Don't know why the phone calls have almost stopped.

[Keebler]

Of more than a dozen creditors, I'm more than 90 days past-due on some and 60 day on all of the others.

Contrary to the advice from everyone here, I've been answering the telephone and talking to creditors whenever I'm in the mood. I'm sure they've all called ten times for every one time I've answered, but I haven't been shy about talking to them and answering thier questions. So far they've all been pretty friendly with me and I think they can see that I'm being sincere without being a push-over.

I've been pretty strict about telling them the truth and to not say anything they don't already know. The only fact they didn't have, and I saw no harm in disclosing, was how we've fallen behind due to unexpected medical expenses.

Well, I'm home today with the answering machine off and I'm in the mood to argue with any of them that call -- but nobody is calling!

I wonder why...

[familyof7]

Probally about to go to an outside collection agency or in route and that can be an automated thing that takes 1 day or it could take a few weeks but if it goes to an outside agency you will find out how ugly they really are usually in house collections are very nice but the outside collections are tricksters and are evil scum artist. So if you want to argue they will do that.

[southernbelle]

Oddly enough, I was thinking the same thing. The creditors were calling 2-3 times a day and I would just check caller ID and let it go to voicemail, but no one has called in about a week. It does seem odd that the calls stopped around the same time. Makes me wonder what dirty tricks they are plotting next.

[jp2861]

I've noticed the exact same thing. My timeline is really close to yours too. Like you, I've been talking to them as they call. I don't see the point in ignoring something that is going to happen anyway. Today, I only got 1 call, down from close to 20a day, last month. The best I can figure is that they get paid a commission on getting a payment out of folks, and after a certain number of days/weeks or months, they probably realize that the payment isn't coming, and focus on more current folks. If they do get mean and nasty, just listen to them, and when they're finished with their script, just thank them for the information and say goodbye.

[dscurlock]

I've noticed the exact same thing. My timeline is really close to yours too. Like you, I've been talking to them as they call. I don't see the point in ignoring something that is going to happen anyway. Today, I only got 1 call, down from close to 20a day, last month. The best I can figure is that they get paid a commission on getting a payment out of folks, and after a certain number of days/weeks or months, they probably realize that the payment isn't coming, and focus on more current folks. If they do get mean and nasty, just listen to them, and when they're finished with their script, just thank them for the information and say goodbye.

I had a collection person call me last week, they would not answer any of my questions, they would not tell me who they were or tell me what the collection was for, all they wanted was for me to tell them my checking account number so they could get paid...

okkkieeee, bye, bye now...have a good one...

[fabala]

I'm finding the same thing. I'm about 90 days past due, hoping to have enough money saved to pay the attorney this month or early November. BOA and Citi have stopped calling altogether. Chase called twice today - sometimes more, sometimes not at all. The only time I've talked to any of them is at work, to ask them to stop calling me at work (which they all did). I'm definitely filing BK and I don't have anything to say to any of them that will make a difference, so I don't see any reason to talk to them. One new trick Chase has started - they wait until my voice mail picks up then hang up. No message, just a hang up, so I have to retrieve the message to see whether they actually said anything or not. That just started the past week.

[treehugger1]

If you have caller ID or cell phone (built in caller ID), you can add the following to your greeting. "Hi, you reached ####### (you can include your name, if you like). I am currently unavailable. Please leave a message. This number does not receive incoming calls ID'ed as unknown or private." If they do call and a number is picked up by your caller ID, you can return the calls at your leisure.

I am only receiving about 4 -5 "unknown" calls per day. I'm slowly getting into 30 days - 90 days late. I expected many more calls. I assume that eventually, the CA's will be sent the accounts that I cannot pay or where creditors are unwilling to work with me. Not much I can do in these cases.

Note that this is also "voting season" for many state and local issues. I receive a lot of calls that are from the democratic party. I only know this as occasionally I do answer an unknown call.

I long ago went to cell phone only. Next month, I intend to add a second phone and number to my current cell phone account. I'll share the new number with close friends and relatives and keep the old number for the creditors and collectors.

Once you know who is calling and their address, you can send them a limited cease and desist letter, informing them they are to only write you via US mail. Once collection agencies or creditors know you are somewhat savvy as to your rights, they will generally not try any back-door means to solicit info. In your cease and desist letter, it is not a bad idea to inform them that you know your rights and will not hesitate to consider taking legal action should they violate your state or FDCPA laws. You can even go to any website that quotes the FDCPA communication/collection laws and include the citation in the letter.

[Keebler]

If you have caller ID or cell phone (built in caller ID), you can add the following to your greeting. "Hi, you reached ####### (you can include your name, if you like). I am currently unavailable. Please leave a message. This number does not receive incoming calls ID'ed as unknown or private." If they do call and a number is picked up by your caller ID, you can return the calls at your leisure.

I am only receiving about 4 -5 "unknown" calls per day. I'm slowly getting into 30 days - 90 days late. I expected many more calls. I assume that eventually, the CA's will be sent the accounts that I cannot pay or where creditors are unwilling to work with me. Not much I can do in these cases.

Note that this is also "voting season" for many state and local issues. I receive a lot of calls that are from the democratic party. I only know this as occasionally I do answer an unknown call.

I long ago went to cell phone only. Next month, I intend to add a second phone and number to my current cell phone account. I'll share the new number with close friends and relatives and keep the old number for the creditors and collectors.

