Credit Systems International: What You Need to Know ASAP

Agencies like Credit Systems International may act like they hold all the power, but consumer protection laws exist for a reason.

Credit Systems International may sound like a glamorous global enterprise or an international travel agency, but as anyone who has answered their phone calls knows- it’s actually a well-known debt collection agency.

Unfortunately, like most (if not all) debt debt collection agencies, Credit Systems International is responsible for an assortment of unlawful practices impacting the lives of consumers across the U.S.

Learn what this company is all about, how they’re treating consumers and impacting credit scores, and what your legal rights are to fight back. Then check out our Debt Collection Harassment practice page for more info.

What is Credit Systems International? 

Credit Systems International is a debt collection agency, whose formal name is Credit Systems International Inc., which is often shortened to CSI or CSII.

The company specializes in contacting consumers who allegedly owe money for debts related to outstanding medical bills, utility bills, and debts to governmental agencies.

On the official side of things, you can learn more about the company at their website: Credit Systems International. On the unofficial side of things, you might get to know them better by scouring social posts by frustrated and disgruntled consumers.

Is Credit Systems International Legit? 

This is usually the first question people ask, right after the initial panic of spotting them on a credit report.

Yes, Credit Systems International is a legitimate company. They’re a registered debt collection agency operating in the United States.

But, just because they legally exist doesn’t mean they always lawfully engage. Consumers regularly file grievances with the Better Business Bureau, alleging harassment, failure to validate debts, and other shady practices.

So yes, they’re real. But they are no different than any of the other major debt collection agencies out there, including Transworld Systems, National Credit Systems, and Client Services Inc.

Common Complaints Against Credit Systems International

Credit Systems International has a long trail of unhappy consumers filing grievances through the Better Business Bureau (BBB), the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), and even in local courts across the United States.

While Credit Systems International insists it operates within the law, consumer experiences often tell a different story. The most common complaints include the greatest hits of debt collection woes:

• Debt collection harassment: People often report receiving multiple calls a day, even after asking Credit Systems International to stop. Constant ringing after dinnertime isn’t innocent persistence on their part, it’s unlawful harassment.
• Collecting debts that aren’t owed. Consumers file complaints about Credit Systems International attempting to collect debts that aren’t recognized or aren’t owed, including debts already paid by Medicare or Workers Comp, or debts resulting from confirmed identity theft.
• Failure to validate debts: When consumers use their legal right to request proof of a debt, Credit Systems International sometimes drags its feet or never provides adequate documentation. If they can’t prove it, they shouldn’t be attempting to collect it.
• Inaccurate credit reporting: Even after paying off debts or directly disputing them with CSII, some consumers find entries on their credit reports showing non-payment. Worse yet, some of the entries are duplicates.
• Collecting old or expired debts: Debt has a statute of limitations, and trying to revive “zombie debt” is a classic complaint raised against CSII and other agencies like Transworld Systems, National Credit Systems, or Client Services Inc.

These complaints aren’t just minor annoyances, they can tank credit scores, inflate stress levels, and lead to serious financial consequences.

If you find yourself nodding along to any of these issues or something similar, know this: you have legal rights, protections, and options. You can make the harassment stop. 

Why is Credit Systems International on Your Credit Report? 

Ah, the million-dollar question: So why exactly is Credit Systems International on your credit report?

Debt collection agencies regularly report outstanding, unpaid debts to the credit bureaus (TransUnion, Equifax, and Experian), with very few limitations.

So once a debt is sold to a debt collection agency, like Credit Systems International, it can be reported to the credit bureaus, and you’ll see them pop up on your credit report.

The implications of having debt collection attempts included on your credit report are swift and severe, like dragging down your credit score and making it harder to get approved for new credit cards, loans, or favorable interest rates.

These are the types of outstanding debts that commonly get reported to the credit bureaus:

• Medical bills/medical debt: This is among the most common culprits. Credit Systems International often collects on unpaid hospital, clinic, or doctor invoices.
• Credit cards: If you fall behind on payments, the lender may sell your debt to a collection agency like Credit Systems International, which reports the delinquency to the credit bureaus.
• Other accounts: Utility bills, personal loans, or even forgotten subscriptions that spiraled out of control can be reported to the credit bureaus once they go into collections.

Notably, the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB) attempted to keep medical debt from being reported to the credit bureaus, but this attempt was ultimately stopped by the courts.

Currently, medical debt over $500, that has been in collections for at least one year, is reportable to the credit bureaus.

Credit Systems International Won’t Stop Calling… What Now?

Debt collectors, like Credit Systems International, often call relentlessly, but here’s the good news: they don’t have the legal right to harass you.

Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), you have a host of important legal rights that protect you from unlawful debt collection practices like harassment, abuse, and threats.

