Debt sold to NCO?

[anime-chicka]

I did a search but maybe I wasn't using the right terms.

American Express called late last month asking when they'd get a payment. I told them I was filing for bankruptcy and gave them the name and number of my lawyer, as he'd instructed.

Last night I get home and just as I walk in the door, the phone rings. It's NCO! Apparently Amex wrote me off already and NCO is begging at my door for the approximately 20K I owe. They wanted to know when I could pay. If I had 20k I would. I don't even have 20 dollars in my checking account at this point. The guy then told me that I would need to contact their corporate office to "take care" of the matter. I found his tone just a little threatening to be honest.

I sent a quick e-mail to my lawyer asking him what we need to do, since NCO is now a part of this equation. Has this happened to anyone else before they filed? I plan on filing next week when I get paid again and finally pay off the lawyer's fees. I know I'll have to add them to the list of unpaid debts, like my now mounting medical bills due to all this. I swore I felt my blood pressure rise last night.

[JRScott]

Its common for them to unload debt this way.

Letting your lawyer know this week should allow him to add them to the petition, though so long as the original creditor is there the debt will be discharged.

When they call again tell them you are filing bk as you had told AMEX. Tell them your lawyer has requested they contact him and give his name and number. (Once of course you clear it with him).

[allavdj]

NCO Blows lots of smoke and will make lots and lots of threats and probably even try the "we're your friend" tactic thrown in there somewhere. If you are filing BK and have a lawyer, just give them your lawyers contact info and ignore them.

From my personal experience, NCO will hold the debt for about 90 days of "no payment" then they have a "law firm" they sell the debt off to...ignore these guys too, just stay the course and take care of your BK.

[b_girl]

CC debts which go for at least 6 months without payment are routinely written off by the Original Creditors and bought by Collection Agencies, who will continue to harrass you for months re: the original debt. Filing will stop those calls as the automatic stay goes into effect. I'm with JR..refer them to your attorney, but only if your attorney has first agreed to field those calls (usually after a small payment or signing a contract).

[anime-chicka]

CC debts which go for at least 6 months without payment are routinely written off by the Original Creditors and bought by Collection Agencies, who will continue to harrass you for months re: the original debt. Filing will stop those calls as the automatic stay goes into effect. I'm with JR..refer them to your attorney, but only if your attorney has first agreed to field those calls (usually after a small payment or signing a contract).

The interesting thing is that it was only within the last month that I wasn't able to pay. I'd been keeping up, but just barely, until the last month. And trust me, it made me feel bad to not pay, but it was either that or no electricity and gas.

I did get a reply from the attorney to add them to the petition. And I'm pretty internet saavy that I can get the info without a hitch. It's nice to have access to Hoovers

thanks!

[b_girl]

I think that's how it happens to all of us...we limp along, barely able to pay our bills, until we finally have no choice but to face the fact that it's no longer financially feasible to keep going on this way. Hopefully that happens before you've dug yourself too deep a hole. Good luck!