Why you should not answer the phone!

[albacore44]

So....even if you haven't filed yet, they stopped calling?

We haven't filed. Have to wait until Sept/Oct for income to drop (we're just above a 7, and also in the middle of a loan mod). We are 4-6 weeks late on all of our CCs. They've started to get REALLY aggressive . We finally have started telling them we are filing BK. They want an attorneys name, but we haven't retained one yet. Today (SUNDAY) a CA for AmEx called my parents HOME OFFICE (a business number) looking for us. I can only imagine who else they have called . DH is going to end up in all kinds of trouble at work if they've been calling there. Seriously. I didn't think this would be happening SO SOON! Multiple calls a day about the same account, and obviuosly they've been looking for us elsewhere. We don't really talk to DHs parents - AND his Dads name is the same as his - so no doubt they've been calling there, too !


Anyways. If I go ahead and retain and attorney and give them that info, will the calls stop? Or at least STOP CALLING random people in search of us? I don't mind talking to them, but GOD we answer every single phone call from them, many times a day, there is no reason in the world they need to be calling MY PARENTS at work!

Wow.....suprised they are getting so desperate so early. Mine have just rolled 60 days past, and I get plenty of calls. somehow some have my cell # and I have answer it and if someone comes on i tell them those people aren't at this # and i'm tired of getting their calls, but here is their home # and please delete this # from your records. That way they will call my home # which is through my VOP phone and it goes direct to voicemail. that way i can decide when to return calls. i have all the big banks except amex. I get lots of mailings from them asking to call and they can help, nothing Nasty except Wells fargo.....jeez I was only 3 weeks late and they sent a nasty letter. i'm sure it'sgoing to get uglier

[optimistic1]

They most likely will stop, because they know you are serious about filing. We have over 10 creditors, and none ever call again, granted, they have been charged off, nonetheless, no calls.

[Bell30656]

Itsjustme, in your case with your husband's job or standing at work at stake, I'd say it's a good idea to answer the telephone. If a debt collector is on the phone confirm you are the correct party and that you are recording the call for compliance with the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and <insert your state here> state law.

Then when they move on to the debt tell them that you are not willing to discuss it at this time, bid them farewell and hang up the phone.

Now that they have actually reached you, they can't make any further "attempt to locate" calls. In my experience, you will then receive a call from the collector the next day. Same procedure even when they try to cut you off mid sentence.

The collectors are trained to keep control of the conversation. They absolutely can not stand it when you control it.

[eddiep]

So....even if you haven't filed yet, they stopped calling?

We haven't filed. Have to wait until Sept/Oct for income to drop (we're just above a 7, and also in the middle of a loan mod). We are 4-6 weeks late on all of our CCs. They've started to get REALLY aggressive . We finally have started telling them we are filing BK. They want an attorneys name, but we haven't retained one yet. Today (SUNDAY) a CA for AmEx called my parents HOME OFFICE (a business number) looking for us. I can only imagine who else they have called . DH is going to end up in all kinds of trouble at work if they've been calling there. Seriously. I didn't think this would be happening SO SOON! Multiple calls a day about the same account, and obviuosly they've been looking for us elsewhere. We don't really talk to DHs parents - AND his Dads name is the same as his - so no doubt they've been calling there, too!

Anyways. If I go ahead and retain and attorney and give them that info, will the calls stop? Or at least STOP CALLING random people in search of us? I don't mind talking to them, but GOD we answer every single phone call from them, many times a day, there is no reason in the world they need to be calling MY PARENTS at work!

Yeah we did not and still don't have a case number. I do have one credit union that is sueing me but I knew he was going to when I gave him the attorney info. He said he was going to continue the collection process until I have a case number. We owe $150k to most of the big ones. Bank of America, Chase, Discover, Citi, Home Depot, Household bank, Universal card and Dell (they are brutal and I only owe them $300). I avoided all calls before I gave the lawyer info. I did have one collectin agency call my brother inlaw & sister inlaw, the cc thought or at least acted like they were talking to me and even told them my balance and minimum payment due.

[ItsJustMe]

We're going to take a retainer over to the attorney tomorrow. We were still 'shopping around', but I guess it's time to make our choice. It just makes me sick that it is happening this quickly. And seriously. Calling my parents at work. We have answered EVERY SINGLE PHONE CALL - and have talked to AmEx just yesterday. And now they call my parents at work. I just don't understand it at all. For a $22K debt (we paid about $15K off that debt last year alone but we've taken a huge income loss). Anyways. I'm just sick over it.

