If you're being contacted by National Enterprise Systems, you're dealing with one of Ohio's most aggressive debt collectors – and that means your next move could save you thousands or cost you everything. National Enterprise Systems operates in all 50 states and specializes in hardball collection tactics that push people into panic payments.
According to CFPB complaint data, National Enterprise Systems has racked up 686 consumer complaints with 556 specifically about debt collection practices – so the odds favor aggressive pursuit over friendly negotiation.
But here's the thing: the Ohio Attorney General sued National Enterprise Systems for harassment and unauthorized bank withdrawals, forcing a $414,000 settlement. West Virginia fined them $75,000 for illegally adding fees to student debt. These enforcement actions prove the agency crosses legal lines.
Because National Enterprise Systems buys debts for pennies on the dollar (typically 1-10 cents per dollar owed), they often lack complete documentation to prove you actually owe what they claim – and that means skilled defense can get cases dismissed entirely.
If you want to beat National Enterprise Systems in court, negotiate massive debt reductions, or force them to back off legally, keep reading 👇
Who Is National Enterprise Systems?
National Enterprise Systems (NES) launched in 1987 under current president Ernest R. Pollak.
The firm operates as a third-party debt collector from their Solon, Ohio headquarters.
They employ over 300 collection staff across 13 departments. They're licensed in all 50 states. They work on behalf of creditors who've given up collecting debts themselves.
Industries They Target
National Enterprise Systems collects across multiple sectors:
- Higher education – Student loans and university debts (150+ post-secondary institutions)
- Financial services – Credit cards, personal loans, bank debts
- Retail – Store credit cards and installment plans
- Automotive – Car loans and dealership financing
- Telecommunications – Cell phone bills, cable, internet
- Healthcare – Medical bills from hospitals and providers
- Government agencies – State and local government debts
They both collect on behalf of original creditors AND purchase portfolios of bad debt outright.
When they buy debt, they pay almost nothing. A $5,000 debt might cost them $250. But they'll demand you pay the full $5,000 plus fees.
Their Track Record
National Enterprise Systems isn't accredited by the Better Business Bureau despite having an A+ rating.
Consumer reviews paint a different picture than that rating suggests.
BBB shows just 1.73 out of 5 stars from customer reviews. Complaints flood both BBB and CFPB databases. Common allegations include harassment, workplace calls, false threats, and collecting debts people don't owe.
The Ohio Attorney General's $414,000 settlement came after consumers reported harassing phone calls, refusal to provide debt proof, and unauthorized bank account withdrawals.
West Virginia's $75,000 fine targeted illegal collection fees added to school tuition debts.
These aren't minor violations. These are systemic problems with National Enterprise Systems' collection practices.
How National Enterprise Systems Operates
Initial Contact Methods
National Enterprise Systems reaches you through:
Multiple daily phone calls – Consumers report 3-8 calls daily starting at 8:30 AM and continuing until 8:30 PM.
Written notices – Demand letters claiming you owe money with threats of legal action.
Workplace calls – Despite FDCPA prohibitions, complaints show they contact employers repeatedly.
Email and text messages – Electronic communications pressuring immediate payment.
According to one BBB complaint, a consumer received 28 phone calls in just 16 days. That's nearly two calls per day from National Enterprise Systems trying to collect.
Pressure Tactics They Use
National Enterprise Systems employs aggressive psychological tactics:
False urgency – "This is your final notice before legal action" (even when they haven't decided to sue).
Lawsuit threats – Implying immediate court action when no lawsuit has been filed.
Settlement pressure – Limited-time offers creating artificial urgency to pay now.
Workplace harassment – Calling your job despite being told to stop.
Confusion tactics – Changing settlement terms mid-conversation to confuse and pressure you.
Payment plan manipulation – Offering multiple contradictory payment options in one call to overwhelm you.
One consumer reported National Enterprise Systems threatened a lawsuit requiring five months of immediate payments, then offered a regular payment plan, then said scheduling wasn't necessary – all in the same conversation.
This chaotic approach creates pressure and confusion intentionally.
Your Legal Rights Under the FDCPA
The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act gives you powerful weapons against National Enterprise Systems.
What They Cannot Legally Do
Federal law prohibits debt collectors from:
Calling outside permitted hours – No calls before 8 AM or after 9 PM in your time zone.
Excessive contact – Maximum 7 calls in 7 days about a specific debt, or calling within 7 days of speaking with you.
Workplace harassment – Must stop calling your job if you tell them your employer prohibits such calls.