So, here are some practical steps you can take when the calls just won’t stop:

1. Know your rights: Debt collectors cannot call you at unreasonable hours (before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m.) or repeatedly with the intent to annoy or harass.
2. Put it in writing: You can request that Credit Systems International stop contacting you. Send a written cease-and-desist letter, and by law, they must comply.
   • Please be aware that even if you are successful in ending the contact, this has no impact on the outstanding debt. Meaning, just because they stop calling doesn’t mean they went away or the debt vanished. You still have to deal with the underlying situation.
3. Request validation: Don’t just take their word for it. Demand proof that the debt is real and that they have the right to collect it. It is your legal right to demand proof.
   • You will have to provide proper contact information to receive the debt validation letter.
4. Keep records: Save call logs, voicemails, and letters. If they cross the line into harassment, this documentation will become evidence.
5. Get a lawyer: Whether you involve a debt collection harassment lawyer at the very beginning of your engagement with Credit Systems International or later in the process, working with a lawyer has some huge advantages.
   • Once you’re represented by a debt collection harassment lawyer and you inform CSII of this fact, all future contact from CSII must go through your lawyer. This is one of the best ways to preserve your rights and stay sane, while also making sure that you don’t miss any of the tricks or escalations that CSII may engage in going forward.
   • Debt collector harassment and other unlawful practices under the FDCPA can trigger your right to pursue a lawsuit against them. So, not only do you have options for ending the abuse, you may even have the right to get corrections and compensation.

Remember: You’re not obligated to endure endless calls, no matter how much Credit Systems International insists. 

Can I Remove Credit Systems International From My Credit Report?

The very unsatisfying answer to this question is: sometimes.

1. Validate the debt: Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), you have the right to request debt validation.
   • This means Credit Systems International has to prove the debt is yours, prove the amount is accurate, and prove they’re authorized to collect it. If they can’t, you may have grounds to have it removed from your credit report.
2. Dispute inaccuracies: If the debt information on your credit report is incorrect (wrong balance, wrong account, wrong person – basically anything), you can file a dispute with the credit bureaus.
   • If CSII can’t back up their claim, the item must be deleted.
3. Negotiate a pay-for-delete: It’s not always guaranteed, but sometimes you can negotiate with the agency to pay part (or all) of the debt in exchange for removing it from your report.
   • But beware: If you do not owe the debt, the debt is not accurate in any way, or you’ve been subjected to abuse by CSII, you should speak to a lawyer before agreeing to anything in writing.
4. Wait it out: If all else fails, collection accounts usually fall off your credit report after seven years. Sure, that feels like an eternity when you’re trying to get approved for a new car loan, but time does eventually heal most credit wounds.
   • Again, it is recommended that you speak with a lawyer before going this route.
5. Get legal help: If CSII has violated your rights – harassment, repeated calls at odd hours, threats, or attempting to collect debts you don’t owe, you may have a strong legal case.
   • Consumer protection laws exist for a reason, and sometimes the best way to get justice is to involve a lawyer.

Consumer Rights Against Debt Collection Harassment  

If dealing with Credit Systems International feels like starring in your own personal debt horror movie, here’s the plot twist – U.S. law offers protections against harassment by debt collectors, and knowing your rights is half the battle.

• The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA): This federal law prohibits abusive, deceptive, and unfair practices by debt collectors. It limits when and how often they can contact you and forbids threats or harassment.
• The Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA): This gives you the right to dispute inaccurate information on your credit report, including debt collection accounts that don’t belong to you.
• State laws: Many states provide additional protections, sometimes with stricter limits on collection activity.

In practice, this means debt collectors cannot:

• Call you at work if you’ve told them not to.
• Contact you after you’ve sent a cease-and-desist letter or advised them to only contact you through your lawyer.
• Use obscene or threatening language.
• Misrepresent the amount or status of your debt.

If Credit Systems International, or any other collector like Transworld Systems, National Credit Systems, or Client Services Inc. – crosses these lines, you don’t just have the right to complain, you have the right to fight back!

You may be entitled to compensation, which means they could end up paying you! 

What Kind of Lawyer is Needed to Stop Calls from CSII? 

What kind of lawyer can actually help? The answer is a consumer protection attorney.

A consumer protection attorney, also called a debt collection harassment lawyer when the focus is on stopping debt collectors, is trained to handle cases under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and other laws that protect everyday people from harassment and exploitation by big corporations.

Consumer protection attorneys understand the nuances of dealing with debt collection agencies like Credit Systems International and can stop the harassment in its tracks. They hold debt collectors accountable and help consumers recover by:

• handling communications and serving as a buffer between you and the debt collector
• preparing disputes over debts, payment obligations, credit report errors, etc.
• filing lawsuits when necessary
• negotiating settlements
• fighting for fixes and compensation

At Consumer Justice Law Firm, our debt collection harassment lawyers focus on fighting back against unfair and abusive debt collection tactics.

Our team doesn’t just know the law – we use it to empower you.

If Credit Systems International is keeping you up at night, the right lawyer isn’t just helpful, it’s everything. We’re ready to be that advocate. 

Get Justice! Fight for Sanity & Money

At the end of the day, Credit Systems International is just one player in the never-ending game of debt collection. You didn’t ask to play, but here you are. The good news? You don’t have to go it alone.

Whether you’re dealing with medical debt that was never billed correctly, a credit card snafu that spiraled out of control, or harassment from a company that refuses to play fair, you have rights.

If you’re tired of being pushed around by Credit Systems International, Consumer Justice Law Firm can help you fight back. From disputing false claims to stopping harassment to demanding fair treatment, we’re here to even the playing field.

Just because they’re on your credit report doesn’t mean they get the final say. It’s time to stand up, push back, and get justice. 

If you’re ready to take action, contact us today. Your rights deserve to be defended without added financial stress!   

FREE Consultations! No money upfront or out of pocket. We only get paid when we win. No Justice, No Fee.^TM