Did you call your creditors when you had your BK case number?

[onthefence]

I am just curious what your experiences have been - did you call your creditors with your bk case number or wait for the calls to stop roughly a week after filing?

Of course we all hate getting the calls, I am just worried that they will call my DH's entire family again looking for me! I would rather avoid that if possible, so I am thinking of calling. Any thoughts or insights?

Thanks in advance.

[nfreeze]

The calls will stop rather quickly. Mine seemed to stop within days of filing. Oh what a relief! The ones who did call I answered the phone and gave them my case number and they have not called back. Good luck!

[kartoons19]

Actually once I retained my attorney, I gave the creditors her contact info and the calls stopped. I filed a month later.

I have head it takes about a week before creditors are notified after filing. If you're concerned about them calling your DH's family, then I would just call them. That should put a halt to the calls.

[tcreegan]

Hi onthefence,

For us, about 90% stopped calls within days of filing. There were a couple that called and we gave them the case # and they stopped.
I think that in these days of electronic notification, companies get the info pretty quick. One problem we had was one division of the company had the BK notice but the call came from another division.

Of course, once they are notified of the BK, document any attempts to get $$ from you. Run these by your attorney, you could collect damages for the violation of the automatic stay.

I hope your DH family never gets another creditor call!

Tom in Colo

[Notes4fr]

What I did...

I started answering my phone again. I would pick up on the first ring and HOPE it was one of the creditors so I could give them my lawyer's info (as soon as retained, but had not filed yet). It was wonderful, and they couldn't get off the phone fast enough!

I would say within two days my phone stopped ringing from creditors (their lovely system of "war dialing" of calling home phone/work phone/cell phone each hour).

I don't miss those days!

[Fresh]

I never spoke to one creditor. I turned off the telephone ringer. My Caller ID logged all the calls, but after I filed, all the calls were gone within 2 days.

[Bell30656]

The collectors had been such jerks that I felt obligated to return the favor. When any collection agent called me after I had retained the attorney I simply told them; "I have retained the law firm of Dewy, Cheatum and Howe to represent me on this matter. In this recorded conversation, I have informed you that I am represented by an attorney. Please be sure and check Georgia Code and Federal Laws before making any further calls to me as you now are aware that I am represented." Some would ask if I was filing bankruptcy or suing them. I simply told them that would be a matter their consul could take up with my attorney. If they asked for the attorney's contact info, I simply told them that Dewey, Cheatum and Howe were members of the Georgia Bar Association and their contact information was easily obtainable from the internet. I then bid them a good day and hung up.

I had several that called for a couple of days and a couple that called for a long time.

[DebtHater]

My attorney would not take any calls until I filed. With that said, I did not receive one phone call after I filed, nor did I notify any of the creditors.

[onthefence]

Thanks all for taking the time to post - makes me feel so much better! My MIL is in her 80's and freaked out last time she received calls. I am looking forward to being able to hear the phone ring and not have an immediate feeling of dread!

[angles]

The collectors had been such jerks that I felt obligated to return the favor. When any collection agent called me after I had retained the attorney I simply told them; "I have retained the law firm of Dewy, Cheatum and Howe to represent me on this matter. In this recorded conversation, I have informed you that I am represented by an attorney. Please be sure and check Georgia Code and Federal Laws before making any further calls to me as you now are aware that I am represented." Some would ask if I was filing bankruptcy or suing them. I simply told them that would be a matter their consul could take up with my attorney. If they asked for the attorney's contact info, I simply told them that Dewey, Cheatum and Howe were members of the Georgia Bar Association and their contact information was easily obtainable from the internet. I then bid them a good day and hung up.

I had several that called for a couple of days and a couple that called for a long time.

I completely agree with this approach. Make them do the work.

[Freddy03]

Well I haven't actually retained the lawyer yet. Check and paperwork will go in the mail tomorrow!! But last month I started getting phone calls again so I would just answer and tell them I am filing BK. I haven't received one call since.

My attorney said once I pay the retainer fee I could give out his name and number to creditors.

[JacaG]

We started answering the phone once we retained our attorney....gave them the name and number of the attorney and told them we are filing BK, the calls stopped within a couple of days. We retained our attny May 2010 and just filed 9/10/10.

[casablanca]

I decided to be proactive and called every single creditor with our case number and attorney contact information. Only one was a jerk about it, I even had several who said how sorry they were that we were in this situation, which I'm sure is true, since they won't be getting any more money out of me!