We only have 3 creditors (4 cards - 2 are w/AmEx for $32K total w/AmEx). I will start giving out the lawyers info, and will write up a little something to send them letting them know to contact our lawyer and not to contact us anymore.

[optimistic1]

They are shaming you in to paying for the debt, they did the same thing to me.

[GoingDown]

I saw this article the other day. Our Attorney advised us NOT to answer the phone unless we knew who was calling. DH is gone from Sun am - Fri. pm as he is in OTR Truck Driver. I am disabled and home 98% of the time.

When the phone quits ringing, I lookup the number on the Internet. Yep, CC, OC, JDB. Even had a JDB call me & it showed up as a cell phone number. Dang futher muckers are getting sneaker every day!

I've heard they can trace if you pick up your messages through your telephone company. All of our phones flash when we have a message. After I know it's one of the above calling, I call my answer phone #, punch in my code, punch 1 to pickup messages & immediately hit 3 to delete. Don't know if it works or not.

Haven't been served or recv'd any Certified letters as we quit paying all but 1 credit card last Sept.

Luci

If you get a pay as you go cell phone and pay for it with cash, they can't get your phone number. I have a Net10 pay as you go cell phone that the creditors have never been able to find.

[ItsJustMe]

They are shaming you in to paying for the debt, they did the same thing to me.

Well, what they really are doing is shaming us into fililng sooner than we had planned to (and in all honestly...I know it's not popular around here but we were actually hoping to find a way to settle w/them since we do feel obligated to the debt). Oh well. If they want to play hard ball, I'm done playing LOL.

[GoingDown]

Wow.....suprised they are getting so desperate so early. Mine have just rolled 60 days past, and I get plenty of calls. somehow some have my cell # and I have answer it and if someone comes on i tell them those people aren't at this # and i'm tired of getting their calls, but here is their home # and please delete this # from your records. That way they will call my home # which is through my VOP phone and it goes direct to voicemail. that way i can decide when to return calls. i have all the big banks except amex. I get lots of mailings from them asking to call and they can help, nothing Nasty except Wells fargo.....jeez I was only 3 weeks late and they sent a nasty letter. i'm sure it'sgoing to get uglier

Wells Fargo was the nastiest original creditor after me. They had this extremely rude and obnoxious older woman call me about 8 times a day, and if I hung up on her, she would call right back and start screaming at me over the phone. And she made all sorts of "legal" threats and even said she was going to call the Phoenix Police, etc. She was horrible. But after 6 months of not paying the bills, Wells Fargo charged off the account, and I never heard from her again.

[Worked4Citi]

Once you file BK tell your creditors, and give them your attorney's name and contact information. In some states, by law they are no longer at will to contact you for any collection purpose, no matter how long it has been since a payment has been made.

[Bell30656]

GoingDown, you can speak real softly and mumble so you are hard to hear on the phone. Then you know those compressed air horns? They really make someone wish they hadn't yelled at you.

[LuciluS]

If you get a pay as you go cell phone and pay for it with cash, they can't get your phone number. I have a Net10 pay as you go cell phone that the creditors have never been able to find.

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GoingDown: thanks for the recommendation. Our landline is tied in with our DSL, satellite & we get free long distance. We have cell phones through AT&T (formerly Cingular). No Company has called either of our cell phones regarding collections,

Landline phone rang & display showed Cell phone # with an area code where Dh's uncle lives. His uncle always calls him using his cell phone. As I didn't recall his actual cell #, I assumed (& ya know what happens when ya do) it was his uncle - NOT.

Was a female NCO collector. She was hateful & angry. I finally told her to shut up & she did Gave her our Attorney's name & Phone #. She wouldn't make note of his address. I asked her to repeat info back which she complied. I said have a nice day & hung up on.

Luci

[catleg]

Capital One really surprised me. I told them I planned to file, had no lawyer info to give them yet. Got one letter from them saying my acccounts were now closed due to BK and then not a peep. It's been at least a month. They seem to have reformed their practices quite a bit. In my opinion Chase is the new Capital One. I also think a lot of the TARP crisis was manufactured to cover up the govt's desire to bailout one big bank -- Citi.