Third-party disclosure – Cannot discuss your debt with family, friends, neighbors, or coworkers.
False threats – Cannot threaten arrest, jail time, or legal actions they won't actually take.
Unauthorized fees – Cannot add collection fees unless your original contract or state law allows it.
Abusive language – No profanity, threats, or harassing communication.
Impersonating officials – Cannot pretend to be attorneys, law enforcement, or government agents.
What You Can Do
Your rights include powerful defensive tools:
Demand debt validation – Within 30 days of first contact, require written proof you owe the debt and that National Enterprise Systems owns it.
Stop all phone calls – Send a written cease communication letter via certified mail forcing them to contact you only in writing.
Dispute the debt – Challenge any debt you believe is inaccurate, already paid, or not yours.
Record violations – Document every illegal tactic for potential lawsuits.
Sue for damages – File federal lawsuits for FDCPA violations and collect up to $1,000 in statutory damages plus actual damages and attorney fees.
Defense Strategy #1: Debt Validation
This strategy forces National Enterprise Systems to prove their case before proceeding.
Why Validation Works
Debt buyers like National Enterprise Systems purchase electronic files containing minimal information:
- Your name
- An account number
- The alleged balance
- Basic transaction history
They rarely receive:
- Original signed contracts
- Complete payment records
- Proper assignment documentation
- Itemized accounting of charges
Without these documents, they cannot legally prove you owe the debt.
How to Request Validation
Send this letter via certified mail with return receipt:
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[City, State ZIP]
[Date]
National Enterprise Systems
29125 Solon Road
Solon, OH 44139
RE: Account #[number from their letter]
Dear Sir/Madam:
This letter is my formal request for debt validation under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (15 U.S.C. § 1692g).
Please provide the following documentation:
- Proof that National Enterprise Systems owns or is authorized to collect this debt
- A copy of the original signed contract or agreement
- Complete itemized accounting showing how the current balance was calculated
- Verification that the debt is within my state's statute of limitations
- Proof that National Enterprise Systems is licensed to collect debts in [your state]
- Chain of custody documentation showing proper debt assignment from the original creditor
Under federal law, you must cease all collection activity until you provide proper validation.
I dispute this debt in its entirety. Do not contact me again until you have provided complete verification.
Sincerely,
[Your Signature]
Send this immediately. You have only 30 days from first contact to invoke validation rights.
What Happens Next
National Enterprise Systems must:
- Stop all collection activity immediately
- Investigate and gather documentation
- Send you proof or stop collecting
Many debt buyers cannot validate. They purchased portfolios without complete records. When they can't validate, they must stop collecting and remove any credit report entries.
Defense Strategy #2: Statute of Limitations
Every state sets deadlines for filing debt collection lawsuits.
After the statute of limitations expires, National Enterprise Systems cannot legally sue you – even if you technically still owe the money.
Statute of Limitations by State
3-year states:
- Louisiana (written contracts)
4-year states:
- California
- New York (except credit cards: 6 years)
- Texas
5-year states:
- Florida
- Georgia
- North Carolina
- Ohio (where National Enterprise Systems is based)
6-year states:
- Illinois (written contracts)
- Kansas
- Michigan
- New Jersey
- Pennsylvania
10-year states:
- Illinois (promissory notes)
Check your state's specific statute for your debt type. Credit cards, personal loans, and medical debts may have different limitations periods.
Critical Warning About Old Debts
Making even a $1 payment on an old debt can restart the statute of limitations clock.
Acknowledging you owe the debt in writing can restart the clock.
National Enterprise Systems knows this. They'll pressure you to "just pay something" on old debts specifically to restart the statute.
Never admit you owe money on old debts. Never make partial payments without consulting an attorney first.
How to Use This Defense
If National Enterprise Systems sues you after the statute expired:
- File an Answer to the lawsuit (do not ignore it)
- Raise statute of limitations as an affirmative defense
- Provide evidence of when the debt became delinquent
- Request dismissal based on time-barred debt
Courts will dismiss cases where the statute has expired – but only if you show up and raise the defense.
Defense Strategy #3: Challenge Documentation
National Enterprise Systems often lacks the evidence needed to win in court.
What They Must Prove
To win a debt collection lawsuit, National Enterprise Systems must prove:
Standing – They own the debt or are authorized to collect it
Amount – The exact balance is accurate and properly calculated
Your identity – You're the person who owes this specific debt
Default – You actually stopped paying
No payment – The debt hasn't been paid or settled
Many debt buyers cannot prove all these elements.
