Convergent Outsourcing is a large debt collector with offices in several cities in the US and in Central America. They are more diverse with the types of debts they collect than most collection agencies.
Not all debts are created equal, and it takes familiarity to train and set up collection call centers with focuses on unpaid credit cards, signature loans (like your was with Beneficial), medical bills, and commercial debts.
Convergent also collects on partial or full zombie debt, as evidenced by your account being time barred.
Partial Zombie Debt – An unpaid bill that has passed the statue in your state that limits how long a legitimate lawsuit can be filed to collect through the courts.
Fully Dead Debt – An unpaid bill that is time barred, and also is too old to remain as a collection account on your credit reports.
Options for resolving debts with Convergent.
Not everyone being contacted by convergent will be dealing with as old a debt as you are. And we all have different goals, which would suggest resolving an old bill works best for one; while waiting for collections to drop off your credit report is best for another; and where telling a debt collector to cease all communications, or requesting debt validation, may be ideal for you. Hang with me here, while I cover all of those.
As with most unsecured debts that are outsourced to a debt collector, you can negotiate a reduced lump sum settlement with Convergent. The older the account is that Convergent is collecting, the lower my negotiation targets would be on a percentage basis. It also can matter who Convergent is collecting for. In your case, they may be collecting for Jefferson Capital still, or new debt owner.
If I were negotiating your debt today, I would target less than 30 percent, and only if my goal was to have the account updated as zero balance owed on my credit report. That is because I know they cannot sue to collect in my state, but with it still on my credit (if it is), I can accomplish some finance goal I have, like getting a mortgage. If the debt is full zombie, I would not negotiate any pay off with Convergent, no matter the offer. Not unless my purpose for doing so were personal, like a sense of obligation, which is fine. I would still aim low, as the current debt owner would have paid little to purchase the legal rights to collect on your debt.
I would not be looking for options to set up payments with Convergent.
Any arrangement I were to make, I would want to get in writing.
Convergent and debt validation or cease communication.
I use debt validation requests sparingly. They are a bit over hyped on the internet when it comes to dealing with accounts in collection. But there are times where validation requests are critical to understanding who you may owe, how much, and whether the collection agency trying to get you to pay is even the correct party.
There are reasons to use debt validation as stall tactic to meet a different goal, and it also can have the affect of telling a debt collector to go away. The reasons are:
- If a debt collector needs to get more details from the debt owner so that they can meet their obligation to validate, it could take a while, and in some instances, they never can. You can buy time to gather funds to settle with a lump sum, or more time to pass your states SOL.
- By sending the validation request, you have indicated to a debt collector that you are interested in protecting your rights. That can also often mean you have now willingness or ability to pay. Collectors would rather spend their time trying to collect from people that have both of those qualities. They now know you are not an easy fit into either.
Finally, as far as your situation goes, if Convergent, or the debt owner that hired them, is not on your credit reports due to the original account dropping off from age, you can send the cease communication letter.
I do not recommend sending a cease communication notice to debt collectors unless you are certain the debt is passed your state SOL and time barred. The reason is that it effectively shuts down any form of communication. Convergent cannot call or write. That leaves collection through the courts as the only option to seek payment from you, which you can disregard because of how long it has been.
And I caution sending this type of bug off letter if the account is still on your credit reports, and when you may have financing goals you want to accomplish before it drops off your credit. Unpaid bills on your credit can hold up the ability to get a home loan.
If you do send a letter to a collection agency, validation, bug off, or otherwise, always use certified mail return receipt requested. And keep a copy of the letters and green cards you get back for your records.
You are welcome to post in the comments below for any clarity or feedback. Anyone with questions or concerns when dealing with Convergent Outsourcing, or their many affiliated companies, is welcome to post in the comments below for response.
14 comment(s) for this post:
- Alex:
27 Feb 2015 Hello all! I am currently in the process of trying to buy a home, but of course i'm having to rebuild my credit. I've pulled my credit and I've noticed that there is a old sprint bill on my report which I haven't had since 2008. In the past I have dealt with them on making payment arrangements, that every six months I would have to call back and set it up all over again until I paid off my debt. After the first six months I did not renew the deal because I wasn't receiving any kind of proof that I was paying them off or receipts of my transactions. I know I was scammed. Since then I've been receiving threatening calls from a man named "Robert Johnson representing Roth-stein Acquisition Firm" about they have my case and that they are going to send it to a lawyer, they are going to contact the local authorities and have me arrested, I'm going to be sued, and they also have contacted my parents, threatening them that they were going to go to jail because in some weird way they were apart of it on helping me create my own debt. The company is named CONVERGENT OUTSOURCING and they seem to keep updating the account to make it a new collections and its harming my credit. also today I got a notification stating that "CONVERGENT OUTSOURCING, INC has flagged your account as Collections. February 26, 2015" so what does this mean? Also wanting to know if I should just dispute it. whats the worse that can happen.. I just want to know what do I need to do because I'm so close to qualifying for a home and the collection agency I feel like its harming my chances. Someone please help! Thank you! - Michael Bovee:
