Quick Answer: IC System, Inc. is a third-party debt collector headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota. Founded in 1938, they are one of the oldest collection agencies in the country, collecting primarily for healthcare providers, hospitals, and telecom companies including Sprint. Their primary consumer contact number is 800-279-7951. IC System has 2,097 complaints in the CFPB database; the leading category is attempting to collect debt not owed, followed by complaints about Regulation F disclosure failures and unauthorized fees added to medical accounts.
If IC System is in your call log: Medical debt is the most error-prone category in consumer finance — billing mistakes, insurance processing failures, and duplicate account referrals are all well-documented. Before assuming you owe what IC System claims, confirm the bill was handled correctly by your insurer. This page gives you the information to respond from a position of knowledge, not urgency.
| Company Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Company Name | IC System, Inc. |
| Type | Third-party debt collector |
| Headquartered | St. Paul, Minnesota (founded 1938) |
| Primary Debt Types | Medical debt, telecom (Sprint), government accounts |
| Primary Phone | 800-279-7951 (consumer affairs) |
| CFPB Complaints | 2,097 filed with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau |
| Federal Court Cases | 4 FDCPA cases on record |
| Governed By | Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) |
IC System is a debt collection agency — if they are calling you, a healthcare provider, hospital, or telecom company hired them to collect a balance they believe you owe.
Unlike debt buyers, IC System does not purchase accounts — they collect on behalf of the original creditor, which means the original provider still owns the account throughout the process. With 2,097 CFPB complaints and documented court cases involving unauthorized medical fees and voicemail disclosure failures, understanding your rights before you respond is essential.
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Who Is IC System?
IC System, Inc. is a third-party debt collection agency based in St. Paul, Minnesota. Founded in 1938, IC System is one of the oldest collection agencies in the United States. They are hired by hospitals, physician groups, telecom companies (most notably Sprint), and government entities to collect past-due balances. Because IC System operates as a third-party collector rather than a debt buyer, the original creditor retains ownership of the account — if you dispute the debt or negotiate, you are ultimately dealing with the original provider’s account, not a purchased portfolio.
IC System Phone Numbers
IC System uses multiple phone numbers when contacting consumers, including several listed directly on their official website and additional outbound collection numbers. If you received a call from any of the numbers below, it was IC System — and the same legal rights apply regardless of which number appeared on your caller ID.
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| Phone Number | Reported Use | Consumer Reports |
|---|---|---|
| 800-279-7951 | Consumer affairs / disputes | HIGH — Listed on IC System’s official website (icsystem.com) |
| 800-279-7244 | General collections (non-medical) | HIGH — Listed on IC System’s official website |
| 866-628-7811 | Healthcare / medical collections | HIGH — Listed on IC System’s official website as dedicated medical line |
| 651-481-6467 | Main St. Paul office | HIGH — Company-listed contact number |
| 202-552-1122 | Collections outbound | HIGH — Multiple consumer reports, Agruss Law Firm |
| 877-427-0555 | Collections outbound | MEDIUM — Agruss Law Firm, Sanders Law Group |
| 651-204-1350 | Collections outbound (St. Paul area) | MEDIUM — Consumer reports, Agruss Law Firm |
Why Is IC System Calling You?
- A hospital, physician group, or healthcare provider referred your account to collections. IC System’s primary business is medical debt, and billing and insurance errors are a documented source of collection disputes.
- A telecom company such as Sprint hired them to collect an unpaid balance. IC System collects for telecom providers on past-due service accounts and equipment charges.
- The debt may not be yours. Nearly 42% of sampled CFPB complaints against IC System allege the debt was not owed at all — wrong-person referrals, identity theft, and already-paid accounts are all documented.
- They may have added unauthorized fees. A federal court case documented IC System adding a collection charge to a medical account without contractual authorization — a pattern worth checking on any medical debt they claim you owe.
A call from a debt collector is an opening position. It is not proof of what you owe — or that you owe anything at all.
What CFPB Complaints Reveal About IC System
The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s complaint database contains 2,097 consumer complaints referencing IC System. The most common categories:
Read Consumer Complaint Narratives (6 published accounts)
“Last year my wife received [debt notice]. We paid our insurance co-pay and the bills that showed up afterwards. A couple of months ago my wife noticed a negative filing on her credit report from ‘IC Systems’ and when we call the phone number it tells us the switchboard is down. Just in XX/XX/2020, they open 7 new negative accounts over 1 bill. They have called her office over a hundred times this year. They spoofed our office number on these occasions…”
“Upon researching how to file this complaint, I discovered that IC System, the company this complaint is regarding, has violated Regulation F of the FDCPA. IC System did not include an itemized list of charges. IC System did not include a returnable form allowing the consumer to check a box for ‘This is not my debt’, ‘This amount is wrong’, or ‘Other’. Regulation F requires this to be included.”
