How TO and NOT TO Answer Questions

[BKINAZ]

It is my understanding that it is best to answer the collection calls from the Credit Card companies. Chase whom we owe $52k is the most relentless as they call daily several times and on weekends & night...I should put them in my fav 5.

1. Should we answer the calls? One in every 10 from the same company?

2. What should be said to them? "I can't make the payment now, but I am hoping for some income soon?". "I have nothing...but will pay when I can?" I am filing for bankruptcy?

3. Do you owe them ANY personal information? "Where does your wife work? How much do yo make a month?". Tell them none of their business? Thanks for calling?

4. Should you ever tell them you are filing for bankruptcy soon?

[BigJohn]

In the 80's I got sick and we answered every call. They stressed us out to no end. We had a business and home. We finally got the creditors off our backs when refinanced our home.

In the 90's I got injured and then divorced. I didn not answer the phone and nothing happened. I had an apartment and did not work.

In 2008 and part of 2009, I did not answer the phone for about 9 - 10 months. One creditor sued us and then another decided to sue. We filed BK13. We have a home and business.


Everybody has different circumstances, etc. so it is hard to say what to do or not to do.

[BKINAZ]

I didn't know if answer the phone...questions...gave them reason to speed up the process or slow down?

"We are probably going to file bk"...do they go in attack mode (suit or whatever) or say screw it?

[catleg]

I tried talking at first, in the beginning it buys you a week-10 days between calls, later in the process more like 3 days. With upwards of 30 cards it just becomes too much of a time waster. I actually do work from home and so does my wife so we really don't have time to waste on them. So I recently added Verizon call intercept and can block 25 numbers which has been working pretty well for me.

[AngelinaCatHub]

Why self abuse? I only answered calls when I did not recognize the numbers. My stress level was none more than normal once I made the decision I had to bk. I had my lawyer almost two years before filing. I refered all calls to her with her phone number, if I got caught answering the phone at all. It worked quite well.

Remember, you are always being recorded and if you say anything afirmative, it could be used in some way, against you. My 2 cents. 'Hub

[BKINAZ]

Good answers. (thanks)

BIGBOY great answers thank you! If we file and I believe we will we will be shooting for the second half off of the year...probably later in the year. With that said I would like to delay them from taking action so I don't know if more is better, some to keep them interested in still talking or ignoring them?

CATHUB...two years? Wow. I want to be like you! I have some issues I want to clear up and I didn't know if a lawyer too far in advance could be a bad thing?