Common Documentation Failures
Missing original contracts – No signed credit agreement showing you agreed to the terms.
Incomplete assignment chain – Cannot prove the debt was properly sold from original creditor to them.
Generic account statements – Computer-generated summaries without supporting documentation.
Unverified affidavits – Testimony from employees with no personal knowledge of your account.
Lack of itemization – Cannot show how fees, interest, and charges were calculated.
According to consumer attorneys, roughly 60-70% of debt buyer lawsuits have significant documentation problems.
How to Challenge in Court
File an Answer demanding National Enterprise Systems prove their case.
Request discovery including:
- Original signed contracts
- Complete payment history
- Bill of sale showing debt purchase
- Assignment agreements
- License to collect in your state
- Calculation of current balance
Object to improper evidence at trial. Demand they prove standing to sue. Challenge unverified affidavits as inadmissible hearsay.
Many cases get dismissed when National Enterprise Systems cannot produce proper documentation.
Settlement Negotiation Tactics
If the debt is legitimate and you want to settle, use these proven negotiation strategies.
Know Their Cost Basis
National Enterprise Systems purchased your debt for pennies on the dollar.
According to industry data, debt buyers pay 1-10 cents per dollar of debt purchased. A $10,000 debt might have cost them $500.
This means they have massive room to negotiate. Getting $3,000 from you still represents a 500% profit.
Proven Settlement Ranges
Based on consumer attorney data, successful settlements with National Enterprise Systems typically range:
35-50% for lump sum payments – Pay everything at once for maximum discount
50-65% for short-term payment plans – Pay over 3-6 months
65-80% for long-term plans – Pay over 12+ months
One documented case showed a settlement from $13,414 to $6,037 – a 55% reduction saving $7,377.
Negotiation Script
Use this approach:
Opening offer: "I can pay 30% of the balance in a lump sum within 10 days if you accept this as payment in full and remove the account from my credit reports."
If they counter higher: "That's above what I can afford. I have $[40% amount] available now. That's my maximum. Take it or I'll explore bankruptcy options."
Lock in the terms: "Send me a written settlement agreement stating the exact amount, payment deadline, and confirmation this satisfies the debt in full with credit report deletion. I'll pay once I have that in writing."
Critical Settlement Rules
Never pay without written agreements – Verbal promises mean nothing.
Demand pay-for-delete – Insist they remove the credit report entry entirely.
Use money orders or cashier's checks – Never give them electronic access to your bank account.
Get it in writing that payment satisfies the debt in full – Otherwise they might accept your settlement then still demand the balance.
Keep all documentation forever – Debts sometimes get resold even after settlement.
What Happens If They Sue You
National Enterprise Systems files lawsuits regularly. Here's how to respond.
The Timeline
You typically have 20-30 days to file an Answer (varies by state).
Missing this deadline results in automatic default judgment against you.
Default judgments let National Enterprise Systems garnish wages, levy bank accounts, and put liens on property.
How to File an Answer
Your Answer is a legal document responding to their lawsuit.
It must:
Admit or deny each allegation – Go through their complaint paragraph by paragraph.
Assert affirmative defenses – Statute of limitations, lack of standing, failure to state a claim.
Demand proof – Require National Enterprise Systems prove every element of their case.
Many courts have free forms online. Search "[your state] debt collection answer form."
Consider hiring a consumer defense attorney. Many work on contingency or flat fees.
Common Defenses That Win
Lack of standing – National Enterprise Systems cannot prove they own the debt.
Statute of limitations expired – Too old to sue legally.
Debt already paid – You settled with the original creditor.
Not your debt – Identity error or fraud.
Improper service – You weren't properly notified of the lawsuit.
Insufficient evidence – They cannot prove the amount or that you owe it.
What Not to Do
Don't ignore the lawsuit – Default judgments happen automatically.
Don't miss court dates – Judges rule against you when you don't show up.
Don't admit you owe the debt – Make them prove their case.
Don't agree to payment plans without settlement – You're just agreeing to pay without getting anything in return.
Filing FDCPA Complaints and Lawsuits
If National Enterprise Systems violates your rights, fight back.
