Nelson Cruz and Associates on Your Credit Report: What to Know

Nelson Cruz and Associates (NCA) has one of the most alarming complaint profiles of any agency covered here. A documented BBB review describes the company pocketing over $1,000 in student loan settlement payments without paying off any loans.

A second review describes a HIPAA violation: in response to a validation request, NCA sent the consumer their medical records along with four other patients’ claim information. A third describes a representative telling a consumer they did not have to stop calling their employer even after being explicitly told to do so.

Multiple consumer attorney sources confirm NCA is unlikely to sue consumers. This guide covers who NCA is, their documented patterns, and how to respond.

Who Is Nelson Cruz and Associates?

Nelson Cruz and Associates, LLC is a Dallas, Texas debt collection agency that has been in business for approximately five years. The company is not BBB-accredited and has accumulated 25 BBB complaints. Their own website now lists a different address from what has been previously published.

NCA markets itself as a commercial debt collection firm. Their confirmed debt types from documented complaints include medical debt, personal loans, and student loan accounts. A confirmed client from a BBB review is World Finance.

NCA does not accept goodwill letters per multiple consumer sources, and is not known for suing consumers.

The Student Loan Settlement Scam Allegation

A documented BBB review describes a consumer who was contacted by NCA about student loans. NCA offered to settle the loans and the consumer paid over $1,000 toward that settlement. The consumer later called their actual loan officer directly. The loan officer confirmed NCA had not paid off any loans and described NCA as a scam. The review describes the loans as remaining on the consumer’s credit report with no resolution.

Paying a debt settlement company that pockets the money without paying the underlying creditor is a documented consumer fraud pattern. Before paying NCA anything on a student loan, call your actual loan servicer directly to confirm whether NCA has any authority over your account and whether any payment made to NCA will be applied to your loan balance.

The HIPAA Violation

A documented BBB review describes a consumer who requested debt validation from NCA for a 2018 medical procedure. In response, NCA sent the consumer their operation notes and claim information for themselves and four other patients.

Disclosing another patient’s protected health information in a response to a debt validation request is a specific HIPAA violation. If NCA has sent you documentation containing anyone else’s personal or medical information, report the breach to the Department of Health and Human Services Office for Civil Rights at hhs.gov/ocr in addition to filing a CFPB complaint.

Threatening a Lawsuit While a Consumer Is Actively Disputing

The same documented BBB review describes a consumer who explained to NCA that the underlying medical debt should have been covered by insurance. The insurance company called NCA twice and confirmed the debt was not valid. The original claimant company had gone bankrupt. Despite all of this, an NCA representative told the consumer they had until Friday to pay or NCA would file a lawsuit.

Threatening immediate legal action against a consumer who is actively disputing and where the original creditor has confirmed the debt is invalid is a specific FDCPA violation. Document any such threat immediately.

Continuing Employer Contact After Prohibition

A documented BBB review describes a consumer who requested multiple times that NCA stop calling their phone and their employer. NCA representatives told the consumer they did not have to stop. Continuing to contact an employer after being told the employer prohibits such calls is a specific FDCPA violation. Each call after that notice is a separate violation.

Collecting on Insurance-Paid Debt

A documented BBB review describes a medical debt NCA was pursuing that had been paid by insurance. When the consumer explained this, the NCA representative stated they did not care. The insurance company then called NCA directly and confirmed the debt was not valid. NCA continued pursuing the account.

Address Discrepancy

NCA’s own website now lists 1910 Pacific Ave, Suite 2000, Dallas TX 75201 as their address. The address published in the old article, 9535 Forest Lane, may be outdated. Send all certified mail to the current address listed on any NCA correspondence you receive, and verify against their current website before mailing.

What NCA Cannot Do Under Federal Law

The FDCPA applies to Nelson Cruz and Associates. Under federal law, they cannot:

• Threaten lawsuits against consumers who are actively disputing: A documented BBB complaint where insurance had already confirmed no debt was owed.
• Continue employer contact after being told to stop: A documented BBB review where NCA told the consumer they did not have to comply.
• Collect on insurance-confirmed invalid debt: A documented BBB complaint where the insurer called NCA directly to confirm nothing was owed.
• Disclose other patients’ health information in validation responses: A documented HIPAA violation requiring a separate complaint to hhs.gov/ocr.
• Use rude, abusive, or threatening language: Documented in multiple BBB reviews.
• Call outside permitted hours: Contact is only allowed between 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. in your time zone.

File complaints at consumerfinance.gov and with the Texas Attorney General’s Consumer Protection Division.

Verify Before Paying Anything

For student loan accounts, call your actual loan servicer directly before paying NCA anything. Confirm whether NCA has any authority over your account and whether any payment to NCA will actually be applied to the loan balance.

For medical accounts, pull your explanation of benefits before engaging. If insurance paid the balance, send the EOB to NCA by certified mail and dispute the credit bureau entry simultaneously.

Send all debt validation requests by certified mail to the address on NCA’s current correspondence. The Forest Lane address may no longer be current.

How to Check Your Credit Report for NCA Errors

Pull your credit reports from all three credit bureaus. Is the original creditor identified? Is the balance accurate? For medical accounts, was insurance properly billed?

Any inaccuracy is grounds for a dispute with each credit bureau.

How Long Can NCA Legally Pursue the Debt?

Texas has a 4-year statute of limitations on most consumer debts. The relevant state is typically where you currently reside.

Your Options for Resolving an NCA Account

Once you have verified the debt:

• For student loans: Call your loan servicer directly before paying NCA anything.
• For medical debt: Pull your EOB first. Send insurance confirmation to NCA by certified mail if the balance was already paid.
• Document every employer contact: Each call after employer prohibition notice is a separate FDCPA violation.
• Report any HIPAA violation: Any disclosure of other patients’ information goes to hhs.gov/ocr.

How to Contact Nelson Cruz and Associates

Use the address on current NCA correspondence. Their own website now lists a different address than previously published:

• Current website address: Nelson Cruz and Associates, LLC, 1910 Pacific Ave, Suite 2000, Dallas, TX 75201
• Previously listed address: 9535 Forest Lane, Suite 114, Dallas, TX 75243
• Phone: (888) 757-3930

Bottom Line

Nelson Cruz and Associates has documented patterns of pocketing student loan settlement payments without paying underlying loans, sending other patients’ medical records in HIPAA violations, and threatening lawsuits while actively disputing insurance-paid medical debt.

Verify any student loan authority directly with your loan servicer before paying NCA. Report any HIPAA violation to hhs.gov/ocr. Document every employer contact after telling NCA to stop.