Enacted by the United States Congress on September 20, 1977, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) lays out the ground rules debt collection agencies must follow in attempts to collect outstanding credit card and personal loan accounts.
A third party debt collector like National Business Services, Inc. is not allowed to use deceptive techniques when trying to get consumers to pay off delinquent debts.
For example, a debt collection agency cannot impersonate a law enforcement official by claiming time is running out for you to resolve an outstanding debt.
The FDCPA also clearly defines how a debt collection agency must handle phone calls made to consumers. A phone call from National Business Services, Inc might trigger acute fear and anxiety because of the shame associated from not paying off one or more consumer debt obligations in a timely manner.
You probably will not know how to respond to the rapid fire questions asked by a representative for a third party debt collector. The legal fact is you do not have to answer any questions posed by a representative from National Commercial Services, Inc.
An Experienced FDCPA Lawyer Knows How to Handle a Bill Collector
You should know that a representative from a debt collection agency will immediately try to gain the upper hand during a phone conversation with you. That is, unless you hire a licensed consumer protection lawyer.
Third party debt collector representatives receive extensive training to learn what questions to ask and in what order to ask the questions. On the other hand, many consumers sit on the other end of the line unprepared to deal with third party debt collector questions.
An experienced FDCPA lawyer will prepare you for a phone call with National Commercial Services, Inc. by repeatedly reviewing a phone script that ensures you do not reveal too much information. You can also expect to learn what questions to ask a representative from a debt collection agency.
![Phone Script For When Wakefield & Associates, Inc. Calls*]()
What to Do When Speaking with National Business Services, Inc.
Your FDCPA lawyer will walk you through several phone call scenarios with National Business Services, Inc. One scenario involves claiming the debt in question is invalid, but you are not 100% sure. The statute of limitations might have expired or the debt in question belongs to someone else.
Here is how the phone conversation with National Business Services, Inc. should unfold:
- Representative: “Hello. Is Jack Wilson home?”
- You: “May I ask who is calling.”
- Representative: “This is Shelly Rodriquez from National Business Services, Inc. calling about an outstanding credit card balance. I need to know if you plan on taking care of the past due bill.”
- You: “Excuse me for one minute while I get a tape recorder.”
When you return to the phone, let the representative from National Business Services, Inc. know you are tape recording the phone call.
A tape recorded phone call with a debt collection agency accomplishes two things: It should motivate the debt collection agency representative to follow FDCPA protocols and it provides you with evidence in case a representative from a third party debt collector oversteps the legal boundaries established by the landmark consumer protection law.
Do not allow a representative from National Business Services, Inc get the upper hand during a phone conversation. Speak with a licensed FDCPA lawyer to learn about your legal rights.
Additional Resources
*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 Business Services, Inc. or any other third-party collection agency, you may not be entitled to any compensation.