How long before the calls come?

[creditgone]

new here. we are still current on everything but want to stop paying. how long do we have roughly before the calls start coming aggressivly. we are staying with family and really don't want their phone ringing off the hook. we can handle a couple because those are easy to hide but we really don't want them knowing what we are doing because they wont approve.

[frogger]

new here.

Welcome to the forum.

we are still current on everything but want to stop paying. how long do we have roughly before the calls start coming aggressivly.

Some start calling 1 day past due, but everyone will be calling within a few weeks. When 30 days come, your phone is going to be ringing off the hook.

we are staying with family and really don't want their phone ringing off the hook.

Provided that your phone number is valid, your family number should not be called. They will normally be called only in efforts to locate you.

we can handle a couple because those are easy to hide but we really don't want them knowing what we are doing because they wont approve.

Here's a sticking point for me. Family is family, and regardless of whether they approve or not, they know that you're in financial trouble or you wouldn't be living with them.

Go ahead and be honest with them. Let them know that you are indeed in financial trouble, and you are doing the right thing to solve your financial problems. There is no shame in filing for bk. It's been around as long as America.

Enjoy your fresh start.

[creditgone]

thank you for the support but they are my inlaws and we had mentioned it to them about a year ago and they flipped out. they dont understand anything about it they view it as not honoring your obligations. they are just ignorant about it. we are really stressed out about the whole thing anyway and to have everyone on us about it will be more torture. we know we are doing what is best for us but if we can leave them out of it things will be less stressful than it already is. thanks for your support though.

[JEM]

We've gone 30 days late on most of our CC's. The phone rings OFF.THE.HOOK.

If you don't want family to know--and can't hide it because you are living there--can you get a pre-paid cell phone and let the creditors know that that is your new contact #?

If it's CC's you are going to be stopping paying, go into your account info online and change the phone contact to the pre-paid cell #. That might keep the calls from coming through the home phone where you are staying at.

[creditgone]

I changed the phone numbers already to our cell phones. I am just worried they will track us down. The house phone is listed and that is where our address is.

[Fresh]

I think you should count on the fact that one of the creditors or collection agencies will eventually call the number where you are staying. It may not happen, but it's unlikely.

I am sorry that your in-laws feel as they do.

I wish you the best. From experience, I can tell you that the number of phone calls in the beginning is the worst. I can remember as many as 30 calls in a 12 hour period on my Caller ID.

[dub]

I can remember as many as 30 calls in a 12 hour period on my Caller ID.

How many credit cards were you getting calls for?

[Fresh]

That was on 5 cards. What was strange to me was the fact that ones with smaller balances got more calls than the larger ones in the beginning. As I've learned here, the vast majority of the "early" calls (say first 30-60 days) are "robo" or computer-generated calls. I remember even with all those calls, there were actually only about 3-5 voicemails left, and these were computer-generated (not a live person).

I don't know how you are planning on handling the calls, but from members here, I took the recommendation to use the silencer on my telephone. For me, if I had not used that, I know I would have been ready for the asylum. To me looking back, so much of the calling is nothing more than a mind game, like a constant reminder. It's very different looking at the Caller ID and erasing, and the same with hearing a few voicemails, then deleting.

~Fresh~

[JEM]

That was on 5 cards. What was strange to me was the fact that ones with smaller balances got more calls than the larger ones in the beginning. As I've learned here, the vast majority of the "early" calls (say first 30-60 days) are "robo" or computer-generated calls. I remember even with all those calls, there were actually only about 3-5 voicemails left, and these were computer-generated (not a live person).

I don't know how you are planning on handling the calls, but from members here, I took the recommendation to use the silencer on my telephone. For me, if I had not used that, I know I would have been ready for the asylum. To me looking back, so much of the calling is nothing more than a mind game, like a constant reminder. It's very different looking at the Caller ID and erasing, and the same with hearing a few voicemails, then deleting.

