I thought I would ignore the calls..

[geye]

I really thought I'd just ignore the calls. But Barclays has been calling about 15 times per day!!! Every half an hour all morning..then it starts back up about 4 pm for a few hours.

I can understand...after all I AM now 8 days past my first-ever missed payment. They did give me the courtesy of waiting until 8 hours past my first missed payment to start up.

So, I answered the phone. She told me I needed to make a payment right then and there. Not really sure what to say (attorney's only direction was never to say that we were going to pay) so I said sorry, can't do that. And I hung up.

My heart was POUNDING. You'd think I'd robbed a bank or murdered a little ole' lady.

I have just found the motivation to get to work on this pile of papers. With the kids home and us not telling them, I guess I'll be up late at night to do it. If I can get them in by the end of the month, we should be filed early August at the latest. That seems so far away.

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Ok, vent over.

[ssmdem]

Turn the ringer off. We have a "do not disturb" function on our answering machine -- the phone won't ring, outgoing message won't play, and the message being left is silent. You will only hear it when you play back the messages. Honestly though - not one place has left a message left. They call constantly but hang up on the machine.

[kartoons19]

Barclay started calling me after being only 3 days late. I had never been late before with any payment. So as Ssmdem suggested, just turn the ringer off. I do that and the calls aren't a big problem. Most don't leave a voice mail. I did try to explain my situation to them (before I retained an attorney) and they just kept asking when I could pay my bill. I said I didn't know and they said the calls would continue. So it really is a waste of time and energy to talk to them until you retain an attorney. I have given my creditors my attorney's contact info and the calls have decreased substantially.

It has been over 3 months since that first late payment and I will be filing in a few weeks, so it hasn't been too bad. So hang in there, August will be here before you know it.

[wonderingrov]

I had caller id added to my phone when I knew I was going to start having missed payments. Even though they call several times a day, there has been (at most) one or two messages a day - most of those being computer generated messages. I knew it was going to be a while between the time I stopped paying and when I retained a bk lawyer, so I figured it would be best just to 'wait them out.'

[Bell30656]

If you use the stick your head in the sand approach and hope they will go away, you will quickly find that they won't. They will call every 15 minutes, call your work, your neighbors, your relatives, etc.

Keep in mind you have something they want. You are in control. Answer the phone, verify that you are the correct party then tell them that you refuse to discuss financial matters over the telephone. Bid them a good day and hang up.

Let them threaten anything they want. Let them tell you that you will not discuss it. You are the party in control. Once you answer the phone and verify that you are the party the seek you will find that usual stops the calls until at least the next day.

Never give them ANY information. Don't verify where you work, don't tell them you will be filing. Just refuse to discuss it. I had one collector that called me at 8:05 each morning. We talked about the Braves, the weather and politics but whenever she mentioned the debt I was clear. I would not discuss it over the phone. She and I had a great rapport before long.

Only three lawsuits were filed against me in the year prior to filing and none made it to court.

[nickifan]

If you use the stick your head in the sand approach and hope they will go away, you will quickly find that they won't. They will call every 15 minutes, call your work, your neighbors, your relatives, etc.

Keep in mind you have something they want. You are in control. Answer the phone, verify that you are the correct party then tell them that you refuse to discuss financial matters over the telephone. Bid them a good day and hang up.

Let them threaten anything they want. Let them tell you that you will not discuss it. You are the party in control. Once you answer the phone and verify that you are the party the seek you will find that usual stops the calls until at least the next day.

Never give them ANY information. Don't verify where you work, don't tell them you will be filing. Just refuse to discuss it. I had one collector that called me at 8:05 each morning. We talked about the Braves, the weather and politics but whenever she mentioned the debt I was clear. I would not discuss it over the phone. She and I had a great rapport before long.

Only three lawsuits were filed against me in the year prior to filing and none made it to court.

Yes, the phone is ringing every 10 to 15 minutes at this point -- I am just about six months late with the longest-term non-paid creditor, and late on everybody else.
I talked to everyone the first month or so ... I kept a chart of who and when...somepeople I spoke to at least six times. Now I speak to no one...and yes, THANK GOD FOR CALLER ID. Sometimes I do turn off the ringer too and just check for voicemails...but of course that doesn't always work if you really do need to hear from someone.
Three cards have gone to collections...I haven't even had the energy to write them and say stop calling. I have selected the attorney I want to use but of course coming up with the full retainer is the trick...I have the $500 initial retainer sitting here but I'm so afraid to actually DO IT and then not have rent money next month. I've had two temporary jobs and the current one (I'm a census taker, god help me -- it's been the worst job ever) will be over this week.
Bell...if you don't mind saying, who are the three creditors who did sue? That is my biggest worry at this point, that I will get a lawsuit and then HAVE to file quickly.

The other thing that has been interesting is the settlement offers...I didn't ask, they just arrive in the mail. Maybe they know what I have in mind?? They know I don't own a house anymore and I live in Texas so they can't garnish wages...(when I have them again....) so they probably are assuming that I'm going to BK, you think?

