Are You Being Called By National Commercial Services, Inc.?*

Are You Being Called By National Commercial Services, Inc.?* Here’s what you need to know.

According to a recent report from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, one-third of U.S. consumers have been contacted by a debt collector or creditor in the past year. 27% of the debtors claimed that they felt threatened by the collector’s conduct. It’s an ongoing problem that a federal law investigates and punishes without hesitation.

Your Rights Under the FDCPA

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) prohibits third-party debt collectors from being hostile and unethical when attempting to collect money from you. Tactics like the following can result in high fines and even loss of the agency’s license.

• Failing to identify themselves as debt collectors seeking to collect a debt
• Contacting you even after you dispute a debt
• Telling uninvolved third parties that you owe a debt
• Calling you at work after being informed that such calls are prohibited
• Threatening legal actions they cannot take or have no intention of taking
• Contacting you after you formally requested that all communications cease

Company Profile: National Commercial Services, Inc.

If you are being called by National Commercial Services, Inc., information about the company is below.

National Commercial Services, Inc. is a debt collection company located in Van Nuys, California. It was established in 1996, has approximately 55 employees, and is managed by Zoran Jovanovski. The BBB has assigned it a rating of B- because so many consumers complained about being harassed over false insurance claims. Legal records maintained by the PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records) website suggest that people who believed they were being harassed by National Commercial Services, Inc. dealt with the matter by filing a lawsuit.

Alleged Violations against National Commercial Services, Inc.

According to PACER, in or about early 2011, National Commercial Services, Inc. began contacting a Hawaii resident about a debt it had been assigned to collect. She later complained that collectors called her continuously, sometimes up to four times a day, and did not always identify themselves as debt collectors.

The National Commercial Services, Inc. representatives allegedly threatened to contact the plaintiff’s workplace to “verify employment” unless the alleged debt was paid and even threatened to file a lawsuit against her. During at least one conversation the agency allegedly represented or implied that it was a law film when it identified itself as “NCS Legal Services”.

Feeling harassed by National Commercial Services, Inc., the plaintiff hired a consumer attorney sued the company for allegedly violating the FDCPA in the following ways:

• Using harassing and abusive means to collect a debt
• Using false, deceptive, and misleading means to collect a debt
• Threatening legal action it could not take
• Suggesting that there was attorney involvement in her case when there was not

The matter was later settled.

Hire an Attorney

The phone numbers for this collection agency are:

• 1-818-701-4400
• 1-888-355-4400

If either number flashes on your caller ID when the phone rings, be aware that you are being called by National Commercial Services, Inc.. If they threaten legal actions that they are not in a position to take, falsely represent themselves as attorneys, and harass you by phone, hire a consumer attorney. If you decide to file a claim against National Commercial Services, Inc., you could receive $1,000 per FDCPA violation plus associated damages and costs. Collecting debts may be legal, but it must in done in accordance with applicable law, and companies that do not will face consequences.

*Case taken from PACER (www.pacer.gov). File number is Case 1:11-cv-00495-SOM-RLP from the United States District Court for the District of Hawaii.

Disclaimer: The content of this article serves only to provide information and should not be constructed as legal advice. If you file a claim against National Commercial Services, Inc., or any other third-party collection agency, you may not be entitled to any compensation.