Bill collectors

[FireDancer]

Bill collections is governed by the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). The only concrete restriction on calls is the time of day they can call. There is no set amount of times they can call. This is the federal legislation on this matter.

Any state can also enact their own legislation provided it is no less protective to the consumer than the FDCPA. Some states do have limits on how often you can talk to someone (some once per day some once per month).

The best way to keep them from calling is to pay your bills. When you agree a service for a fee you should always pay the fee if the service was rendered. To not do so in my opinion is stealing.

 

[momrek06]

The best way to keep them from calling is to pay your bills.

What is the best way to keep them from calling when they have the WRONG number? OR actually, they have the RIGHT number but the party they are trying to reach no longer has that number??

 

[C.Ann]

Regardless of whether this is the original loan company or a debt collection agency (which rarely follow the rules), you really need to answer the phone and talk to these people.. If you don't, they will call your DH at work, call your relatives, call your neighbors, and anyone else they can think of because they can't "contact" you.. And don't for one minute think that they can't find the telephone numbers of the people I have mentioned.. In this wonderful age of computers, all they need is your name and address.. If I had that info, I could do the same..

Answer the phone and tell them when they're going to get their money - or suffer the humiliation of everyone and their brother knowing all of your business..

 

[FireDancer]

What is the best way to keep them from calling when they have the WRONG number? OR actually, they have the RIGHT number but the party they are trying to reach no longer has that number??

I would ask for their address and send them a registered letter explaining that you are not the debtor and you would like the calls to stop. Once they knowingly continue to call an incorrect number they can be civilly liable for the harassment.

They probably think you are the debtor and are just lying about the situation. Someone who isn't paying their legitimate obligations is capable of lying just as they are capable of reneging on their promise to repay.

 

[Hoodie]

What is the best way to keep them from calling when they have the WRONG number? OR actually, they have the RIGHT number but the party they are trying to reach no longer has that number??

We have the same problem. We've had the same number for 18 months now and we still get calls for the deadbeat who had it before.

We get calls from the school telling us her son didn't show up. We get calls from her doctor. And LOTS of calls from lawyers, collection agencies, etc.

We return messages and tell them she hasn't had the number for quite some time. We'll tell the collectors that it's not her number - unfortunately they would keep calling as they don't believe that she's not there or that we don't know her. Some places remove us from their call list immediately, some don't. If they call back we ask to speak to a supervisor and tell them that we don't know her and trust us - if we did we'd hand her over! If they call again we ask for a supervisor, explain we hav asked many times for them to stop calling and the next time our lawyer will return the call. That seems to end it. Believe it or not, the school was the hardest to convince.

We had finally had about 6 months with nothing and then got a call from an employment agency wanting to know if she was interested in an interview. We told them we get lots of calls from creditors but she hasn't had this number in quite some time. They told us that she gave them our number 2 weeks ago.

So now we know why we keep getting phone calls.

 

[momrek06]

To the OP, I did not mean to hi-jack your thread.....

I would ask for their address and send them a registered letter explaining that you are not the debtor and you would like the calls to stop. Once they knowingly continue to call an incorrect number they can be civilly liable for the harassment.


They probably think you are the debtor and are just lying about the situation. Someone who isn't paying their legitimate obligations is capable of lying just as they are capable of reneging on their promise to repay.

Ohhh...really because when we are not home they leave a lengthy message AND it is all automated. "Please call the following number immediately, we are trying to collect an outstanding debt"...blah, blah, blah.

And you are correct, as I feel the same way when I tell them "I am NOT Jane Doe"...I don't think they believe me.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

People who think that all bill collectors can be placated by making payment arrangements are kidding themselves. I learned how nasty some of these people can be in my early 20s. I have no respect for anyone that calls people who are down on their luck and harrasses them on a daily (or hourly) basis. You tell them what you can do and if it isn't good enough, they call back, and they call back, and they call back. None of us would tolerate that...

 

[FireDancer]

Ohhh...really because when we are not home they leave a lengthy message AND it is all automated. "Please call the following number immediately, we are trying to collect an outstanding debt"...blah, blah, blah.

Huh, this is kind of dangerous. Many states require you to confirm you are talking to the debtor before disclosing why you are calling. If CA is one of them that means you can not leave a message that indicates you are collecting a debt with any electronic device. The automated dialing systems can be programmed to act differently depending on the state they are calling so maybe CA isn't one of them. Even if they have live operators many times the automated dialers will still dial and confirm the answer and they tell you to hold for an operator.

Inbound calls almost always route to someone. If you can't get them to stop ask to talk to their compliance department or compliance officer. You can usually get them to stop harassing calls, especially if you are actually not the debtor. They will probably ask for a form that is signed and notarized that you are not the debtor and the phone number no longer has any legitimate connection to the debtor.

Good luck.