27 Feb 2015 When was it you last made on time payments to Sprint? A debt collector threatening you with jail time, or having you arrested is a scam. Based on what you shared, Convergent Outsourcing on your credit reports is not related to the collection calls you are getting from "Robert Johnson". It sounds like those are two separate concerns. Is that correct? And if so, I can better offer feedback out Convergent and credit reporting when you answer my sprint question. You may be really close to when the original Sprint collection should fall off your credit. That would mean Convergent should drop off with it. If it does not, you can dispute it off as too old. - Shawn:
10 Mar 2015 Hello! I've received a letter from Convergent regarding, their client, "Jefferson Capital Systems, LLC" and it notes as the "Debt Description" -- "Wells Fargo Bank Checking". I do not, nor have I ever had an account with Wells Fargo. In addition the letter also states, "The law limits how long you can be sued on a debt, and your debt is beyond that limitation." I'm unsure how to proceed. This is not my debt, as I've never done business with Wells Fargo. Any suggestions? I live in Nevada btw. - Michael Bovee:
10 Mar 2015 If it were me, and the debt Convergent is trying to collect on is obviously not mine, I would tell them that, but in letter form sent certified mail return receipt requested. You could include that you are requesting they cease any and all communication with you as well. If they try to contact you about the debt after that, post an update and lets go from there. - Jessica:
17 Mar 2015 Dear Mr. Bovee, I received a collection letter from Convergent collection agency saying I owe the utility company over $600, but the debt is over 12 years old. I have never paid on it, and the debt has never been on my credit report that I know of (but I could be wrong, and if it was, it fell off). It does state on the back of the letter that Convergent cannot sue, but it says that if I don't notify the office within 30 days after receiving this notice that they will assume the debt is valid. Is that grounds for them to put it on my credit report if I don't notify them? I do have financial goals. I am in the process of cleaning up my credit and do not want this to go on my credit report. Can they put it on my credit report after so long of time for the debt? Or are they just trying to get money from this "zombie debt"? I am confused on how to handle it...should I notify them and tell them it is a dead debt or should I just send a certified cease letter? But the main goal is to not have this on my credit report! Thanks for you help! - Michael Bovee:
17 Mar 2015 Convergent cannot put it back on your credit report once the account has dropped off due to age. If it were me, I would send the cease communication letter certified mail. Be sure to use the return receipt option through USPS too, and keep a copy of your letter and the green return card you get back. Those could come in handy if Convergent contacts you again about collecting this same account. That 30 day notice to dispute the debt as valid is something Convergent Outsourcing, and nearly all debt collectors for that matter, place on collection notices for compliance purposes. - Jessic:
17 Mar 2015 Thank you so much for the quick response! I think that is a great idea. So once I do the cease letter, then that's it? They have no recourse? I went on the FTC website and read about time barred debts, they recommended contacting the agency and asking them to verify the debt and the date. Just asking them if the debt is out of the time limit and said that if they didn't answer, asking them when was the last payment on the account. Then getting the debt verified. Your answer is a lot simpler, so you don't recommend me getting the debt verified? That way I have solid proof of the stature of limitations from their own mouth. Thanks again. - Michael Bovee:
18 Mar 2015 With a debt this old it is more likely you will hear nothing from them in response to your debt validation request. That is essentially the same result, so either would be effective options. - Chris:
31 Mar 2015 I am trying to make a payment to convergent regarding a past due account. They agreed to set up a payment plan for six months. However they want my checking account number and routing number. I feel very uneasy about giving them this information. I would much prefer to send payments either by mail or credit card. Do I have this option? Also, should I get the payment plsn afagreement in writing? Thanks for your help! - Michael Bovee:
31 Mar 2015 Are the six monthly payments Convergent would agree to going to pay the full balance of the debt, or are you negotiating a lower pay off than what is owed, and stretching that out over time? I highly recommend getting everything you agree to with a debt collector in writing. Rather than use your household checking account, I tend to encourage using a different bank account to pay debt collectors. If this is the only account you have in collections, it may be okay to use your regular account as long as you have the agreement in writing first. You can call Convergent and ask them about mailing in payments, or if they have a merchant account to process credit card payments. Some debt collectors have set up web payment portals that make remitting payments pretty simple. - Chris:
31 Mar 2015 Michael, Thanks for your answer. To answer your questions: Yes the 6 payments would pay off the total balance. There would be no reduction in the account balance. I asked about getting something in writing even an email) but was told they couldn't do that but I could get a copy of the recording. They said that they charge a fee for credit card payments (I think it was a relatively small fee.) By the way, they said that the checking account info to start withdrawing the payments had to begiven to them by today. I'm not sure what the rush is. - Michael Bovee:
31 Mar 2015 The rush is a false sense of emergency or fear of loss. It is a collection tactic. Convergent is still going to want your money tomorrow.... In lieu of a letter outlining your agreement, I would record the phone call yourself, and tell them you are and why. Be sure to write down or speak to the date, time of day, and the person you spoke to. If anything goes wrong, which is actually not all that often, you will be able get things corrected in short order. - Marian:
18 Apr 2015 I received a letter from Convergent about an incident where my husband hit a light pole in my car and because I did not have car insurance, the light company sent us both a bill. This was 4+ years ago, and it has affected my ability to get a license because it has not been paid. The amount is over $4,000 and Convergent refuses to let me pay a down payment under $1600. This is a problem because I need to get my license, however, I don't have the money to pay for it. What should I do? Should I keep trying to negotiate a lower amount? Or will it fall off my credit/history and allow me to get my license? - Michael Bovee:
20 Apr 2015 I would check with your state drivers licensing department and learn more about what you must do in order to renew your license.