We’ve all forgotten to pay a bill or been in the situation where the funds just aren’t there–especially during the current COVID-19 pandemic.
Unfortunately, if the bill remains unpaid, the original creditor will consult a third party debt collection agency to pursue the debt. Que the repeated phone calls and emails from a collection company.
If you have started hearing from a company called Convergent Outsourcing Inc, it means that you are being pursued for an unpaid debt.
Besides being annoying and aggressive, debt collectors like Convergent Outsourcing can have a major impact on your credit score as reported by the three major credit bureaus–Experian, Equifax, and Transunion.
Collection companies have a rule book they have to follow–the FCRA (Fair Credit Reporting Act).
It grants consumers certain rights as well as sets up the rules a debt collection agency has to follow to try and get you to repay the debt.
First, they have to open a collection account on your credit report before they can begin pursuing you for payment.
Unfortunately, collection accounts on your credit report can influence your credit score for up to seven years, even if you pay off the debt.
This means that future lenders like credit card companies or other loan companies can see that you had a debt that went to collections.
Obviously seeing you have difficulty repaying loans can make any future loan companies press the pause button and re-evaluate before they give you any money.
If you’re in this conundrum, we can help. The best way to prevent your old debts from affecting your future finances is to remove the collection entry altogether.
Check out our in-depth article to learn more about Convergent Outsourcing Collection and how to get rid of their presence on your credit report for good.
What is Convergent Outsourcing?
Convergent Outsourcing, formerly ER Solutions, is a United States-based debt collector founded in 1950 and currently headquartered in Renton, Washington.
The bottom line, though incredibly annoying, they are a legitimate business and not a scam.
With over 1,200 employees stationed in call centers in cities like Atlanta, Georgia, they are one of the largest debt collectors in the country.
They collect on behalf of a variety of industries such as health care, telecommunications such as Sprint or T-Mobile, financial institutions, government agencies, utility providers, and many more.
Convergent Outsourcing, like most debt collectors, has a strained relationship with their customers.
They have received many complaints against them with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) and the Better Business Bureau (BBB.org).
The majority of the complaints lodged against them are in regard to the failure to respond to debt validation requests and inaccurate reporting which is in direct violation of the FDCPA mandated by the FTC.
Steps to Remove Convergent Outsourcing from Your Credit Report
Removing a collection account from your credit report isn’t always easy, but it is possible if you take the proper steps.
Don’t sweat; we’ve got you covered. Here are the necessary steps to remove Convergent Outsourcing from your credit report:
- Know Your Rights
- Request a Goodwill Deletion
- Validate the Debt
- Pay for Delete Agreement
Know Your Rights
Debt collectors make their money by coercing payments out of you in any way that they can.
This often means through constant collection calls, profane language, threats of lawsuits, and other forms of harassment like those pesky collection letters.
After all, you are more likely to pay if you are desperate to get rid of them.
Most people that are contacted by a debt collector don’t realize that there is federal legislation that protects them from abuse like this.
This legislation is called the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.
The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, or FDCPA, is a piece of federal legislation that prevents debt collectors from harassing customers into paying them.
The law protects you against specific forms of harassment such as:
- Calling before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m.
- Using profane or abusive language
- Calling you after you have told them to stop
- Misrepresenting themselves or information about the debt
- Attempting to collect a debt passed the statute of limitations
- Reporting false information about the debt
- Contacting you at work or at a time you have told them is inconvenient
- Contacting friends, family, or coworkers regarding your debt
- Calling after you have requested contact through U.S. Mail
While Convergent Outsourcing claims to train their representatives about proper FDCPA compliance, it is entirely possible that a representative may commit an infraction.
Because of this possible loophole, it is important to understand your rights no matter who you are dealing with.
You can prevent Convergent Outsourcing from walking all over you by familiarizing yourself with your rights under the FDCPA.
By arming yourself with this knowledge, you can enter talks with them or another debt collector with certainty and confidence.
As a general disclaimer, the information in this article should not substitute for legal advice. Please seek out a law firm to gain any and all legal advice when dealing with collections lawsuits or anything else of that nature.
Request a Goodwill Deletion
If you’ve already paid the debt, there’s still a chance the collection can be deleted from your credit report.
