How I handle collectors:

[DeadManCrawling]

When I actually spoke to them, which was rare, here is what I would do.

State that my name and address were correct. Not admit knowledge of ANYTHING else.

I would listen to their rant and then offer them helpful critiques.

For instance: You know, I can tell you're pretty new at this collection business. You sound like you are reading a script. In fact, I know you are, since I used to write scripts for collection agencies.

If they sounded angry: Need to work on your acting skills a bit. You're sounding pretty thin. Lack of confidence can really kill your returns if you plan to make collections a career.

If they were threatening: You need to work on the intimidation thing. You remind me vaguely of a Chihuahua on Xanax. One way to work on that is to think of your most hated enemy as you read that script to your calls.

Anything along these lines will throw them for a loop.

A few times I startled THEM so much they just hung up on me. Once, a supervisor, who had been listening in, called me back immediately and threatened to sue ME for intimidating his collector.

THAT was priceless, and I pulled the same routine on HIM. I never did answer many of the calls, but this method worked well when I did.

I am sure others can add ideas here, and make this a more enjoyable experience for all--except the collector, of course.

best wishes,

-dmc

[AngelinaCatHub]

DMC: ONLY you, could do this. This is classic. LOL big time and I wish I would have thought of that.

BTW, you should have stated to the guy calling back, that you were recording HIM. 'Hub

[Faust]

I'm tempted to make up weird stories that all my money was stolen by aliens and I need the CA to give me the secret password only they know so I can get my money back. hehehehehe

[NHC]

Okay...it's time to let this cat out of the bag...it worked for a little while. I re-activated one of those cheap-o pay as you go phones that I had lying around....when they called at work or my regular phone I would tell them that they were calling a business phone (they didn't know the truth) and that my home phone was number XYZ (the pre paid phone)...of course they constantly got the voice mail which stated my full name (I even spelled it out), my month and year of birth and the last 4 numbers of my social....and specified that if they were a debt collector, they could feel free to leave a message...and then I went on to give them my PO Box where correspondence could be sent. I did also share the fact that I thoughtthat most people who worked in debt collections could probably better serve society by taking up a rousing career in ditch digging.....

[Faust]

Okay...it's time to let this cat out of the bag...it worked for a little while. I re-activated one of those cheap-o pay as you go phones that I had lying around....when they called at work or my regular phone I would tell them that they were calling a business phone (they didn't know the truth) and that my home phone was number XYZ (the pre paid phone)...of course they constantly got the voice mail which stated my full name (I even spelled it out), my month and year of birth and the last 4 numbers of my social....and specified that if they were a debt collector, they could feel free to leave a message...and then I went on to give them my PO Box where correspondence could be sent. I did also share the fact that I thoughtthat most people who worked in debt collections could probably better serve society by taking up a rousing career in ditch digging.....

Bravo!!

[anykey]

I admit I am me. I then quietly set the phone down and go about my day.

[ABC]

Has anyone asked them to borrow $ 5 for a meal ?

[PacificBlue]

Phone ring: "hello"
Person: "hello, is (my wifes name) there"
Me: "No, (and I glance at my clock, it's 11:20) she will be home at 11:00"
Person: (slight pause) "11:00 this morning"?
Me: "That is correct".
Person:"it's 11:22 now, she is late".
Me: "exactly"
Person: "is she normally late"?
Me: "Nope".
Person: "she is late this time".
Me: "No, she called and told me she was running behind".
Person: (slight pause) "Then she wont be home at 11:00, when will she"?
Me: "You are correct".
Person (slight pause) "Could you have her call us at xxxxxxxxxxx".
Me: "I'm her husband maybe I can help you".
Person: "I'm calling about her past due account"
Me: "oh, then you will want to talk with me on that matter".
Person: "she is the card holder I need to speak with her. Are you authorized to speak for her".
Me: "As far as you know I am".
Person: "Is there any information you can give me as to when this account will be brought up to current"?
Me: "of course".
Person: (slight pause again). "When would that be".
Me: "Yesterday".
Person: "Your account was brought up to current yesterday"?
Me: "that is correct".
Person: "I'm not showing it's current".
Me: "Are you looking at the statement now"?
Person: "yes".
Me: "and it's past due"?
Person: "yes".
Me: "Oh, I got the accounts mixed up, I'm not good with numbers, you will want to speak with my wife, she will be home at 11:00".
Personanother long pause) "Please have her call us at xxxxxxxxxxx".
Me: "was that xxxxxxxxY"?
Person: "no it's xxxxxxxxxxx".
Me: "xxxxxxyxxxx"
Person: "no, it's xxxxxxxxxxx".
Me: "oh, sorry I was hearing xxxxxxyxxxx, I'm not good with numbers you know".
Person: "Do you have the correct number now"?
Me:" yes it's xxxxxyxxxy"
Person: "Do you have an answering machine".
Me: "yes".
Person: "I will call back and leave the number on it".
Me: "But I'm here, and will answer the phone".
Person: "Don't answer and I will leave the message".
Me: "Um, okay".
Person: "good bye".
Me: "good bye".
Five mins later the phone rings...
Me: "hello".
Person: "you weren't suppose to answer, I'm leaving the number on your answering machine".
Me: "Oh, I didn't know it was you, thought maybe it was my wife she's late you know".
Person: "Yes I know. Does she have a cell phone she can be reached at"?
Me: "yes".
Person: "May I have that number"?
Me: "Sure Press 1 and hit send"
Person: "Sorry?".
Me: "Oh, I mean I press 1 on my cell phone and send and it's her number".
Person: "Do you know the actual number?".
Me: "No, just the speed dial".
Person: "Do you have your cell phone with you".
Me: "yes".
Person: "can you bring up that number"?
Me: "it's on the charger"
Person: "I will call back this evening"
Me: "we are going out this evening".
Person: "then I will leave the call back number on your machine".
Me: "You can call back now, I wont answer this time".
Person: "thank you, good bye".
Me: "your wel..." phone went dead, she hung up before I finished.
less then one min later.. Phone rings..
Me: "hello".
"click". they hung up

I really look forward to these calls. I'm a stay at home husband and need the entertainment....

