Creditor calls

[sobeit]

Wondering how you all deal with creditor calls before filing. I got caught off guard tonight and...ended up swearing at them. Oops.

My situation is perhaps unique in that up until deciding to file, I had never been late on payments. I just went without, and when I cried at work because I had had nothing to eat because I had no food or money...decided it was time to file!

So, I retained my attorney last Friday, plan to file in August. My latest payment to creditors at this point is not quite one month, and they have been calling ferociously. I hadn't answered before today. After retaining my attorney Friday, I emailed every creditor via their website saying "Please contact my attorney at this number for any questions about my account." Most of the calls dropped off, but tonight I answered one for the first time. I told him I had emailed them with my attorney info, and had even recieved a response of "let us know if we can be of further assistance" in this creditor's case. He said they wouldn't know that, being in the collections department. So I said, "Let me give you my attorney's info." He asked if I was filing bankruptcy. I told him I would not discuss my financial situation with him, but would give him my attorney's information. He just kept pressing "are you filing bankruptcy?" over and over, and I didn't give. Perhaps I just should have. But, I wasn't sure what to do. So I said, "Again, I am not going to discuss my situation with you. I have offered my attorney's info. Whether or not you take it, I expect not to hear from you again." He got aggressive and said I would indeed hear from them, and that they would not call my attorney unless I said to him that I was filing bankruptcy. I really hadn't expected this, and he was so rude and aggressive, I ended up using the "f" word and hanging up. That's really not my style.

Anyway, I'm going to stop answering my phone. But...what do you think about this call? Seriously, if someone says "ATTORNEY," you think they'd back off. I felt uncomfortable even saying bankruptcy to them, though I suppose that's naive. Ah well, soon enough I will file, and I'm sure they can't deny you a chapter 7 for using the "f" word.

[ssmdem]

Don't let them get to you. I hung up on one the other day cause she just kept asking the same question (when do you think you will be able to pay?) just reworded. I finally just said, "You know, I've answered that question now about 5 times - no matter how many times you reword it, my answer isn't going to change. Goodbye." CLICK. Haven't heard back from them in about a week now.

As soon as I retain my attorney, I'll be passing on that info as well. We just can't afford the retainer fee yet. Can't wait to get to that point so I can hopefully get them off my back. She told me really to just not answer now - but the more I answer, the less the phone seems to ring - so not a big deal right now.

I don't know that I'm going to say that I'm filing for bankruptcy either until we're less than 30 days from filing. Certainly they can read between the lines though. I'll give them the information once per phone call - "my attorney can discuss my financial situation with you. Thank you. Have a nice day." CLICK


Until you actually file, they can keep calling - nothing you can do about it. Once you've filed though, yep, I'd document it and let your attorney know.

[kartoons19]

I was never late on any debt until four months ago and the calls started right away. I usually kept my ringer off, but when I did answer the calls, I told them I had lost my job and was struggling to keep a roof over my head. They kept asking over and over, when can I pay the balance due? I finally had to say that my crystal ball was broken, so I am not able to see into the future right now! Although they were nice, it was frustrating to have them keep asking the same questions over and over again, so I can understand wanting to tell them to "f off".

After I retained an attorney last month, I gave my creditors' her contact information. They did ask if I was filing BK and I said yes. Then they asked more questions and I said I can't discuss my situation and they would need to speak with my attorney. Since then I haven't received any calls.

[sofargone]

Be careful... When I was not answering my phone they called my sister looking for me. Don't know how they got her number, she lives in another state. I then started hearing horror stories about how they called people's neighbors.
Send them a letter telling them you dispute the debt and not to call you, your work and anyone else regarding this debt until it is validated. That usually stops the calls. I did that for a couple of years. It stopped them until it was sent to another CA.
When I recently hired my BK attorney, He sent out letters to them all saying he was preparing to file chapter 7 for me so do not contact me anymore.

[frogger]

Seriously, if someone says "ATTORNEY," you think they'd back off.

Not really. CA's hear bk and attorney all of the time.

Until you file, expect the phone calls. Talk is cheap.....

[sidhesadie]

Yes, they can call until you actually FILE. People say all the time "I have a lawyer" when they haven't actually retained one. I used to work in a law office and one of the attorneys was a bankruptcy attorney, and we CONSTANTLY got calls from creditors regarding people who simply called for their free consultation, never hired him, never even actually came in the office, and would give his name as their attorney. So the creditors pay no attention to anything other than a filing and the accompanying stay.