 

[momrek06]

Inbound calls almost always route to someone. If you can't get them to stop ask to talk to their compliance department or compliance officer. You can usually get them to stop harassing calls, especially if you are actually not the debtor. They will probably ask for a form that is signed and notarized that you are not the debtor and the phone number no longer has any legitimate connection to the debtor.

Good luck.

Thanks, great advice!

 

[Scurvy]

No problem. It's dishonorable behavior and I'm more than happy to judge it. I'm sleeping fine tonight on this one...

There is no possible legitimate explantion for "I borrowed money, couldn't pay it back. So then I decided to villify, blame, and harass the collectors instead of being an adult and working out a repayment plan."

To the OP, I hope you can get the situation sorted out soon.

You are absolutely right. I am not referring to the people who are making every effort to pay what they owe and are working out payment plans (so this is not aimed at the OP who I assume is doing just that), but those who borrow money and then try to get out of paying it back should be ashamed of themselves. Collectors should be calling them constantly until they pay what they owe. I don't understand why there isn't more of a stigma surrounding those who borrow money and refuse to repay it. The people who do that are the ones who should have trouble sleeping at night.

 

[happygirl]

OP Here, I want to think everyone for there words of wisdoms. The place I have my loan through Sun Loans, doesn't allow for payment arrangments. You have to pay the whole monthly payment at one time. There is no grace period. Which is fine I knew that when I signed the loan payments. I know that I owe them money and it has to be paid back. I just which they would stop calling me. I every week give them money, However, since it not the full payment they don't like that. I'm sorry that is all I can do for now.

I'm not looking for a way to get out of paying them or a excuse or how it's there fault. I just wish they wouldn't call all the time.

 

[bumbershoot]

"However, since it not the full payment they don't like that"


I dunno, if they are taking those weekly payments, seems they like it OK. Hopefully you can get back to paying the monthly payment soon.


Until then, just pretend like you are your lawyer instead of you (not that you lie to them, but this is something in your own head), and just stay calm and collected, knowing their nonsense is just words. You are paying them weekly when you know they want it monthly, their words can't change your checking account, so there is NO reason to get upset either outwardly or inwardly. Just put a mental barrier, don't get upset.

And I'll tell you...the thing that's worse than someone calling often is when they STOP calling or writing. I finally got hubby to agree to pay some stuff in the past (legitimate medical bills but with emotional issues all around it that made it HARD on us to deal with AND dealing with providers who actually never sent a bill that got to us in the first place, so we were repeatedly being contacted by this one agency as the FIRST contact, FIRST notice that we owed someone something, it was SO frustrating to them track down the provider to find out if it was real or not). He wanted to call, but back when we were paying them monthly they got him into a tizzy every single time. So this time I called, and even though the lady tried to get snippy with me (while I was actively paying her IN FULL! they just can't help it, I guess!), and I pretended, in my head, that I was my own lawyer instead of me, and it was all done.

So just don't let them upset you. The last bill we received from the place I just mentioned was May of '08. If you're already in a mental place of hating that bill and not wanting to pay it, not being reminded of it really hurts the situation. (I'm so glad hubby's mindset finally let us pay that...)


Good luck, I hope you can get back on track with them ASAP!



FireDancer, what the OP is saying is that she's paying it, but for whatever reason it's not exactly as they needed, so they are calling her. She's paying weekly not monthly (I assume she's behind, not ahead), but she's paying...and they keep calling b/c it's not enough for them.


DisneyBamaFan, I get the urge, I do I do. And I don't think you're saying the OP should try to NOT pay, to get out of the debt...it's just the method that you object to. I get that. Of course, that method can be effective...in my 20s after grad school while making almost no money I lost all my credit cards (that I'd had since 17), and the Discover people were just awful and mean and made me cry every time, but ultimately it "worked" b/c I finally called my dad (who had no obligation to help) and my dad paid them off. So it "works" on some people...

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

DisneyBamaFan, I get the urge, I do I do. And I don't think you're saying the OP should try to NOT pay, to get out of the debt...it's just the method that you object to. I get that. Of course, that method can be effective...in my 20s after grad school while making almost no money I lost all my credit cards (that I'd had since 17), and the Discover people were just awful and mean and made me cry every time, but ultimately it "worked" b/c I finally called my dad (who had no obligation to help) and my dad paid them off. So it "works" on some people...

Agreed - they do it because it works, but when they know that a person is doing everything that they can and they torture them in the hopes of getting more, they are not worthy of respect.

I was told to call my parents and ask them to pay my bill (I co-signed on a car loan for a friend while in the Army who, years later, defaulted. They couldn't find her, so they came after me). I never - not even once - tried to get out of paying the balance, but it was over $5k, and I was 22. They wanted it all - not payments. They hounded me for two years until they were paid in full. Calls every day - even on days in which I had already made a payment - they wanted more.