“On XX/XX/XXXX I received a credit alert that my score dropped 34 points due to two collection accounts reported by IC Systems. After further research, I concluded IC Systems is reporting a MEDICAL DEBT from [hospital] that was sold to them on XX/XX/XXXX. IC Systems has violated the 180-day (six month) wait period before a medical bill can be reported to credit bureaus.”
“A sprint account in my name was submitted to IC Systems for collection. IC System contacted me and I initially made a payment agreement to avoid credit bureau reporting. Upon further investigation, IC System continuously tacked on charges each month with zero explanation. My principal balance would increase by $40.00 each month after I made a $100.00 payment. I disputed this balance.”
“IC SYSTEM is FRAUDULENTLY and ILLEGALLY attempting to collect monies for which there IS NO SIGNED CONTRACT nor ANY EVIDENCE that they’re entitled to. IC SYSTEM has DAMAGED my credit report with their BOGUS and FRAUDULENT COLLECTION. I want this IC SYSTEM fraudulent collection REMOVED from my account immediately.”
“I had an outstanding bill with [creditor]. The bill was directly paid through [payment method]. IC Systems reported a collection account on my credit attempting to collect the same debt through [creditor]. When I spoke to a supervisor at IC Systems, I requested that the collection be removed from my credit because I did NOT pay IC Systems.”
Source: CFPB Consumer Complaint Database. Narratives published only when the consumer provides consent. Personal information redacted by the CFPB.
IC System in Federal Court
IC System has been named in federal lawsuits alleging violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.
Gryzbowski v. I.C. System, Inc. (M.D. Pa., 2010): IC System left voicemail messages that failed to identify the caller as a debt collector — a direct violation of the FDCPA’s disclosure requirements. The court granted the plaintiff’s motion for summary judgment, finding IC System liable. This case established that FDCPA disclosure rules apply to voicemail messages, not just live calls.
- Cornette v. I.C. System, Inc. (S.D. Fla., 2017) — IC System added an unauthorized collection charge to a medical account. The case involved whether IC System’s contract with the healthcare provider authorized the additional fee. Courts have consistently held that collection fees not permitted by the original agreement or state law violate the FDCPA.
- Palmer v. Stassinos (N.D. Cal., 2004) — IC System was named in one of three consolidated FDCPA actions involving collection practices in California.
Court records are sourced from CourtListener, maintained by the Free Law Project.
What this means for you: If IC System leaves you a voicemail that doesn’t clearly identify itself as a debt collector, that alone may be an FDCPA violation. Document every voicemail and call — date, time, what was said, and which number was displayed on your caller ID.
What To Do If IC System Is Calling You
- If it’s a medical bill, confirm your insurance processed it correctly before assuming you owe anything. IC System is primarily a medical debt collector, and nearly 42% of CFPB complaints allege the debt was not owed at all. Billing errors, duplicate referrals, and insurance processing failures are common sources of invalid medical collection accounts. Request an itemized statement from IC System and compare it against your Explanation of Benefits from your insurer.
- Ask IC System to confirm they have not added unauthorized fees. A federal court case (Cornette) documented IC System adding collection charges to a medical account without clear contractual authorization. Before paying any amount, ask for documentation showing the fee breakdown and the original creditor’s authorization for any collection charges.
- Request a debt validation notice in writing. IC System is legally required to send you a written notice within 5 days of first contact that includes the amount owed, the creditor’s name, and your right to dispute. Under Regulation F, the notice must also include an itemized list of charges and a dispute form. If they haven’t provided this, demand it in writing.
- Check your state’s statute of limitations. If the debt is old enough, they can no longer sue you to collect — though they can still ask you to pay. Check your state here.
- Send a cease-and-desist if you want calls to stop. A written request by certified mail legally requires them to stop contacting you (except to confirm receipt or advise of legal action).
- Document everything. Date, time, what they said, which number called. If IC System leaves a voicemail without identifying itself as a debt collector — as documented in Gryzbowski — that is an FDCPA violation worth $1,000 plus attorney fees in federal court.
For the complete guide: Your Rights When a Debt Collector Calls.
Your FDCPA rights in brief: IC System must stop collection if you send a written cease request by certified mail. You can demand written debt verification within 30 days of first contact. FDCPA violations — including voicemail disclosure failures — can be sued in federal court for up to $1,000 plus attorney fees. Full rights breakdown here.
Key Takeaways
- IC System is a third-party debt collector based in St. Paul, Minnesota, founded in 1938
- Their primary consumer contact number is 800-279-7951; medical collections use 866-628-7811
- They collect primarily for healthcare providers and telecom companies (Sprint)
- 2,097 CFPB complaints — the #1 issue is attempting to collect debts not owed
- Federal court found IC System violated FDCPA by failing to identify itself in voicemail messages (Gryzbowski, 2010)
- Medical debt billing errors are common — confirm insurance processing before paying anything
Free Tool — Statute of Limitations Checker: Dealing with old debt? The free Statute of Limitations Checker tells you if the collection clock has expired in your state — including the zombie debt and clock-restarting traps collectors use. Check My Status →
Frequently Asked Questions About IC System
Free Tool — Debt Collector Rights Lookup: Being contacted by a debt collector? The free Debt Collector Rights Lookup shows your state-specific protections — statute of limitations, garnishment limits, and what collectors are legally prohibited from doing. Look Up Your Rights →
Who is IC System?
