Receiving a call from 855-820-5189? Don’t worry, you are not alone. This number belongs to Southwest Credit Systems Inc. or SWC Group, LP and they are calling to collect a debt from you.
In this article, we will discuss more about Southwest Credit Systems Inc. and why they are calling you.
We will also discuss why you should not answer the call from this number and how you can stop them from calling you. By the end of this article, you will know how to handle calls from this number and what to do next.
Who is Southwest Credit Systems Inc?
Southwest Credit Systems Inc. or SWC Group, LP is a debt collection agency. They have been in the business since 1974 and have their headquarters located at 4120 International Parkway, Suite 1100, Carrollton, TX 75007. The company is a subsidiary of Trigon Investors, LLC.
Their contact information is as follows: Phone: (855) 820-5189
Southwest Credit Systems Inc. is accredited with the Better Business Bureau since 1976 and has a rating of B based on the 828 complaints filed against them. They have also had 1937 complaints filed against them with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) in the last three years. Southwest Credit Systems has been named in over 430 federal lawsuits alleging violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, the Telephone Consumer Protection Act, and the Fair Credit Reporting Act. In 2020, the Connecticut Department of Banking fined the company $10,000 after discovering it had been collecting on over 105 consumer accounts from an unlicensed branch office.
What does Southwest Credit Systems Inc do?
Southwest Credit Systems Inc. is a third-party debt collection agency. This means that they collect debts on behalf of other companies.
They specialize in collecting tolls, telecommunications, cable, utilities, and government debts. Some of their major clients include North Texas Tollway Authority, Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority, T-Mobile USA, Inc., AT&T, Inc., and Comcast.
Why is Southwest Credit Systems Inc. calling me?
Southwest Credit Systems Inc. is calling you because you owe them a debt. This debt could be anything ranging from unpaid tolls to telecommunications bills.
If you live in Texas or have traveled through Texas, there is a high probability that they are calling you for unpaid tolls. SWC Group, LP has a unique guaranteed revenue model for toll authorities including North Texas Tollway Authority and Central Texas Regional Mobility Authority.
In this model, SWC Group, LP pays the toll authority and then collects the full amount from you along with administrative fees. Administrative fees can include $25 penalties stacked onto every individual missed toll and may also include other penalties and fees.
So if you have forty dollars in toll charges, you could be looking at paying $1,455. Yes, you read that right! One woman complained on ComplaintsBoard.com that she was looking at paying $1,455 for roughly forty dollars in toll charges.
She also mentioned that she never received a bill from the toll authority before it was sent to collections. Similarly, another woman complained that she received a call from Southwest Credit Systems for a debt that was eleven years old.
The other major reason why Southwest Credit Systems Inc. may be calling you is for telecommunications debts. This could range from final bills to early termination fees to equipment charges.
One man complained on 800notes.com that Southwest Credit Systems was calling him for a cancellation fee. Apparently, he cancelled his service with AT&T and they sent the debt to Southwest Credit Systems to collect.
Southwest Credit Systems also collects for utility companies and property management companies. Therefore, they may be calling you for an old electric bill or a move-out charge.
What happens when I answer the call from 855-820-5189?
When you answer a call from 855-820-5189, you may not hear anything on the other end. Apparently, Southwest Credit Systems uses a predictive dialer that calls several numbers at once.
If an agent is not available to take the call, you will not hear anything and the line may hang up after a minute. Several consumers have complained about this issue.
One woman complained on 800notes.com that she answered a call from Southwest Credit Systems and did not hear anything. After a minute, the line hung up.
Another man complained that he received calls at the same time every day for five days. However, no one was on the other end to talk to him.
If you do get to talk to someone, you may have a mixed bag experience. Some consumers have complained that the agents at Southwest Credit Systems are rude and demand information immediately.
One woman complained on the BBB website that she talked to an agent and they demanded her personal information. When she asked them to stop calling, they hung up the phone.
However, some consumers have also said that the agents are professional. One man complained on ShouldIAnswer.com that he received an automated callback message from Southwest Credit Systems.
When he talked to an agent, they asked him to confirm an address. However, the address was not his and neither were the social security digits. The agent apologized and hung up.
Another woman complained on the BBB website that an agent asked her for her credit card number. Apparently, they wanted to run a credit check.
When she refused, they told her that the debt would remain on her credit report for seven years. However, she pointed out that the debt would remain on her report for seven years regardless of whether she gave them her credit card number or not.
What are consumers saying about Southwest Credit Systems Inc.?
Consumers are saying that Southwest Credit Systems is harassing them. Several consumers have complained that they do not owe the debt that Southwest Credit Systems is trying to collect.
Apparently, Southwest Credit Systems uses a skip-tracing database to look for consumers. However, this database may have incorrect information and list the wrong person for a debt.
One woman complained on EveryCaller.com that Southwest Credit Systems was calling her for her old last name. However, she had not used that last name for eleven years and did not owe any debts.
Another man complained on 800notes.com that Southwest Credit Systems was calling him for someone with his last name. However, he told them that he did not know the person and they still called him.
Several consumers have also complained that Southwest Credit Systems calls them even after they ask them to stop. Apparently, they call several times a day and do not listen to consumers when they ask them to stop.
One woman complained on ShouldIAnswer.com that she asked Southwest Credit Systems to cease and desist and place her on their do not call list. However, they still called her.
Another man complained on 800notes.com that he told Southwest Credit Systems to only contact him via mail. They agreed but still called him several times a day.
What should I do when Southwest Credit Systems Inc. calls me?
When Southwest Credit Systems calls you, you should not pick up the phone. This is because you do not know who is on the other end and what they want.
However, if you do pick up the phone, you should ask them to send you a written verification of the debt. Apparently, debt collectors are required to send consumers a written verification of the debt under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA).
You should also pull your credit report to see if Southwest Credit Systems has placed the debt on your report. You can request a free credit report from each of the three credit bureaus once a year.
If Southwest Credit Systems has placed the debt on your report, you should dispute it. Apparently, you can dispute debts on your credit report if they are incorrect or do not belong to you.
When you dispute a debt, the credit bureau is required to investigate the debt. If they cannot verify it, they must remove it from your report.
Conclusion
Receiving calls from Southwest Credit Systems Inc. can be stressful and overwhelming. However, you should not pick up the phone and engage with them.
Instead, you should send them a cease and desist letter and ask them to stop calling you. You should also pull your credit report and dispute any debts that they may have placed on it.
If you are unsure of how to proceed, you can hire a credit repair company to help you. They can assist you with disputing debts and sending cease and desist letters to Southwest Credit Systems.
So don’t stress about calls from Southwest Credit Systems Inc. Instead, take action today and stop them from calling you.
