You’re sitting at dinner, your phone buzzes, and a voice—either live or recorded—identifies herself as Patty Lopez from USCB America. If you've been on the receiving end of this, you're definitely not alone. It’s a scenario playing out across thousands of caller IDs every single day. For some, it’s a minor annoyance. For others, it’s a source of genuine anxiety that leads to frantic Google searches about legal rights and debt validation.
Honestly, the confusion usually starts with the name itself. People often mishear or mistype it as USC America, leading them to wonder if a prestigious university is suddenly chasing them for money. It's not. We’re talking about USCB America, a heavy-hitter in the debt collection industry that has been around for decades. Specifically, they are a primary contractor for some of the largest healthcare systems in the country, including massive entities like Los Angeles County.
Who Exactly is Patty Lopez?
Let’s clear the air: Patty Lopez is a name associated with the automated and manual outreach efforts of USCB America (also known as USCB, Inc.). While there is a real Patty Lopez who has worked in various capacities within the broader Los Angeles County and USC medical ecosystem—specifically a highly respected Nurse Practitioner and Commissioner—the "Patty Lopez" you hear on a collection recording is serving as the "face" of a recovery campaign.
In the world of high-volume debt collection, agencies often use consistent names for their automated messaging to maintain a "personal" touch, even if the system is doing the heavy lifting. If you get a message saying, "This is Patty Lopez with USCB America and this is an attempt to collect a debt," you are hearing a standardized disclosure required by the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA).
It’s a bit of a weird paradox. You have a name that sounds like a neighbor, but the machinery behind it is a corporate giant that manages billions in delinquent accounts.
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The USC Connection: Why Everyone is Confused
The reason USC keeps popping up in these searches isn't just a typo. There is a deep, historical link between USCB America and the University of Southern California medical facilities. For years, USCB America has been the "go-to" agency for the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services.
Since the LAC+USC Medical Center (now known as Los Angeles General Medical Center) is one of the busiest hospitals in the world, a huge chunk of the debt USCB handles originates there. If you had a procedure there five years ago and an insurance claim didn't quite clear, Patty Lopez is the one who eventually calls to settle the score.
Common Reasons for the Call:
- Unpaid Medical Co-pays: Often the smallest amounts that fall through the cracks.
- Insurance Denials: When your provider claims they covered it, but the hospital says they didn't.
- Old Apartment Debt: Some users on platforms like Reddit have reported USCB reaching out regarding years-old property damages or unpaid rent.
- L.A. County Fees: Miscellaneous fees from county-run services.
Is This a Scam or Legitimate?
This is where things get sticky. USCB America is a legitimate company. They aren't a "fly-by-night" operation or a phishing scam looking for your social security number to steal your identity. However, "legitimate" doesn't mean "perfect."
Debt collection agencies are notorious for "zombie debt"—trying to collect on accounts that are past the statute of limitations or have already been settled. Because USCB handles such a high volume of accounts for Los Angeles County, errors happen. You might be getting calls for a debt you don't owe, or for a "Patty Lopez" who lived in your apartment three tenants ago.
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If you’re being hounded, you have to know your rights. Under the TCPA (Telephone Consumer Protection Act), there are very strict rules about how many times they can call you and whether they can use automated dialers to hit your cell phone without prior consent.
What to Do When Patty Lopez Calls
Don't panic. Seriously. The worst thing you can do is ignore it until they file a lawsuit or it tanks your credit score. But the second worst thing you can do is pay immediately without proof.
1. Demand Validation
You have a legal right to a "Validation Notice." Within five days of their first contact, the agency is supposed to send you a written notice showing exactly how much you owe and who the original creditor was. If they don't? They're in hot water.
2. Check the Statute of Limitations
In many states, including California, the statute of limitations for debt is often four years. If the debt is from 2012, they can still ask you to pay, but they generally can't successfully sue you for it. Be careful, though—in some jurisdictions, making a small "good faith" payment can accidentally "restart the clock" on an expired debt.
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3. The "Cease and Desist" Letter
Kinda tired of the daily 8:00 AM wake-up calls? You can send a formal letter telling them to stop contacting you. Once they receive it, they can only contact you to say they are stopping or to notify you of a specific legal action (like a lawsuit).
The Nuance of the Name
It's worth noting that the name Patty Lopez carries weight in other circles. As mentioned earlier, there is a Patricia Lopez who has served as a Commissioner for the Los Angeles City/County Native American Indian Commission. She spent years as an OB/GYN Nurse Practitioner at the LAC/USC Medical Center.
It’s an unfortunate coincidence for her that her name is also synonymous with a debt collection recording. One is a dedicated public servant who has spent decades fighting for healthcare equity for American Indians; the other is a voice on a recording trying to recover a $400 emergency room co-pay. Make sure you know which one you're looking for before you start posting reviews online.
Moving Forward With USCB America
Dealing with debt collectors is basically a game of documentation. If USCB America is calling you, start a log. Note the dates, the times, and the names of anyone you speak with. If they are calling you at work after you told them not to, or if they are using abusive language, they are violating the FDCPA, and you might actually be the one who can sue them.
If the debt is real and you just want it gone, they are often surprisingly open to settlements. Many of these accounts are bought for pennies on the dollar, or the agency is working on a commission. Offering a lump sum of 30% to 50% of the total balance "in exchange for a deletion from your credit report" is a common and effective tactic.
Your Action Plan:
- Pull your credit report immediately via AnnualCreditReport.com to see if USCB has already reported the debt.
- Record the calls (if you're in a one-party consent state) or take detailed notes.
- Never give bank access over the phone. If you settle, do it via a one-time cashier's check or a protected portal.
- Verify the original creditor. If it’s a medical bill from a county hospital, check your old EOBs (Explanation of Benefits) from your insurance provider.
The "Patty Lopez" calls might be frustrating, but they are manageable. By shifting from a defensive mindset to an investigative one, you take the power back from the automated dialers and put it back in your own wallet.