~Fresh~

I agree. For the most part, I turn the ringer off on the phone. At least the downstairs phone. Otherwise, I'd listen to it all day and it would drive me batty. This way we can have dinner, family time...whatever, in peace, without the ringing in the background. Non-stop.

OP--I would log in online to your accounts and at least erase the home number as a contact. They may eventually get it, but it might cut down on the calls.

Just a thought.

[catleg]

To divert the calls I'd suggest the following.

Buy a magic jack and hook it up to a computer. Put this phone number on all your credit card accounts replacing your home number. If you can, get telco to put this magic jack number on the 'out of service' recording for your old number.

Then, *call each creditor* from the magic jack so they have a record that it's really your number. Just ask for your balance or whatever. They *do* keep track of numbers that you've called *from*. Now just unplug the phone from the magic jack. Leave it plugged in, if possible, so they can get your voice mail.

Hopefully this number gets uploaded by the creditors to your credit report.

For extra credit (heh) fill out a credit app listing the magic jack as your home number. Just to make sure it gets on your credit report.

This won't beat a good skip trace but if they're not too diligent it will buy you some peace for a while.

[jacko]

I came clean with the folks during my current holiday visit that I will be filing at some point. They have been getting the occasional collection calls looking for me. They approve of my intention to file and get on with my life.

new here. we are still current on everything but want to stop paying. how long do we have roughly before the calls start coming aggressivly. we are staying with family and really don't want their phone ringing off the hook. we can handle a couple because those are easy to hide but we really don't want them knowing what we are doing because they wont approve.

[ApresMoi]

new here. we are still current on everything but want to stop paying. how long do we have roughly before the calls start coming aggressivly. we are staying with family and really don't want their phone ringing off the hook. we can handle a couple because those are easy to hide but we really don't want them knowing what we are doing because they wont approve.

the calls started two weeks after i missed payments. two months have passed. i now receive, on average, three to four calls per day.

to keep creditors from using up my cell phone minutes, i set up a free google voice account, then notified creditors to contact me at that number. i never hear a phone ring. by adjusting google voice settings, i can direct incoming calls to other numbers (cell, friend's, etc.). currently, i have it set so the calls aren't forwarded anywhere. instead, i am notified of incoming calls via email, which includes a transcription of the voicemail (if a message was left). it's easy to see which calls are from creditors, either from the phone number, or the snippet of transcription visible in the first line of the email message.

your inlaws will never know you have all those calls coming in, unless you give them the password to your new google voice account.

easy to setup, and it's free, but only available right now through private invite. if you want to join, send me a private message. they doled out 'free invites' and i may have one or two left.

[ApresMoi]

I changed the phone numbers already to our cell phones. I am just worried they will track us down. The house phone is listed and that is where our address is.

Set up a post office box?

There is no reason they will call your relatives' number if you have given them another number as your main contact number.

You might want to make yourself available for a brief update once every few weeks, such that they know you are still reachable at the number on file for you. If you do speak to them, I would not tell them anything specific other than that you cannot make a payment at this time. DO NOT give them ANY information, because they are recording everything and trying to get info that will help them if they ever decide to sue you. So say as little as possible: "I can't pay anything right now, but feel free to check back in a week or so", etc.

[ApresMoi]

I agree. For the most part, I turn the ringer off on the phone. At least the downstairs phone. Otherwise, I'd listen to it all day and it would drive me batty. This way we can have dinner, family time...whatever, in peace, without the ringing in the background. Non-stop.

OP--I would log in online to your accounts and at least erase the home number as a contact. They may eventually get it, but it might cut down on the calls.

Just a thought.

I agree. After setting up the google voice number, besides calling the creditors and asking them to change my contact number, i also logged on to each of my accounts and changed my contact number there. the collections people may or may not have the ability to update that information in creditors' records. i would do both (call and online updates).

[frogger]

my inlaws and we had mentioned it to them about a year ago and they flipped out. they dont understand anything about it they view it as not honoring your obligations. they are just ignorant about it.

Mine were the same way. Educate them. Tell and show them why this is the thing to do for your family. They will come around.