Quick Answer: National Credit Systems, Inc. (NCS) is a debt collector based in Marietta, Georgia that specializes in collecting unpaid apartment rent and fees for the multi-family housing industry. Their phone number is (800) 253-6087. The CFPB has received 2,627+ complaints and filed an enforcement action against NCS in 2023. The BBB gives them an F rating with 437+ complaints. NCS has been sued in federal court over 570 times. If NCS appears on your credit report, prospective landlords will see it immediately — making it critical to understand your rights.
If National Credit Systems is on your credit report or calling you: NCS almost exclusively collects apartment and rental debts. An NCS entry on your credit report signals to future landlords that a prior landlord had a problem with you — and that stigma follows from application to application. Before paying or ignoring this, you need to know what they’re claiming, whether it’s accurate, and what your options are. This page explains everything.
| Company Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Company Name | National Credit Systems, Inc. (NCS) |
| Formerly Known As | Southeastern Credit Systems |
| Type | Third-party debt collector (apartment/rental specialist) |
| Headquartered | Marietta, Georgia (1775 The Exchange, Ste 300) |
| Founded | 1991 |
| Primary Creditors | Apartment complexes, multi-family housing, property management companies |
| Primary Phone | (800) 253-6087 |
| BBB Rating | F (not accredited); 437+ complaints |
| CFPB Complaints | 2,627+ complaints filed |
| Federal Court Cases | 570+ lawsuits; CFPB v. NCS (N.D. Ga. 2023) — federal enforcement action |
| Governed By | Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) |
National Credit Systems is the debt collector apartment complexes use when you move out with an unpaid balance — and an NCS entry on your credit report can make it harder to rent your next apartment.
What makes NCS unique among debt collectors is their singular focus on the apartment and multi-family housing industry. Founded in 1991 as Southeastern Credit Systems, they built their entire business around collecting unpaid rent, lease-break fees, damage charges, and other apartment-related debts. With 2,627+ CFPB complaints, an F rating from the BBB, and a CFPB enforcement action filed in 2023, NCS is one of the most-complained-about debt collectors in the rental industry.
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Who Is National Credit Systems?
National Credit Systems, Inc. (NCS) is a third-party debt collector headquartered in Marietta, Georgia, founded in 1991 under the name Southeastern Credit Systems. They specialize exclusively in collecting debts for the apartment and multi-family housing industry, working with property management companies and apartment complexes across the country. When you move out of an apartment with an unpaid balance — whether it’s back rent, early lease termination fees, damage charges beyond your security deposit, or unpaid utilities — NCS is often the company your former landlord hires to collect.
National Credit Systems Phone Numbers
National Credit Systems primarily uses one main number, though consumers report receiving calls from additional numbers.
| Phone Number | Reported Use | Consumer Reports |
|---|---|---|
| (800) 253-6087 | Main collections line | Source: BBB profile |
| (770) 612-5353 | Corporate office | Source: business directory listings |
Why Is National Credit Systems Calling You?
- Unpaid rent from a former apartment — NCS’s primary business is collecting unpaid rent balances after tenants move out. Your former apartment complex placed the account with them.
- Early lease termination fees — if you broke your lease early, the apartment may have charged termination penalties and sent the balance to NCS.
- Damage charges beyond your security deposit — if your former landlord claimed damages exceeded your deposit, the remaining balance may have been sent to NCS for collection.
- Unpaid utility balances — some apartment complexes include utilities in the lease and bill separately for overages, which can end up with NCS if unpaid.
- A debt you dispute — NCS’s top complaint category involves collecting amounts consumers believe are incorrect. Landlords sometimes inflate damage claims or charge fees not authorized by the lease.
A call from a debt collector is not proof you owe anything. It’s an opening position. Treat it like one.
What Consumer Complaints Reveal About National Credit Systems
The CFPB has received a staggering 2,627+ complaints about National Credit Systems — one of the highest complaint volumes of any apartment debt collector. The BBB has received 437+ complaints and gives NCS an F rating. The most common issues:
Search National Credit Systems complaints in the CFPB database →
Read Consumer Complaint Themes (from CFPB and BBB filings)
“National Credit Systems is trying to collect $3,200 from me for apartment damages, but my move-out inspection showed normal wear and tear. The apartment complex never sent me an itemized damage list within the time required by state law. NCS won’t provide documentation of the actual damages.”
“NCS placed a collection on my credit report for a former apartment. When I called to get details, the representative refused to provide validation or even an email address. They just kept asking for payment without showing me what I supposedly owe.”
“I paid my final apartment balance in full when I moved out. National Credit Systems put a collection on my credit report months later for the same amount. Despite sending them my payment receipt, it’s still on my report.”
“NCS called threatening to take legal action against me for a debt I don’t even owe. The apartment complex charged me a full month’s rent over a dispute about my move-out date. When I asked NCS to investigate, they said it wasn’t their job to verify the landlord’s claim.”
Sources: CFPB Consumer Complaint Database and Better Business Bureau. Complaint themes are representative of filed reports. Personal information redacted.
National Credit Systems in Federal Court
National Credit Systems has been sued in federal court over 570 times and is the subject of a CFPB enforcement action — an unusually serious level of regulatory scrutiny.
CFPB v. National Credit Systems, Inc. (N.D. Georgia, 2023): The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau filed a petition to enforce a Civil Investigative Demand (CID) against NCS. The investigation was opened to determine whether NCS made false or misleading representations to consumers, made prohibited communications, collected unlawful amounts in violation of the FDCPA and Consumer Financial Protection Act, and furnished inaccurate information to credit reporting agencies while knowing the information was inaccurate.