Once you know who is calling and their address, you can send them a limited cease and desist letter, informing them they are to only write you via US mail. Once collection agencies or creditors know you are somewhat savvy as to your rights, they will generally not try any back-door means to solicit info. In your cease and desist letter, it is not a bad idea to inform them that you know your rights and will not hesitate to consider taking legal action should they violate your state or FDCPA laws. You can even go to any website that quotes the FDCPA communication/collection laws and include the citation in the letter.

Can you believe my phone bill is just over $25 with tax and everything and I'm too cheap to pay for Caller ID and Call Waiting and all of that stuff.

My long distance is through a calling card that's three point something cents per minute.

I setup a Internet telephone that costs $35 per year so I can have a local telephone number assigned to it. this is the number I've given out to friends and relatives. Long-distance and local calls through the Internet phone are all 1.9 cents per minute.

[JollyGG]

If you have caller ID or cell phone (built in caller ID), you can add the following to your greeting. "Hi, you reached ####### (you can include your name, if you like). I am currently unavailable. Please leave a message. This number does not receive incoming calls ID'ed as unknown or private." If they do call and a number is picked up by your caller ID, you can return the calls at your leisure.

You can actually get a block on your phone to unknown and private callers. The way it workes is there is a message saying that this number does not exept these call and you may dial 0 to have your number displayed for this call and this call only.]

So all your friends and family with unlisted numbers can get through. However, the automated dialers that a lot of big companies use have no way of dealing with this and cannot get through. Now once you account is over 90 days past due and moves to more specialized collections you may have an individual dialing the number and they will get though no problem. But it would help reduce the number of calls you get from automated dialers.

I have it on my phone and it also greatly reduces the number of telemarketers who call. Plus it annoys my father in law who is a grumpy man and had an unlisted number. Which would be the reason I got it. Though for some reason it doesn't annoy my friends with unlisted numbers.

[WantToBeDebtFre]

You can actually get a block on your phone to unknown and private callers. The way it workes is there is a message saying that this number does not exept these call and you may dial 0 to have your number displayed for this call and this call only.]

So all your friends and family with unlisted numbers can get through. However, the automated dialers that a lot of big companies use have no way of dealing with this and cannot get through. Now once you account is over 90 days past due and moves to more specialized collections you may have an individual dialing the number and they will get though no problem. But it would help reduce the number of calls you get from automated dialers.

I have it on my phone and it also greatly reduces the number of telemarketers who call. Plus it annoys my father in law who is a grumpy man and had an unlisted number. Which would be the reason I got it. Though for some reason it doesn't annoy my friends with unlisted numbers.

I have something like this on my home phone too. It's called privacy manager for like $3 per month, I think. I just wish I could get it for my cell phone...

[leftyf]

I really don't want collectors calling my family or boss to track me down, so I try to always let them know where I'm at. I just don't talk to them but send them to the voicemail. I'm not that concerned about family finding out, but I really don't want my work to know since I am in a position of financial responsibility. I don't handle cash, but I keep the books. Yes, I knew every minute how much debt I was going into and I was very fond of pointing out to my spouse that I worked all day and came home $100.00 deeper in debt every day (there's a song there somewhere...lol)...still trying to balance the budget but have an attorney retained now.

[SinkingFast]

Creditors have a process they go thru.

In the 60-90 days late period, the calls you receive are most likely from regular customer servicing. The Creditor is hoping you'll bring your acct current and continue to pay as agreed.

Around 90-120 days, Creditors move delinquent accts to internal collections. That's when the calls pick up in frequency and intensity. Collectors aren't as nice and friendly. You'll get the high pressure sales push to pay up or else.

Around 6 months lates, onward, Creditors will turn your acct over to an outside collections agency. Some are law firms. Some are sharks. Law firms tend to be business like. Firm. High pressure. Sharks are, well,..... Sharks. Some use illegal scare tactics.

Somewhere in the 9 months to a year time frame, if you have assets and/or are gainfully employed at a job where your wages can be garnished, Creditors will move to sue to obtain a lien against your home and/or cars, and/or garnish your wages if possible.

But,......... Creditors aren't stupid either. They don't throw good money after bad. Creditors will pull your Credit. See if you're paying anyone else. If so, how much. They'll check public records at the Court House to see if you have desireable property worth coming after. Racking up the lates, penalties, interest, and fees on your acct is "funny money" to increase their tax write-off if you file BK.

[Keebler]

Well, the calls haven't stopped but it was an unusually quiet weekend. The one person I did talk to sounded like she was half asleep. Today there have been a few calls but I worked late and I was too busy to talk on the phone.

The truth is that I get a thrill negotiating with car salesmen and pushy people in general so I guess I'm kind of a misfit.

I can't help but wonder what kind of pressure collectors can really exert over the telephone. I know the only real teeth they have is a lawsuit and the telephone calls are only as intimidating as I'm willing to let them be.

I guess it kind of like being insulted -- it only works if you give the person the credit of knowing what they're talking about.

[Bandit]

But,......... Creditors aren't stupid either. They don't throw good money after bad. Creditors will pull your Credit. See if you're paying anyone else. If so, how much. They'll check public records at the Court House to see if you have desireable property worth coming after. Racking up the lates, penalties, interest, and fees on your acct is "funny money" to increase their tax write-off if you file BK.

I noticed on the bottom of one form with my Doctor, he will charge 1% for being late, 1% for each payment missed 1% for every 90 days past due.

So I was like, auto charge it every month to a credit card.

[Bandit]

Probally about to go to an outside collection agency or in route and that can be an automated thing that takes 1 day or it could take a few weeks but if it goes to an outside agency you will find out how ugly they really are usually in house collections are very nice but the outside collections are tricksters and are evil scum artist. So if you want to argue they will do that.

tricky evil scum artist...that about sums it up