You can ask Convergent Outsourcing for a goodwill deletion on the grounds that the debt is paid, and you’re currently in good standing with the original creditor.
Essentially a goodwill deletion is when the debt collector, in this case, Convergent Outsourcing, agrees to stop reporting the debt out of goodwill.
Collection companies are typically only willing to do this if the debt has already been paid, and you haven’t had any late payments since then.
If this describes your current situation, you may luck out asking Convergent Outsourcing for a goodwill deletion.
To request a goodwill deletion, start by writing Convergent Outsourcing a letter explaining the reason for your late payment and why you would like the entry removed.
Reasons can be anything from a new baby on the way to wanting to apply for a mortgage. Whatever the reason, make sure that you are sincere and friendly in your letter.
If you try to demand a deletion with indignation, Convergent Outsourcing is likely not going to accept your request.
Validate the Debt
If you are unable to secure a goodwill deletion, the next step is to request debt validation from Convergent Outsourcing.
This can identify if there is any inaccurate reporting on your debt, and you may be able to get the entry deleted that way.
The debt collection process is not perfect. When the debt is transferred from the original creditor to the debt collector, information can get lost or misconstrued in the process.
This means that Convergent Outsourcing may have incorrect information about your debt. In some cases, the debt may not even belong to you to begin with.
That is why it is important to request debt verification as soon as possible.
Under the FDCPA, you have the right to request that Convergent Outsourcing verify the information on the debt. You can do this by writing a debt validation letter.
This is a letter that asks Convergent Outsourcing to confirm certain information about the debt, such as the amount owed, the current creditor, and the original date of debt acquisition.
I have a debt validation letter template to help you get started on a letter of your own and recommend you send it certified mail, leaving a proven paper trail.
NEVER agree to anything over the phone with a debt collection agency. If push comes to shove and legal action is needed, it will be your word against theirs.
If you have the proof of your debt validation letter via certified mail, collections companies are forced to follow the rules laid out in those important acts we discussed earlier.
Once Convergent Outsourcing returns with this information, be sure to review it carefully and note any inaccuracies.
If you find information that doesn’t add up to what you have, you can file a dispute with the three major credit bureaus.
If they agree that the entry is inaccurate, they will remove the entry from your credit report.
Make a Pay-For-Delete Agreement
If you are unable to get the debt entry removed due to inaccuracies, your next step is to negotiate a pay for delete settlement with Convergent Outsourcing.
A pay-for-delete settlement is exactly what it sounds like; you pay Convergent Outsourcing for the debt in exchange for deletion on your credit report.
These types of agreements are rare, but some debt collectors are willing to grant you them if they are desperate for your payment.
Start by offering to pay Convergent Outsourcing half of the total amount owed and negotiate from there.
Once you reach an agreement with them, make sure that you get the terms sent to you in writing (through certified mail.)
Make your first payment to Convergent Outsourcing only after you receive the written terms from them regarding your agreement.
After you make your first payment on the debt, wait 30 days, and check your credit report.
Get a Free Copy of Your Credit Report
You should find that Convergent Outsourcing’s entry is no longer there, in which case you continue to make payments until the debt is paid.
If you still see Convergent Outsourcing listed on your credit report, reach out to them, and remind them of their agreement.
Let them know that you will not be making another payment until their entry is removed from your report.
Dealing with Convergent Outsourcing
Convergent Outsourcing is a tough egg to crack. You may find that even after following all of the above steps, they still will not budge when it comes to the collection entry on your credit report.
If this is the case, your best bet is to contact a professional credit repair company to see if they can remove the entry themselves.
Credit repair companies remove negative marks from credit reports by communicating with the debt collector on your behalf.
They often have more success because of their industry knowledge and negotiating tactics.
There are many credit repair companies out there, but I recommend working with Sky Blue.
Ask Sky Blue for Help
They have had tremendous success with Convergent Outsourcing over the years, and they can negotiate a settlement that will improve your credit in the long run.
Improving your credit takes time, but it is certainly worth it.
For tips on how to improve your credit and reach your financial goals, be sure to check out some of our popular articles for more information.
Convergent Credit Contact Information
Here is there contact information:
- Address: 800 SW 39th Street, Suite 100 Renton, WA 98057
- Phone Number: (425) 643-3111
- Website: http://www.convergentusa.com
