, it is now 2015 ( purchased the TV in Massachusetts though and their SOL is 6 years).. It’s not on my credit report, and the statute in PA where I live is 4 years. Can they still try and sue for the money?
They could not sue legitimately. If they do (which I doubt will happen), your answer to the complaint will still need to be filed timely. Your defense is short and concise… the debt is passed the SOL.
I received a letter from Convergent about an incident where my husband hit a light pole in my car and because I did not have car insurance, the light company sent us both a bill. This was 4+ years ago, and it has affected my ability to get a license because it has not been paid. The amount is over $4,000 and Convergent refuses to let me pay a down payment under $1600. This is a problem because I need to get my license, however, I don’t have the money to pay for it. What should I do? Should I keep trying to negotiate a lower amount? Or will it fall off my credit/history and allow me to get my license?
I would check with your state drivers licensing department and learn more about what you must do in order to renew your license.
I am trying to make a payment to convergent regarding a past due account. They agreed to set up a payment plan for six months. However they want my checking account number and routing number. I feel very uneasy about giving them this information. I would much prefer to send payments either by mail or credit card. Do I have this option? Also, should I get the payment plsn afagreement in writing?
Thanks for your help!
Are the six monthly payments Convergent would agree to going to pay the full balance of the debt, or are you negotiating a lower pay off than what is owed, and stretching that out over time?
I highly recommend getting everything you agree to with a debt collector in writing.
Rather than use your household checking account, I tend to encourage using a different bank account to pay debt collectors. If this is the only account you have in collections, it may be okay to use your regular account as long as you have the agreement in writing first.
You can call Convergent and ask them about mailing in payments, or if they have a merchant account to process credit card payments. Some debt collectors have set up web payment portals that make remitting payments pretty simple.
Michael,
Thanks for your answer. To answer your questions:
Yes the 6 payments would pay off the total balance. There would be no reduction in the account balance.
I asked about getting something in writing even an email) but was told they couldn’t do that but I could get a copy of the recording.
They said that they charge a fee for credit card payments (I think it was a relatively small fee.)
By the way, they said that the checking account info to start withdrawing the payments had to begiven to them by today. I’m not sure what the rush is.
The rush is a false sense of emergency or fear of loss. It is a collection tactic. Convergent is still going to want your money tomorrow….
In lieu of a letter outlining your agreement, I would record the phone call yourself, and tell them you are and why. Be sure to write down or speak to the date, time of day, and the person you spoke to. If anything goes wrong, which is actually not all that often, you will be able get things corrected in short order.
Dear Mr. Bovee,
I received a collection letter from Convergent collection agency saying I owe the utility company over $600, but the debt is over 12 years old. I have never paid on it, and the debt has never been on my credit report that I know of (but I could be wrong, and if it was, it fell off). It does state on the back of the letter that Convergent cannot sue, but it says that if I don’t notify the office within 30 days after receiving this notice that they will assume the debt is valid. Is that grounds for them to put it on my credit report if I don’t notify them? I do have financial goals. I am in the process of cleaning up my credit and do not want this to go on my credit report. Can they put it on my credit report after so long of time for the debt? Or are they just trying to get money from this “zombie debt”? I am confused on how to handle it…should I notify them and tell them it is a dead debt or should I just send a certified cease letter? But the main goal is to not have this on my credit report! Thanks for you help!
Convergent cannot put it back on your credit report once the account has dropped off due to age.
If it were me, I would send the cease communication letter certified mail. Be sure to use the return receipt option through USPS too, and keep a copy of your letter and the green return card you get back. Those could come in handy if Convergent contacts you again about collecting this same account.
That 30 day notice to dispute the debt as valid is something Convergent Outsourcing, and nearly all debt collectors for that matter, place on collection notices for compliance purposes.
Thank you so much for the quick response! I think that is a great idea. So once I do the cease letter, then that’s it? They have no recourse?
I went on the FTC website and read about time barred debts, they recommended contacting the agency and asking them to verify the debt and the date. Just asking them if the debt is out of the time limit and said that if they didn’t answer, asking them when was the last payment on the account. Then getting the debt verified.
Your answer is a lot simpler, so you don’t recommend me getting the debt verified? That way I have solid proof of the stature of limitations from their own mouth. Thanks again.
With a debt this old it is more likely you will hear nothing from them in response to your debt validation request. That is essentially the same result, so either would be effective options.
Hello! I’ve received a letter from Convergent regarding, their client, “Jefferson Capital Systems, LLC” and it notes as the “Debt Description” — “Wells Fargo Bank Checking”. I do not, nor have I ever had an account with Wells Fargo. In addition the letter also states, “The law limits how long you can be sued on a debt, and your debt is beyond that limitation.”
I’m unsure how to proceed. This is not my debt, as I’ve never done business with Wells Fargo. Any suggestions? I live in Nevada btw.
If it were me, and the debt Convergent is trying to collect on is obviously not mine, I would tell them that, but in letter form sent certified mail return receipt requested. You could include that you are requesting they cease any and all communication with you as well.
If they try to contact you about the debt after that, post an update and lets go from there.
Hello all! I am currently in the process of trying to buy a home, but of course i’m having to rebuild my credit. I’ve pulled my credit and I’ve noticed that there is a old sprint bill on my report which I haven’t had since 2008. In the past I have dealt with them on making payment arrangements, that every six months I would have to call back and set it up all over again until I paid off my debt. After the first six months I did not renew the deal because I wasn’t receiving any kind of proof that I was paying them off or receipts of my transactions. I know I was scammed. Since then I’ve been receiving threatening calls from a man named “Robert Johnson representing Roth-stein Acquisition Firm” about they have my case and that they are going to send it to a lawyer, they are going to contact the local authorities and have me arrested, I’m going to be sued, and they also have contacted my parents, threatening them that they were going to go to jail because in some weird way they were apart of it on helping me create my own debt. The company is named CONVERGENT OUTSOURCING and they seem to keep updating the account to make it a new collections and its harming my credit. also today I got a notification stating that “CONVERGENT OUTSOURCING, INC has flagged your account as Collections. February 26, 2015” so what does this mean? Also wanting to know if I should just dispute it. whats the worse that can happen.. I just want to know what do I need to do because I’m so close to qualifying for a home and the collection agency I feel like its harming my chances. Someone please help! Thank you!
When was it you last made on time payments to Sprint?
A debt collector threatening you with jail time, or having you arrested is a scam.
Based on what you shared, Convergent Outsourcing on your credit reports is not related to the collection calls you are getting from “Robert Johnson”. It sounds like those are two separate concerns. Is that correct? And if so, I can better offer feedback out Convergent and credit reporting when you answer my sprint question.
You may be really close to when the original Sprint collection should fall off your credit. That would mean Convergent should drop off with it. If it does not, you can dispute it off as too old.