National Credit Systems , Inc. (NCS) is a third-party debt collection agency based in Georgia that specializes in collecting delinquent debts for property management companies. National Credit Systems has received consumer complaints alleging violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), such as failing to provide written verification of debts and attempting to collect debts not owed. If NCS has contacted you about past due financial obligations, make sure you understand your rights before you take action.
The harassing company pays our fees.
They’re legit. According to the Better Business Bureau (BBB), National Credit Systems, Inc.was founded and incorporated in 1991. The BBB established a profile page for NCS in 1998. The BBB lists National Credit Systems as a collection agency. Buzzfile estimates National Credit Systems’ annual revenue at $51.1 million and the size of its headquarters staff at 50 employees, with an estimated 97 total employees across all locations.
According to its website, NCS is “a specialized collection firm helping apartment owners and managers recover money that is rightfully owed to them by former residents who have not fulfilled their lease obligations.” NCS “has grown to provide collection services to more apartment owners and managers than any other company in the country.”
National Credit Systems collects debts exclusively for the “apartment industry.” NCS is “licensed to collect debts throughout the U.S. and provides a full range of collection services,” including “pre-collect programs on a flat-rate or contingency-fee basis”; standard third-party collection services; “in-house garnishment of existing judgments”; and full and pre-legal services. NCS “charges interest on accounts if desired by clients and allowed by law” and acts as a debt purchaser for property managers interested in account purchase options.
NCS is “committed to conducting themselves with P.R.I.D.E.,” which stands for Professionalism, Results, Integrity, Determination, and Excellence. NCS states that they “achieve higher net collection returns while providing better service for…clients. In addition, they perform their service in a professional and respectful manner, consistent with their standard of P.R.I.D.E.”
NCS utilizes a “suite of online services and reporting for convenience and transparency,” including multiple status and performance reports; schedulers for automatic report delivery; online new account submission; “Former Resident Quick Search”; and a “former resident information and payment area.” In addition,
NCS uses software that integrates with property management software “for quick and efficient submission of accounts”; “advanced analytics and models to analyze …accounts and provide client feedback for improving results” and a “captive law firm with employees working exclusively for NCS and its clients.”
National Credit Systems cites affiliation with dozens of professional organizations, including the Alabama Apartment Association; the Greater Birmingham Apartment Association; and the American Collectors Association (ACA). Their Resources page provides links to a variety of resources, including Ask Doctor Debt, the Annual Credit Report site, Easy Financial Tips, The Salvation Army, the Financial Planning Association (FPA), and Money Management International.
Who are we? We are Lemberg Law, a Consumer Law Firm
Lemberg Law is a consumer law firm helping victims of collection harassment and abuse. We are ranked A+ by the BBB. We’ve helped more than 15,000 consumers stop harassment and recover money from debt collectors. Harassed? Abused? Misled by a collector? Call our Helpline today! There is no charge unless we win.
As of November 2019, the BBB has closed 422 complaints against National Credit Systems in the preceding 3 years, with 103 complaints closed in the previous 12 months. Most of those complaints cited problems with billing and collections, although over 100 complaints cited problems with customer service and several others cited problems with sales and advertising. The Georgia Department of Law has posted an Alert on NCS’s profile page, advising site visitors of their rights under consumer protection laws. As of February 2013, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) has closed 2,602 complaints involving NCS. Justia lists at least 10 cases of civil litigation involving NCS.
National Credit Systems, Inc. hides from view. It lists the following PO Box as its address.
PO Box 312125
Atlanta, GA 31131
But in reality the company is located at:
3750 Naturally Fresh Blvd
Atlanta, Georgia 30349-2964
Phone Number: 800-367-1050
Website: https://www.nationalcreditsystems.com/
It is illegal for a debt collector to make empty threats to sue you or garnish your wages. It is also unlikely NCS would sue you for a debt you may not owe or they cannot validate. However, debt collection agencies are known to have summoned debtors to court and garnish wages after a default judgement. Contacting an attorney BEFORE this could possibly happen would be a smart move. We’ve helped thousands of consumers fight back against unscrupulous debt collection harassers. Find out if we can help you too today!
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Unlawful Debt Harassment? Learn the Law & Sue the Collector.
Absolutely. You can sue a debt collector. Here’s an example of a case filed in federal court.