[Faust]

You are so bad!

[Mi Bankruptcy]

Here is what I used. I have posted this before. I made it for my wife because she gets rattled easy. I even used it. BTW... I never recorded one call.

** Do not deviate from this script**

Hello,

May I ask who is calling (if they don’t tell you who is calling ask the question again) This phone call is being recorded if you do not wish to be recorded please hang up now.

This is Mr. or Mrs. I am currently filing for Bankruptcy if you believe I owe you a debt you will have to contact my attorney for further information.

Would you like my attorneys name and contact information?


If they harass you your reply is:

My attorney can answer your question would you like his/her name and contact information?

Since you do not wish to contact my attorney regarding your question I must terminate this call. Have a Nice Day (Hang Up)



They will try to ask what chapter you are filing.. Your attorney can provide that information to them.. The goal is to scare the Customer Service rep into taking your information and getting you off the call list. That is why you threaten that you are recording. I even hit one of the phone keys as soon as I told them this call is being recorded. LOL... We barely received any collection calls.

[frogger]

And if you really want to play with them, you can always use one of the soundboards to do the talking for you:

http://www.ebaumsworld.com/tags/soundboard/

[StartingOver08]

PacificBlue - LMAO that was so funny....give a good warning, I ended up with coffee spilled all over the place!

[PacificBlue]

PacificBlue - LMAO that was so funny....give a good warning, I ended up with coffee spilled all over the place!

[_]D (hands startingover08 another cup of coffee)

[fireworks]

I had the luxury of a business-class PBX to handle my calls. Once we decided we were filing and quit paying the bills, I added all of the known debt-collector numbers to a blacklist and they were sent to a very long voicemail message that told them several times that they had reached the voicemail for me, my wife and my business, here's our mailing address, if you would like a return phone call please leave your name, number, the account you're calling about, and if you don't leave all of that information we won't call you back. It took about 5 minutes for that recording to go all the way through. Rarely did anyone actually leave a message there and even more rarely did I return the calls. I now have the home phone running through that same system with a privacy blocker that won't allow the call through without caller ID. I think that saved us a lot of hassle.

[NY1]

Phone ring: "hello"
Person: "hello, is (my wifes name) there"
Me: "No, (and I glance at my clock, it's 11:20) she will be home at 11:00"
Person: (slight pause) "11:00 this morning"?
Me: "That is correct".
Person:"it's 11:22 now, she is late".
Me: "exactly"
Person: "is she normally late"?
Me: "Nope".
Person: "she is late this time".
Me: "No, she called and told me she was running behind".
Person: (slight pause) "Then she wont be home at 11:00, when will she"?
Me: "You are correct".
Person (slight pause) "Could you have her call us at xxxxxxxxxxx".
Me: "I'm her husband maybe I can help you".
Person: "I'm calling about her past due account"
Me: "oh, then you will want to talk with me on that matter".
Person: "she is the card holder I need to speak with her. Are you authorized to speak for her".
Me: "As far as you know I am".
Person: "Is there any information you can give me as to when this account will be brought up to current"?
Me: "of course".
Person: (slight pause again). "When would that be".
Me: "Yesterday".
Person: "Your account was brought up to current yesterday"?
Me: "that is correct".
Person: "I'm not showing it's current".
Me: "Are you looking at the statement now"?
Person: "yes".
Me: "and it's past due"?
Person: "yes".
Me: "Oh, I got the accounts mixed up, I'm not good with numbers, you will want to speak with my wife, she will be home at 11:00".
Personanother long pause) "Please have her call us at xxxxxxxxxxx".
Me: "was that xxxxxxxxY"?
Person: "no it's xxxxxxxxxxx".
Me: "xxxxxxyxxxx"
Person: "no, it's xxxxxxxxxxx".
Me: "oh, sorry I was hearing xxxxxxyxxxx, I'm not good with numbers you know".
Person: "Do you have the correct number now"?
Me:" yes it's xxxxxyxxxy"
Person: "Do you have an answering machine".
Me: "yes".
Person: "I will call back and leave the number on it".
Me: "But I'm here, and will answer the phone".
Person: "Don't answer and I will leave the message".
Me: "Um, okay".
Person: "good bye".
Me: "good bye".
Five mins later the phone rings...
Me: "hello".
Person: "you weren't suppose to answer, I'm leaving the number on your answering machine".
Me: "Oh, I didn't know it was you, thought maybe it was my wife she's late you know".
Person: "Yes I know. Does she have a cell phone she can be reached at"?
Me: "yes".
Person: "May I have that number"?
Me: "Sure Press 1 and hit send"
Person: "Sorry?".
Me: "Oh, I mean I press 1 on my cell phone and send and it's her number".
Person: "Do you know the actual number?".
Me: "No, just the speed dial".
Person: "Do you have your cell phone with you".
Me: "yes".
Person: "can you bring up that number"?
Me: "it's on the charger"
Person: "I will call back this evening"
Me: "we are going out this evening".
Person: "then I will leave the call back number on your machine".
Me: "You can call back now, I wont answer this time".
Person: "thank you, good bye".
Me: "your wel..." phone went dead, she hung up before I finished.
less then one min later.. Phone rings..
Me: "hello".
"click". they hung up

I really look forward to these calls. I'm a stay at home husband and need the entertainment....

BAHAHAHHAHAHAHAAAAAAA