Where to File Complaints
Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB)
- Online: consumerfinance.gov/complaint
- Phone: 855-411-2372
- Creates official record of violations
- CFPB investigates patterns of abuse
Federal Trade Commission (FTC)
- Online: reportfraud.ftc.gov
- Phone: 877-382-4357
- Enforcement actions for systematic violations
State Attorney General
- Each state has consumer protection division
- Can investigate and fine companies
- Ohio's AG already sued National Enterprise Systems for $414,000
Better Business Bureau
- BBB.org complaint portal
- Public complaints damage company reputation
- Creates paper trail for lawsuits
FDCPA Lawsuits
You can sue National Enterprise Systems in federal or state court for violations.
What you can recover:
Statutory damages – Up to $1,000 without proving actual harm
Actual damages – Lost wages, medical bills for stress-related illness, emotional distress
Attorney's fees – The collector pays your lawyer's fees if you win
Court costs – Filing fees and legal expenses
Common FDCPA Violations
Based on CFPB complaints and BBB reports, National Enterprise Systems frequently violates:
Excessive calling – Multiple calls daily, calls to employers
Calling outside permitted hours – Before 8 AM or after 9 PM
Third-party disclosure – Discussing debts with employers or family
False threats – Threatening lawsuits they don't file, arrest, wage garnishment without judgments
Unauthorized fees – Adding illegal collection charges
Continuing after cease communication – Calling after you demanded they stop
Document everything. Save voicemails. Record call dates and times. Keep all letters.
Protecting Your Credit Report
National Enterprise Systems reports to all three credit bureaus.
How Collection Accounts Damage Credit
A single collection account can drop your score by 50-150 points.
The impact depends on your credit before the collection appeared:
Excellent credit (750+): Drops of 100-150 points
Good credit (680-749): Drops of 60-100 points Fair credit (below 680): Drops of 30-60 points
Collections stay on your report for 7 years from the date of first delinquency.
Disputing Credit Report Entries
Challenge National Enterprise Systems' reporting through:
Direct disputes with credit bureaus:
- AnnualCreditReport.com for free reports
- File disputes at Equifax, Experian, and TransUnion
- Bureaus have 30 days to investigate
Disputes directly with National Enterprise Systems:
- Send written dispute via certified mail
- Demand they verify the debt is accurate
- Request deletion if they cannot verify
Common Disputable Errors
- Wrong amount – Balance doesn't match actual debt
- Not your account – Belongs to someone else
- Duplicate reporting – Same debt reported multiple times
- Already paid – Debt was satisfied
- Incorrect dates – Wrong date of first delinquency
- Account after statute of limitations – Too old to report
If National Enterprise Systems cannot verify accuracy, bureaus must delete the entry.
Pay-for-Delete Agreements
Some collectors remove entries in exchange for payment.
National Enterprise Systems has accepted pay-for-delete arrangements based on consumer reports.
The negotiation: "I'll pay $[amount] if you delete this account from all three credit bureaus. I need that in writing before I pay."
Not all collectors agree. But it's worth asking.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can National Enterprise Systems garnish my wages?
Only after suing you and winning a court judgment. They cannot garnish without going through the legal system first.
What if I don't recognize the debt?
Request debt validation immediately. Don't pay anything until you verify it's actually your debt.
Will ignoring them make them go away?
No. Ignoring National Enterprise Systems can lead to lawsuits and default judgments. Better to respond strategically.
Can they contact my family or employer?
No, except to locate you. They cannot discuss your debt with third parties under FDCPA rules.
What if they already have a judgment?
You still have options. Attorneys can sometimes vacate default judgments or negotiate post-judgment settlements.
How long can they try to collect?
Until the statute of limitations expires in your state (typically 3-10 years depending on debt type and state).
Should I make partial payments?
Never make payments on old debts without legal advice. Partial payments can restart the statute of limitations.
Can I negotiate myself or do I need an attorney?
You can negotiate yourself using the strategies above. Attorneys help with lawsuits and complex situations.
Take Action Now
National Enterprise Systems counts on you doing nothing.
They file thousands of lawsuits annually. Most result in default judgments because people ignore them.
Don't be a default statistic.
Your Action Plan
Step 1: Document everything – Start a file with all communications from National Enterprise Systems.
Step 2: Send debt validation – Use the letter template above via certified mail.
Step 3: Check statute of limitations – Calculate whether the debt is time-barred in your state.
Step 4: Respond to any lawsuit – File an Answer before the deadline.
Step 5: Consider professional help – Consult consumer attorneys for complex cases.
The worst decision is inaction.
National Enterprise Systems wins when you do nothing. They lose when you fight back with knowledge and strategy.
Disclaimer: This article provides general information about debt collection and consumer rights. It does not constitute legal advice. Consult a licensed attorney in your state for guidance specific to your situation.