BC Services operates as a third-party debt collection agency based in Texas. They purchase charged-off debts from original creditors and attempt to collect on those accounts. I have worked with hundreds of clients who discovered BC Services on their credit reports or received unexpected collection calls.
What You Need to Know About BC Services
This agency primarily handles credit card debt, personal loans, medical bills, and retail accounts. When your original creditor cannot collect payment after several months of delinquency, they often sell the debt to companies like BC Services at a fraction of the original balance. BC Services then owns the debt and works to recover the full amount from you.
Understanding who BC Services is and how they operate protects your rights and helps you handle collection attempts properly. This guide covers everything you need to know about dealing with this collection agency.
What Is BC Services?
BC Services is a debt buyer and collection agency operating since 1998. Their full legal name is Burlingame Capital Services. They maintain offices in Dallas, Texas, and employ collection agents who contact consumers about unpaid debts.
The company specializes in purchasing portfolios of charged-off consumer debt. These portfolios include accounts from credit cards, store cards, personal loans, and medical providers. They buy these debts for pennies on the dollar. If they paid 10 cents per dollar of debt, collecting even 30% of the original balance generates profit.
BC Services holds licenses in states that require debt collector registration. They must follow the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and state collection laws. The FDCPA sets rules about when collectors can call, what they can say, and how they must verify debts.
According to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, debt buyers like BC Services are among the most complained about financial companies. Common complaints include incorrect debt amounts, harassment, and attempts to collect debts past the statute of limitations.
Below is a visual illustration of the types of debt BC Services collects:
Is BC Services Legit?
Yes, BC Services is a legitimate debt collection agency. They are not a scam operation.
However, legitimacy does not mean their tactics are always appropriate or their debt claims are always accurate.
The company is registered with state regulatory agencies where required. They appear in the Better Business Bureau database. You can verify their legitimacy through your state's attorney general office or department of financial regulation.
I review collection accounts daily in my practice. BC Services follows the law in most cases. However, they make mistakes like any collection agency. Common issues include collecting on debts with incorrect balances, pursuing debts past the statute of limitations, and contacting consumers after receiving cease communication requests.
Just because BC Services claims you owe a debt does not make it valid. You have the right to request debt validation. This forces them to prove you owe the debt, the amount is correct, and they have legal authority to collect.
Never trust collection calls at face value. Scammers often impersonate legitimate collection agencies. Verify any collection attempt independently before providing personal information or making payments.
Why Is BC Services Calling Me?
BC Services calls you because they purchased a debt associated with your name and contact information. The original creditor charged off your account after several months of non-payment. They sold the debt to BC Services, who now attempts collection.
Common reasons for BC Services contact include unpaid credit card balances, defaulted personal loans, charged-off retail store cards, and unpaid medical bills. The original debt might be several years old. Debt buyers often purchase aged portfolios at steep discounts.
Sometimes BC Services contacts the wrong person. Identity theft, clerical errors, or outdated information can lead to misdirected collection attempts. Mixed credit files, where one person's information gets merged with another's, also cause problems.
If you receive calls from BC Services, do not ignore them. Ignoring collection attempts does not make the debt disappear. However, do not admit the debt is yours or make promises to pay until you verify the debt's legitimacy.
Ask the collector to send written verification of the debt. Under the FDCPA, you have 30 days from first contact to request validation. The collector must stop collection attempts until they provide proof you owe the debt.
Who Does BC Services Collect For?
BC Services does not collect for specific original creditors in the traditional sense. They purchase debt portfolios from various creditors and own those debts outright. This makes them different from collection agencies that work on behalf of creditors for a percentage of recovered funds.
Original creditors who have sold debt to BC Services include major credit card companies like Capital One, Synchrony Bank, and Comenity Bank. Retail store cards from companies like Kohl's, JCPenney, and Macy's frequently appear in their portfolios. Personal loan companies and healthcare providers also sell charged-off accounts to BC Services.
When BC Services buys your debt, they become the legal owner. The original creditor no longer has a claim. Any payments you make go directly to BC Services, not the original company. This is important for negotiation purposes. BC Services paid a fraction of your original balance, giving them flexibility to settle for less than you originally owed.
Here's a timeline graphic showing how the debt is transferred from the Original Creditor to BC Services:
How Do I Know If I Have a BC Services Account?
Check your credit reports from all three major bureaus. Experian, Equifax, and TransUnion all provide free annual reports through AnnualCreditReport.com. BC Services reports collection accounts to credit bureaus. The entry appears in your collections section.
Look for entries labeled "BC Services" or "Burlingame Capital." The report shows the collection amount, date of first delinquency, and current status. It also lists the original creditor in many cases.
Review any collection letters or notices you received. BC Services must send a written notice within five days of their first contact. This notice includes the debt amount, the original creditor's name, and your validation rights.
Check your voicemail and caller ID history. BC Services calls from various phone numbers. Common area codes include 214, 972, and 469 from their Texas offices. They may also use toll-free numbers starting with 800, 855, or 866.
According to the Federal Trade Commission, you should review your credit reports at least annually. Catching collection accounts early gives you more options for resolution. Disputing inaccurate information becomes harder as time passes.
If you find a BC Services account on your credit report that you do not recognize, dispute it immediately. Contact the credit bureau in writing. Explain why the account is inaccurate. The bureau must investigate within 30 days.
How Do I Contact BC Services?
Reach BC Services through multiple channels depending on your needs. I always recommend written communication for documentation purposes. Phone calls work for quick questions but leave no paper trail.
Mail Address: BC Services
P.O. Box 650645
Dallas, TX 75265
Send all correspondence through certified mail with return receipt requested. This proves they received your letter and protects your legal rights.
