Questions about collections calls

[rooster0330]

Hi everyone...I have a few questions about collection calls. We are going to claim either chapter 7 or 13 not sure yet..but in the meantime we are getting collection calls from the credit card companies, I have been talking to them and explaining that we have encountered a severe financial hardship and are trying to get the money together. We actually are not trying to get the money together, but I don't know what else to say. So, my question is should I tell them I am planning on claiming bankruptcy or will this start proceedings faster for a law suit? Or what should I tell them. Thanks in advance for any help...or insight!

[LimpDisc]

How long has it been since you last paid your creditors?

When do you hope to file? Once you retain your attorney you can usually give the CC his contact info. At that point the calls stopped for us. Don't bother to tell your creditors anything and give them very little information.

[killinstinct]

If you're filing, just ignore them. When your atty is willing to take the calls, refer to him/her and tell them not to contact you again. If they call you again, complain to the Federal Trade Commission for violating the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act. That worked fine for me. Only had to got this far with one creditor, Capital One, and they stopped.

[rooster0330]

Thanks for the replies!!! I haven't paid some since July/August and others just a month or so...I plan on retaining an attorney in the next few weeks! I am kind of dragging my feet a little doing so, I guess the reality of filing is a little hard for me! I definately think we qualify for a chapter 7 with assets, I am pretty sure we meet all the exemptions to keep our house and cars...which is a must! It's just the reality of it all...

[CompTweaker]

If you feel like have your phone ring off the hook, and screening your calls, then you could keep a tab of the numbers calling you.....tell each new number/creditor/collector that you are who they think you are and that the address is correct....but as far as admitting to any debt, dont admit and tell them you will not discuss financial matters over the phone and then hang up. Of course your phone will ring a lot, but at least they know they have the right person and will hopefully not try calling family members and neighbors.

Or you could do like me...change your phone number (Im unlisted-cell phone only) and just be very careful who you give your number to. I like being hard to get in touch with by people I dont want to have my phone number, and I reference my old number sometimes with utilities. I dont have concerns over family or neighbors being contacted since those close to me know I have some old CC debt (big whooop, who doesnt these days). I dont answer the phone to any number I dont know and for the last 3.5 years, no debt collector has molested my phone number

[AngelinaCatHub]

Thanks for the replies!!! I haven't paid some since July/August and others just a month or so...I plan on retaining an attorney in the next few weeks! I am kind of dragging my feet a little doing so, I guess the reality of filing is a little hard for me! I definately think we qualify for a chapter 7 with assets, I am pretty sure we meet all the exemptions to keep our house and cars...which is a must! It's just the reality of it all...

The sooner you start, the better you will feel and the sooner it will be over. About your assets, you may not have a choice to buy back. Remember you are going bankrupt. All that you own belongs to your estate and your Trustee is in charge of it all. If he feels you are C7 ready, he may think you are not capable of paying the overage. We became an asset case but was able to buy back at no interest our own stuff. $5400 at $450 for 12 Months. Now it made our bk go for 12 months until we were paid out. We had a long bk.

Be ready and start to practice, a much simpler and more frugal life style. It hurts a bit, but then gets easier. 'Hub