IC System, Inc. is a third-party debt collection agency founded in 1938 and headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota. Unlike debt buyers, IC System does not purchase accounts — they are hired by the original creditor (typically a hospital, physician group, telecom company, or government entity) to collect past-due balances on the creditor’s behalf. The original creditor retains ownership of the account throughout the process. IC System has 2,097 consumer complaints on file with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, making them one of the more complained-about collection agencies in the medical and telecom sectors.
Is IC System a scam?
IC System is a legitimate, licensed debt collection agency that has been in business since 1938 — it is not a scam operation. However, “legitimate” does not mean error-free. The CFPB database contains 2,097 complaints about IC System, with the most common allegation being that they attempted to collect debts not owed. A federal court found IC System liable in 2010 for leaving voicemail messages that failed to identify the caller as a debt collector (Gryzbowski v. I.C. System, Inc., M.D. Pa.), and a 2017 case documented IC System adding unauthorized collection fees to a medical account (Cornette v. I.C. System, Inc., S.D. Fla.). If IC System is contacting you, their claim deserves scrutiny — particularly for medical debt, where billing and insurance processing errors are common.
Why is IC System calling me if I don’t recognize the debt?
Approximately 42 out of every 100 sampled CFPB complaints against IC System allege the debt was not owed at all. The most common explanations are wrong-person referrals, debts already paid or discharged, debts where insurance should have covered the balance, and identity theft. IC System collects primarily for hospitals, physician groups, and telecom companies — all sectors where billing errors and duplicate account referrals are well-documented. If you don’t recognize the debt, request written debt validation before doing anything else. IC System must provide an itemized account statement and your right to dispute within 5 days of first contact.
Does IC System collect medical debt, and do I have extra rights?
Yes — medical debt is IC System’s primary business. If they are contacting you about a hospital or physician bill, you have specific additional protections. First, medical debt cannot legally be reported to the credit bureaus until 180 days after the bill becomes due — one CFPB complaint specifically documented IC System reporting a medical collection account before this waiting period expired. Second, medical billing errors are pervasive: bills may reflect charges your insurer should have covered, duplicate referrals, or amounts that were billed incorrectly before the account was sent to collections. Before paying any amount IC System claims is owed on a medical account, request an itemized statement and compare it against your Explanation of Benefits from your insurance company. If there is a discrepancy, dispute the debt in writing within 30 days of first contact.
How do I stop IC System from calling me?
Send IC System a written cease-and-desist letter by certified mail with return receipt. Under the FDCPA, once they receive your written request to stop contacting you, they are legally required to cease all collection contact — with two narrow exceptions: confirming receipt of your cease notice, or advising you they intend to take legal action. Keep copies of everything you send and note the certified mail tracking number. If IC System continues calling after receiving a written cease request, that is an FDCPA violation worth up to $1,000 plus attorney fees. Also document every call they have already made: date, time, which number appeared on your caller ID, and whether the voicemail identified the caller as a debt collector.
Can IC System sue me to collect?
IC System can file a lawsuit, but as a third-party collector they would need the original creditor’s cooperation, and the lawsuit must be filed within your state’s statute of limitations. Because IC System collects primarily for medical providers and telecom companies, the statute of limitations on their accounts is typically the same as for written contracts or open accounts in your state — ranging from 3 to 6 years depending on where you live. If the debt is time-barred, IC System can still request payment but cannot legally sue to collect. Check your state’s statute of limitations before paying any old debt, as paying — or even acknowledging a time-barred debt in writing — can restart the clock in some states.
Should I pay IC System or try to negotiate?
Because IC System is a third-party collector rather than a debt buyer, they do not own the account — the original creditor does. This means any payment goes to the original creditor’s account, and IC System cannot necessarily settle for significantly less than the full balance without explicit authorization from the original creditor. Before agreeing to pay anything, confirm the debt is valid and not the result of a billing error or insurance failure (particularly for medical accounts). If the debt is valid, within the statute of limitations, and you can afford to pay, you can negotiate — but ask for a written payment agreement before sending any money, and confirm in writing that payment will satisfy the account in full and result in deletion from your credit report where possible.
Know Your Rights: If a debt collector is contacting you, you have legal protections. See the complete list of FDCPA violations collectors commit most often. Use the free Debt Validation Letter Generator to demand proof of the debt, or check this collector’s complaint history with the Scam-O-Meter.
Dealing With Debt? Before you pay a collector, understand all your debt relief options — including ones the collector won’t tell you about. If the debt feels unmanageable, take the 2-minute bankruptcy quiz to see if the math favors a fresh start. Federal Reserve research shows filers recover faster than those who don’t file.