Phone Number: Main line at 214-888-2500
Call during business hours Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 5 PM Central Time. Have your account number ready if you know it. Record the date, time, and name of any representative you speak with.
Online Options: Some consumers report finding payment portals through BC Services' website. However, I do not recommend making payments online until you verify the debt's legitimacy and negotiate terms in writing.
Before contacting BC Services directly, understand your goals. Do you want to validate the debt? Negotiate a settlement? Set up a payment plan? Request deletion from your credit report? Your approach depends on your objective.
Never provide bank account information over the phone. Never give access to your checking account for automatic withdrawals. These arrangements often lead to unauthorized debit transactions and banking problems.
Your Rights When Dealing With BC Services
The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act protects consumers from abusive collection practices. BC Services must follow these rules or face penalties.
They cannot call before 8 AM or after 9 PM your local time. They cannot contact you at work if you tell them your employer prohibits such calls. They cannot harass, threaten, or use profane language. They cannot misrepresent the debt amount or their legal authority.
You have the right to request validation within 30 days of first contact. Send a debt validation letter via certified mail. BC Services must stop collection attempts until they provide verification. This includes the original creditor's name, original account number, and documentation showing you owe the debt.
You can request that BC Services cease all contact. Send a cease and desist letter. They must stop calling and writing except to notify you of specific actions like lawsuits. This does not eliminate the debt, but it stops the harassment.
If BC Services violates the FDCPA, you can sue them in state or federal court. You may recover actual damages plus up to $1,000 in statutory damages. They must also pay your attorney fees if you win. Document all violations carefully.
Negotiating With BC Services
BC Services paid a fraction of your original balance. This gives you negotiating power. Many consumers settle collection accounts for 30% to 50% of the claimed amount.
Before negotiating, determine what you can afford. Calculate a lump sum payment if possible. Collectors prefer one-time settlements over payment plans. You gain more leverage with immediate payment ability.
Request a pay-for-delete agreement. This means BC Services removes the collection account from your credit reports after you pay. Not all collectors agree to this. However, the potential credit score improvement makes it worth requesting.
Get everything in writing before sending money. The agreement should specify the settlement amount, that payment satisfies the debt in full, and the timeline for credit report deletion if applicable.
According to financial experts at NerdWallet, never provide bank account access for automatic withdrawals during settlement. Send payment via certified check or money order. This prevents unauthorized charges later.
Start negotiations lower than your target settlement. If you can afford 40%, offer 25% initially. Collectors often counter-offer, and you end up somewhere in the middle.
Impact on Your Credit Score
BC Services collection accounts damage your credit score significantly. A single collection account can drop your score 50 to 100 points. The impact depends on your overall credit profile.
The collection appears on your credit report for seven years from the date of first delinquency with the original creditor. This date does not reset when BC Services purchases the debt. Even if they bought an old account, the seven-year clock started with your original missed payment.
Paying the collection does not remove it from your report automatically. The status changes from "unpaid" to "paid," but the negative mark remains. Your score may improve slightly after payment, but the collection still hurts your credit.
Some newer credit scoring models like FICO 9 and VantageScore 3.0 ignore paid collections. However, many lenders still use older models that count paid collections against you. This makes pay-for-delete agreements valuable.
Disputing inaccurate collections can remove them immediately. If the credit bureau cannot verify the debt within 30 days, they must delete it. This provides instant credit score improvement.
When to Seek Professional Help
Consider working with a credit repair professional if you face multiple collection accounts or complex situations. I help clients dispute inaccurate information, negotiate settlements, and rebuild credit strategically.
Seek legal help if BC Services sues you. Collection lawsuits require proper response within specific timeframes. Missing deadlines results in default judgments. Attorneys experienced in consumer law can defend you or negotiate settlements.
Contact a consumer protection attorney if BC Services violates the FDCPA. Many attorneys offer free consultations for debt collection harassment cases. They work on contingency, meaning you pay nothing unless you win. Credit counseling agencies provide free guidance for managing debt. The National Foundation for Credit Counseling connects you with certified counselors. They help create budgets and negotiate with creditors.
Bankruptcy attorneys can advise if your debt situation is overwhelming. Chapter 7 eliminates most unsecured debts. Chapter 13 restructures payments. Both options stop collection attempts immediately through automatic stay provisions.
Protecting Yourself From Collection Scams
Scammers impersonate legitimate collectors like BC Services. They use scare tactics to trick consumers into making payments on debts that do not exist.
📍Verify the caller's identity before sharing information. Ask for their name, company name, address, and phone number. Tell them you will call back after verifying their information independently.
📍Never provide bank account details or Social Security numbers over the phone to unsolicited callers. Legitimate collectors can verify your identity without this sensitive information.
📍Be suspicious of threats of immediate arrest or legal action. Real collectors follow legal processes that take time. Threats of immediate consequences indicate scams.
📍Watch for requests for unusual payment methods. Scammers demand wire transfers, gift cards, or cryptocurrency. Legitimate collection agencies accept checks, money orders, and sometimes credit cards.
📍Report suspected scams to the Federal Trade Commission at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Also notify your state attorney general's office. These reports help authorities track and stop fraudulent operations.
Final Thoughts About BC Services
BC Services is a legitimate debt collection agency that purchases and collects charged-off consumer debts. Understanding your rights and their tactics helps you handle collection attempts effectively.
Always validate debts before paying. Negotiate settlements when possible. Get agreements in writing. Protect your credit by disputing inaccurate information promptly.
Collection accounts cause stress and credit damage. However, you have more power than you might think. Federal and state laws protect consumers from abusive practices. Knowledge of these protections levels the playing field.
Take action when BC Services contacts you. Ignoring collections never helps. Strategic handling of collection accounts minimizes financial and credit damage while protecting your legal rights.