- 570+ federal lawsuits — NCS has been accused in federal court of violating consumers’ rights and using illegal and harassing communication tactics to coerce payment. These cases span multiple states and allege FDCPA violations including false representations, failure to validate debts, and improper credit reporting.
Court records are sourced from CourtListener and the CFPB.
What this means for you: A CFPB enforcement action is not a routine consumer complaint — it’s the federal government’s consumer protection agency investigating the company directly. Combined with 570+ lawsuits and an F BBB rating, this pattern suggests systemic issues with how NCS handles consumer disputes. If NCS is reporting inaccurate information on your credit report, the CFPB’s own investigation supports your right to challenge it.
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 →
How NCS Affects Your Ability to Rent
The rental blacklist effect: An NCS collection on your credit report is especially damaging because landlords screen for exactly this type of entry. A prospective landlord who sees an NCS entry knows immediately that a prior landlord had a collection problem with you. This can result in denied applications or higher security deposits. If the debt is inaccurate or disputed, getting it removed or corrected is critical for your housing options.
What To Do If National Credit Systems Is Calling You
- Get a copy of your original lease and move-out documentation. Before engaging with NCS, gather your lease agreement, move-out inspection report, security deposit return letter, and any photos you took at move-out. Many NCS disputes involve landlords inflating damage claims or charging fees not authorized by the lease. Your state’s landlord-tenant law may require the landlord to provide an itemized damage list within a specific timeframe.
- Request debt validation in writing immediately. NCS’s second-most-common complaint is failure to validate debts. Send a written request within 30 days of their first contact demanding the original creditor (apartment complex name), the amount owed with itemized breakdown, and documentation proving the debt is valid. NCS must stop collection activity until they respond.
- Check your state’s security deposit laws. Every state has rules about how and when landlords can deduct from security deposits. If your former landlord didn’t follow these rules (missed the return deadline, didn’t provide itemized deductions, charged for normal wear and tear), the debt NCS is collecting may not be legally valid.
- Check your state’s statute of limitations. If the debt is old enough, NCS cannot sue you to collect. Check your state here.
- Dispute with the credit bureaus if the amount is wrong. Given NCS’s top complaint is incorrect debt amounts, verify every dollar they claim. If the amount doesn’t match your records, dispute directly with all three credit bureaus (Equifax, Experian, TransUnion).
- Send a cease-and-desist if you want calls to stop. A written request by certified mail legally requires them to stop contacting you.
- Document everything. Date, time, what they said, which number called. If NCS violates the FDCPA, you may be able to collect up to $1,000 in statutory damages per lawsuit, not per violation, plus attorney fees; in setting that amount, a court can weigh how often any violations happened, how serious they were and how intentional they were, but more violations don’t multiply the $1,000.
For the complete guide: Your Rights When a Debt Collector Calls.
Key Takeaways
- National Credit Systems (NCS) specializes in collecting apartment and rental debts, based in Marietta, Georgia
- Founded 1991 (as Southeastern Credit Systems); works exclusively with multi-family housing
- Phone: (800) 253-6087
- BBB F rating; 437+ BBB complaints; 2,627+ CFPB complaints
- CFPB filed enforcement action in 2023; 570+ federal lawsuits
- An NCS entry on your credit report can block future apartment applications
- Top issue: inflated or incorrect debt amounts from former landlords
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 National Credit Systems
Who is National Credit Systems?
National Credit Systems, Inc. (NCS) is a debt collector headquartered in Marietta, Georgia, founded in 1991 as Southeastern Credit Systems. They specialize exclusively in collecting debts for the apartment and multi-family housing industry, including unpaid rent, lease-break fees, damage charges, and utility balances. They have 2,627+ CFPB complaints, a BBB F rating, and have been sued 570+ times in federal court.
Is National Credit Systems a scam?
National Credit Systems is a real debt collection company, not a scam. However, their F rating from the BBB, 2,627+ CFPB complaints, CFPB enforcement action, and 570+ lawsuits indicate serious systemic issues. Top complaints involve incorrect debt amounts and failure to validate debts. If NCS contacts you, verify every dollar in writing before paying.
Will National Credit Systems on my credit report stop me from renting?
An NCS collection on your credit report can significantly impact your ability to rent. Landlords specifically screen for prior rental collections, and an NCS entry signals a problem with a former landlord. If the debt is inaccurate, dispute it immediately with the credit bureaus. If it’s valid, some landlords will consider applicants who can show the debt has been paid or settled.
Can my landlord send me to National Credit Systems for damages?
Yes, but landlords must follow state-specific security deposit laws. Most states require landlords to provide an itemized list of deductions within a specific timeframe (typically 14-30 days after move-out). If your landlord missed this deadline or charged for normal wear and tear, the debt may not be legally valid. Gather your move-out documentation before engaging with NCS.
How do I stop National Credit Systems from calling?
Send a written cease-and-desist letter by certified mail to National Credit Systems, Inc., 1775 The Exchange, Suite 300, Marietta, GA 30339. Under the FDCPA, they must stop contacting you after receiving your request. Keep your certified mail receipt as proof.
Can National Credit Systems sue me?
NCS is a third-party collector, so they would typically need authorization from the original creditor (your former landlord) to pursue legal action. They can only sue if the debt is within your state’s statute of limitations. Given their F BBB rating and CFPB enforcement action, NCS faces significant legal challenges of their own.
Should I pay National Credit Systems?
Do not pay anything until you have verified the debt amount against your lease, move-out inspection, and security deposit records. NCS’s number-one complaint is incorrect debt amounts. If the debt is valid, you may be able to negotiate a lower settlement — NCS is collecting for your former landlord, not suing on their own behalf. Get any agreement in writing, including a promise to remove the collection from your credit report (a “pay for delete” agreement).
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.