In 2011, a judge in U.S. District Court, District of Arizona, granted a Customer’s motion for summary judgment in Smith vs. National Credit Systems for alleged violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. According to the judge’s conclusion, when National Credit Systems known as the consumer, the customer disputed the debt. The debt collector didn’t indicate the consumer’s file as contested, and the debt collection agency sent the customer a collection letter. The correspondence contained language about a consumer’s right to dispute. Two days later, National Credit Systems sent another letter saying his dispute was investigated, but that the debt collection agency could not find any evidence to confirm his claims, and that it was up to the consumer to supply National Credit Systems with documentation. A bit more than a month later, the debt collection agency sent a letter stating they had been reporting the debt to the 3 big credit agencies. A few months later, the customer received another letter stating that the debt had already been reported to the credit reporting agencies. In actuality, the debt was not reported until four days after the letter was sent. NCS claimed that it had made a mistake (a bona fide error defense is permissible under the FDCPA). The judge ruled that it hadn’t fulfilled the criteria for a bona fide error defense, said that the agency had violated the FDCPA in different ways, and allowed the customer’s motion for summary judgment.
Here are some past Press Releases of Lawsuits Brought On By Lemberg Law Against National Credit Systems
November 24, 2015. Dealing with debt collectors can be tricky. Negotiating debt settlements can be even more so. Our client tells us that National Credit Systems contacted her this past May. The National Credit Systems debt collector told her that she could settle the debt for 50 percent of the balance. Our client told the debt collector that she could pay that amount within two months. The National Credit Systems debt collector told our client that they would send her a letter detailing the payment arrangement.
When our client got the letter, though, it said that she’d “failed to make suitable arrangements,” and didn’t even mention the payment plan. So our client talked to the National Credit Systems debt collector again. He accused her of refusing to pay the debt. When she said she’d pay 50 percent to settle it, as they’d previously agreed, he told her that National Credit Systems had never agreed to settle for 50 percent, and instead demanded she pay the debt in full.
When our client asked the NCS debt collector what she had to do to settle the debt, he told her that she could settle for 75 percent of the balance, but that she had to pay by the end of the day or National Credit Systems would file a lawsuit against our client. National Credit Systems never did file that lawsuit.
Our client’s case, which was recently filed in U.S. District Court, District of Connecticut, charges National Credit Systems with violating the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act by engaging in harassing behavior; by using false, deceptive, or misleading representation in connection with the collection of a debt; by threatening to take legal action without intending to do so; by employing false and deceptive means to collect a debt; and by using unfair and unconscionable means to collect a debt. It asks for statutory damages of $1,000, plus other relief.
Federal laws protect you. The Fair Debt Collections Practices Act (FDCPA) regulates the behavior of collection agencies by prohibiting actions such as the use of abusive or threatening language; harassment; or the use of false or misleading information to collect a debt. The FCRA regulates how collection agencies and creditors report delinquent debts to credit reporting agencies. Additional consumer protection laws include the Telephone Consumer Protection Act (TCPA) and the Consumer Financial Protection Act (CFPA).
Yes. If you want to enforce your rights, or recover money for violations — you need to sue. Federal laws provide individuals like you with a means to seek monetary damages in court. For example, the FDCPA allows consumers who have been violated to recover damages of up to $1,000, plus attorney fees and court costs.
Consumers have reported this agency harassing them from the following numbers:
You may have a case, if…
“I can’t start to tell you how happy this makes me. It is actually comforting to know that there are people ready to do the things you have done. I am really blessed to have found you guys, and was not worried about anything. I think that at the end was the best part for me, reassurance. I’ve got the release here and have signed it, I will fax it over the hour.”
The Lemberg company and everyone we dealt with were true professionals. Michael and I’m very pleased at the final outcome of all our cases. The settlements we received were honest and the activities against the agencies to stop the harassment were swift.”
“After a few months of frustration with a debt collector, I eventually called Lemberg Law. It was among the best financial decisions I have ever made. Jody and her staff were comprehensive, useful, and above all else powerful. I highly recommend their services and thank them for their continual efforts.”
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Sergei Lemberg is an attorney focusing on consumer law, class actions related to automotive issues, and personal injury litigation. With nearly two decades of experience, his areas of practice include Lemon Law (vehicle defects), Debt Collection Harassment, TCPA (illegal robocalls and texts), Fair Credit Reporting Act, Overtime claims, Personal Injury cases, and Class Actions. He has consistently been recognized as the nation's "most active consumer attorney." In 2020, Mr. Lemberg represented Noah Duguid before the United States Supreme Court in the landmark case Duguid v. Facebook. He is also the author of "Defanging Debt Collectors," a guide that empowers consumers to fight back against debt collectors and prevail, as well as "Lemon Law 101: The Laws That Lemon Dealers Don't Want You to Know."