People can defend this scum if they like, but I feel nothing but disdain for their ilk.

Now, I need a beer...

 

[MrsPete]

So, you sign for a loan. Take their money. And when you don't pay it back within the terms you agreed upon, they are the bad guys????

Not to be nasty, but I was thinking the same thing. It's illegal NOT to pay back money that you owe. I'm sure there are reasons -- there always are -- but the real point is that you do owe the money, and you're shifting the blame here to someone else.

Which is why I said that if I have to explain it... Those who don't get it never will. No amount of explaining will help. So just keep judging. You do it well...

It's passive-aggressive behavior, plain and simple. It's doing something petty to "stick it to" a person whom you perceive has injured you. It's a way of making yourself feel better about a situation which you feel you cannot win.

 

[karibritt01]

I believe they can call you 7 days a week - from 7 a.m. until 10 p.m.

That varies state to state. In NC, they can only call from 8am-9pm.

quit ignoring them, and let them know that you are trying to pay it. if you are not even trying to pay it or are ignoring them, then they should hound you and hound you.

Bill collectors are relentless, even when not being ignored. We had Sprint for our cells for almost 8 years, and never missed a payment. One month DH misplaced their bill, and so did not have it in front of him when paying bills, causing the payment to be skipped. We started getting calls at about 2 1/2 weeks past due, and realized what had happened. But by that point, the money was gone, and it would need to wait 8 days until the next paycheck came in. They called him at work 2-3 times a day, as well as me at home 2-3 times a day. It was ridiculous that they harass a long time customer with our track record over a $120ish bill. We were so upset we ended up changing cell providers before the next bill cycle could kick in.


OP... just keep chugging along at it and don't let it upset you. But I would tell them that they could not contact you at work. And then I would turn off my answering machine so I wouldn't have to hear the calls. I also developed the habit of hanging up on them the minute they got nasty. If they didn't feel the need to be respectful, then neither did I.

 

[happygirl]

Not to be nasty, but I was thinking the same thing. It's illegal NOT to pay back money that you owe. I'm sure there are reasons -- there always are -- but the real point is that you do owe the money, and you're shifting the blame here to someone else. It's passive-aggressive behavior, plain and simple. It's doing something petty to "stick it to" a person whom you perceive has injured you. It's a way of making yourself feel better about a situation which you feel you cannot win.

Did you read my post three or so post up. If not go back and read it. I'm not trying to get out of paying it. In fact I'm paying it.

 

[C.Ann]

Did you read my post three or so post up. If not go back and read it. I'm not trying to get out of paying it. In fact I'm paying it.

That's good..

The problem is that you're not paying the agreed upon amount - at the agreed upon time - and thus the annoying phone calls.. Please consider answering the phone.. You really don't want to be humiliated by them calling everyone and their brother because they can't "contact" you.. Them leaving messages on your answering machine does not constitute "contact" and they're going to start calling other people instead..

 

[lsyorke]

You really don't want to be humiliated by them calling everyone and their brother because they can't "contact" you.. Them leaving messages on your answering machine does not constitute "contact" and they're going to start calling other people instead

Wow, this is SO true! I was getting calls for my ex husband...who I haven't seen or heard from for 30 years! They called me, my stepdaughter and my stepson...no clue how they made that connection, but they did.

After the 11th call DH told them to google him...he found him in 10 seconds on a google search. The calls stopped after that.

 

[Val]

We have a related problem...dear MIL has advanced alzheimers. We placed her in a dementia center 2 years ago, after discovering the vast amounts of money she was spending. We THOUGHT we found and paid all outstanding bills...but we have 1 or 2 that we can't 'track down". We get phone calls from the bill collectors several times a day- but they won't talk to us or give us an address to write to because we are NOT MIL....they won't give us the amount, what the bill is for, or anything. They state they MUST talk to her...but she can't talk! How they got our phone number perplexes us, and they argue that she lives at our address (she NEVER did). Now they are calling us at work....we'd PAY the #$@# bill if they would just give us the information (which we tell them). According to MIL's attorney, we are in legal limbo until someone at the collection agency gives in and gives us an address or info. Until then it is 5-6 phone calls A DAY and this has been going on for MONTHS.

Any ideas for ending this?

 

[BelleWDW]

OP Here,


The place I have my loan through Sun Loans, doesn't allow for payment arrangments. You have to pay the whole monthly payment at one time. There is no grace period. Which is fine I knew that when I signed the loan payments. I know that I owe them money and it has to be paid back.

I just which they would stop calling me.

I every week give them money,

However, since it not the full payment they don't like that. I'm sorry that is all I can do for now.

.

I can see why the loan place is upset. There is a date each month when the payment is due.

Same thing if any of us would pay our mortgage, car payment or other monthly bill is dribs and drabs. The mortgage holder would be very upset.