P.S. As far as I know they have not contacted any relatives or neighbors...at least no one has told me about it if they have!
As I say...I confirmed to all in the beginning that I was the right person, that was my account, etc. But it's true...all they ever want to know is WHEN ARE YOU PAYING???

[Bell30656]

The three lawsuits were: a JDB called NEMDEGELT for Ugly Duckling Motors and Bank of America; and a local finance company called World Finance. I had not made a payment on either the car or the credit card in several years. The local loan was about eight months overdue.

Just remember on each phone call you are in control. You at any time have the power to end the conversation by simply hanging up.

Texas, what a wonderful state to be a debtor in.

[keptdigging]

I found I needed to unplug the phone. Fortunately only one creditor ever found my cell #. Unfortunately they started calling my mother. But at least she knew what was going on. And like a trooper she simply told them that I wasn't at that number. I am also fortunate in that I'm self employed so there's no work to harass me at.

Of all things that I was unprepared for, the effect on my emotions of hearing that phone ring was the worst.

[Mi Bankruptcy]

As long as you retained your attorney you are golden. You answer the phone and when they ask you to pay you tell them your attorney can answer that question and you give them the attorneys name and number. Any question they ask after that you reply with

my attorney can answer that question. I was never late when I filed and I answered every call and once they took my attorney information down they never called back again. I started in July and didn't file until NOV

[dumpinmydebt]

We have our phone on silent. But I do have the answering machine on. I find it humorous that some of these collectors will sit and say "hello?" on the answering machine for ten minutes thinking they are talking to me despite the fact that a computer voice said to "leave a message after the beep." It happens every day and it's the same dude.

The important people have my cell. The collectors have my home phone.

[anime-chicka]

Yeah, Barclays was probably one of my consistent callers, calling every half hour from 8am until about 7pm, every day. I changed my contact number on my account before I stopped paying to my cell phone, then put my cell on vibrate.

They always called from an unknown number and I don't answer those. Ever. (my personal policy).

Only once did they call my work and I told them that no personal calls were allowed and if they called back I could get fired (not so). It worked and they started blowing up my cell again.

[Bell30656]

After I retained the attorney I let collection agents start their script only to interrupt them with a surprised tone, "Oh wait, I've retained an attorney to handle this matter for me. The firm of Dewey, Cheatem and Howe can answer your further questions."

That got them to start questioning like crazy. Have you filed a suit? Why should we call the lawyer, etc. I gave no info not even the lawyers phone number. I simply told them that the lawyer was a member of the Georgia Bar and in this recorded conversation I have informed you that I'm represented. Feel free to look them up and call them."

Was I recording? Heck no, I was on a cell in Atlanta traffic half the time. Isn't Bluetooth wonderful?

[wow]

The phone calls were very harassing but there isn't much to really complain about as it is their job. Once the paper work hit the courts it was such a relief that the quietness was almost deafening. I chose NOT to answer any calls ,I really had nothing to offer.

They would start like clock work at 8 am till 9 pm Monday thru Sunday and holidays. What I would do is just unplug the phone and or have the answering machine pick up in 3 rings. Thank goodness for caller ID.

They did follow thru with calling next of kin or non relative not living with you,that can be a bit embarrassing.

Back to the next of kin or nearest relative or non relative not living with you request I found that one CC company Capitol One searches their database and if anyone has used YOU as contact that individual or individuals will get calls as this happened to me.

This individual I would HAVE NEVER used but apparently they used me and received phone calls.

[offthewall]

This is my first post here....I am of course interested in the collections thread at this time because I will be missing my first payment to all CC's this month as I prepare for filing at some future date. Retained an attorney by cleaning out the rest of my old IRA.

I am worried that my phone info is so old....I have moved a couple of times since disconnecting my old home phone number 2 years ago...and use only a cell at this point. I do not think any CC's have my cell, but probably the old number....which most likely belongs to someone else at this point. Will that person now get harassed by calls all the time? Sure the collectors will think the person is lying when they say they are not me!

Thanks to all here for sharing....I have been reading and reading...what a HUGE help emotionally to come here and have company and help!!!

[ssmdem]

This is my first post here....I am of course interested in the collections thread at this time because I will be missing my first payment to all CC's this month as I prepare for filing at some future date. Retained an attorney by cleaning out the rest of my old IRA.

I am worried that my phone info is so old....I have moved a couple of times since disconnecting my old home phone number 2 years ago...and use only a cell at this point. I do not think any CC's have my cell, but probably the old number....which most likely belongs to someone else at this point. Will that person now get harassed by calls all the time? Sure the collectors will think the person is lying when they say they are not me!

Thanks to all here for sharing....I have been reading and reading...what a HUGE help emotionally to come here and have company and help!!!

Honestly - probably so. When we first got our home phone, I got calls DAILY for about two weeks. I typically ignore calls unless I know who it is, but finally answered one day and spoke to a very snippy little gal. I told her she had the wrong individual. She said - "Well, the address matches, so I know you're lying." I said, "Oh really, and what address would that be?" Of course, she had the wrong address and I told her she needed to do a better job of researching before she accused someone of lying, asked for her supervisor, who apologized, and I never received another call. Of course - now here I am in the same situation ten years later! :o((