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I got a call put of nowhere, claiming he had legal papers to serve me ,wouldn’t tell me what they were. He gave me a phone # and a case # said call them and they could give details and set up a date to receive the legal papers. I called gave case# he said he is a paid mediator from the state and works for NCS recovery services and is authorized to collect a debt of 972.00 now by atm card only or I’d have to pay 2055.00 that wells Fargo said I owe them from 6 yrs ago that I am completely unaware of. He also said if I dont pay, there going to take me to court and sue me for court fees on top…total 5000.00 plus. I was on vacation with my son and feel like he was harassing me to pay then and keep me on phone. Also said he would send me a series of emails, with the bill,and portals with directions on how to pay. I only received 1 email with no address. I’m not sure what to do now.
They have called me at 7 am on a day and a week later they called me 3 times in less than 3 minutes. I have asked them for proof of what happened to my apartment deposit and have not received any. They state that I owed $116 some of it its for utilities which I do not mind but almost $90 for unpaid rent which I completely disagree.
NCS is charging again for a settlement which was already settled & paid. I agreed & paid on a monthly basis from January 2018-4/2018. Now I received a letter stating I still owed $1,338.39.
When I asked they said first $203.00 with cost & charges it went up. I have my proofs of all online payments. Never received a letter stating paid in full. Now they want to sue me. Please help me!
Its been two days i paid the collection off in full and it’s been two days still no receipt that i had paid it off. I had called and left messages with account manager but no return phone call it was a 2600 debt and I’m far from wealthy and need this taking care so my family just can move on with our life
Back on 2014 I earned some bad debt on my credit it was $2400 i paid these credit people 1800 they sent me a Clarence letter I called them almost every day for a year from different phones they some how blocked my number and this is still not removed mind you this debt came from me breaking my lease and moving to a more affordable apartment complex I always paid my rent on time but I signed documents saying if I broke my lease I would pay two months worth of rent witch my financial status had change well 2years later 2016 I made agreement to pay 1800 which was paid and this bull crap is still on my credit and they keep reporting it to all credit bureaus what can I do
I was found guilty of traffic accident w/o auto insurance (1st time in my life)
I am retired, 69 yrs old – I am
Trying to make agreement/settlement with NCS, but gear they won’t work with me & will file Judgment against me-
What can I do?
Linsa Catalano
I want to know why it takes NCS only 2 minutes to take your money, but it takes 2 entire business days just to receive a receipt showing you paid your debt. I still haven’t received a receipt for my full payment I called to ask them if there is anything I can do to speed up the process, but they hung up the phone on me. Unbelievably rude staff at NCS.
I have a Collection from them of almost $3000 for a fridge (yes a fridge) from an old apartment. Its been almost 3 years, and they have not contacted me, but I want this crap off. I know if I hold off in 3 more years, that thing will drop off. Was trying to see should I attack them, or just lay low
I have a previous eviction and the property management company sold the debt to NCS. I was never contacted by then by phone, email or mail in regards to setting up a payment plan. I received a notice from my employer of a wage garnishment issued by them. To this day I have no documentation from them in regards to what they are taking.
These vultures are the worst of the worst. Insisting my husband and I owe more than $300 when the landlord did not follow Virginia’s landlord/tenant law on security deposits. The documentation they sent verifies that they didn’t follow the law. Thank God for law degrees because I am taking them to court as soon as they KNOWINGLY place false information on either of our credit reports. I won’t be intimidated and I won’t be fleeced out of my money.
National Credit Systems (NCS) is simply asking me to pay a debt that I do not owe. NCS has never sent me any documentation that demonstrates that the debt is valid and that the debt is mine. Just incredibly frustrating….
Major issues with National Credit Systems. I was forced to pay them off because I have a security clearance. They never validated the debt that I actually owed them or proved that I owed them. To make matters worse they refused to speak to the security clearance investigator and validate that the amount they said I owed was paid. I just had to pay and they were NASTY to the max. I have asked them numerous times through credit disputes to remove the collections from my credit report they refused. They even kept reporting the collection monthly till I called the credit bureaus and they sent a letter for them to to provide a reason for monthly reporting. They stopped and reset the date, but the report still shows two collections from them even though the accounts were merged. Again I cannot get any documentation or proof. I have zero defense against them because I was forced to pay or lose a security clearance. No idea to this day if I actually owed or if the amounts were correct.
> I’m needed help with National Credit Systems they won’t give me a letter saying that I’m going to pay them off and this is what we did agree to settle up on it want me to send money to them MoneyGram they won’t give me a receipt I need help please they are rude talking about a lawsuit with me and everything I just need help I can’t get another apartment because of these people
needd help against same company helping landlord imposing fraudulent charges on me continuous ahrraseemnt phone and mail ruining my credit score and my life
> I’m needed help with National Credit Systems they won’t give me a letter saying that I’m going to pay them off and this is what we did agree to settle up on it want me to send money to them MoneyGram they won’t give me a receipt I need help please they are rude talking about a lawsuit with me and everything I just need help I can’t get another apartment because of these people