What would happen if you got rid of your telephone?

[Martha31]

How would collectors contact you?
What would be the repercussions?
I am thinking about discontinuing my telephone service. I do not have a cell phone in my name. I do have a cell phone for friends and family.
Any thoughts would be appreciated.

[nerves]

If they can't reach you on your home or a cell number, many will try contacting you at work, calling family members, calling neighbors, past employers, etc. They will go at all costs to contact you. Some on here have stated they have a phone line through their computer with google. There is a post with information/comments in this section of the site. Not sure if there is a cost, but this may be something to check out. You could then update your phone number with this new google number and let the automated system answer your calls. This may not eliminate the above issues but it may slow it down some. Good luck to you.

[sgirl]

They will just keep calling that number and the next person who gets your phone number will be inundated with collections calls for the next 5 years.


Ask me how I know this....

[flyinbroke]

They will just keep calling that number and the next person who gets your phone number will be inundated with collections calls for the next 5 years.


Ask me how I know this....

I won't ask because I am getting the same thing for whoever had my home number before me.... Best part is they don't believe she disconnected her phone.

[Martha31]

If they can't reach you on your home or a cell number, many will try contacting you at work, calling family members, calling neighbors, past employers, etc. They will go at all costs to contact you. Some on here have stated they have a phone line through their computer with google. There is a post with information/comments in this section of the site. Not sure if there is a cost, but this may be something to check out. You could then update your phone number with this new google number and let the automated system answer your calls. This may not eliminate the above issues but it may slow it down some. Good luck to you.

I have not worked in 12 years -- totally disabled.
On Zaba only one family member appears. Possibly call facebook friends?
Only have two neighbors that I even know.
As info I the phone calls do not bother me. I just do not need a phone.
Thanks for the info.

[Martha31]

They will just keep calling that number and the next person who gets your phone number will be inundated with collections calls for the next 5 years.


Ask me how I know this....

I hate to do someone else that way but I really do not need a telephone.
Makes one go hmmmmm!

[Mi Bankruptcy]

If you have retained an attorney you just answer the phone and give them your attorneys number. In the end they will call everyone to get a hold of you.

[frogger]

In the end they will call everyone to get a hold of you.

That's right. They will call everyone.......

[flyinbroke]

This is why, against most people's ideas, I take a call every month or so. Or, preferably, I return a call. They know they have the right number, and they won't hound the general public.

After a few months of this, I sent out C&D letters. I left them short and polite, just stating that Texas law applies to anyone collecting money and I was exercising said option as it is inconvenient for me to take calls (said that email and snail mail were both fine options.)

[nickifan]

I won't ask because I am getting the same thing for whoever had my home number before me.... Best part is they don't believe she disconnected her phone.

This is why, against most people's ideas, I take a call every month or so. Or, preferably, I return a call. They know they have the right number, and they won't hound the general public.

After a few months of this, I sent out C&D letters. I left them short and polite, just stating that Texas law applies to anyone collecting money and I was exercising said option as it is inconvenient for me to take calls (said that email and snail mail were both fine options.)

Re Quote # 1 - Same thing has happened to me in the past. Oh, the irony that the calls are now rightfully for ME. But I've had at least four different names being asked for at this phone. Some of them went on for months, though they would tell me they'd take the number out of their system....

Re Quote # 2 - I take at least the "first" call too for the same reasons. Haven't sent out any C&D letters though...does it appear to be working? I assume you noted who you sent letters to -- are you are still getting calls from them?

[flyinbroke]

I just sent them Saturday...one to a CA who apparently is a letter writer/phone strongarm for GE Money. They call 20+ times a day and hang up. Never once left a message. Sent a letter demanding PIF to GE's billing address. Sent a two sentence DV and "while you are at it, phone calls are inconvenient so stop it." kept it short and polite.

The other was BoA; they have polite collectors so I just told her that I was away from phones so much it was inconvenient to phone. She said she would note this...I told her letters and email were fine alternate means of communications and if they had payment options I would be amenable to reading about them. BoA has not called since Saturday, when I called and told them this.

Got several for the old holder of my home phone. The nice CA man told me he would remove the number. No new calls from them. Wells Fargo does not believe me...their polite collectors always apologize but the number is never removed. The best part...they left a VM with her name and address and SHE HAS A LISTED NUMBER! And it is not mine. I thought skiptracers were supposed to be so on the ball.

[dscurlock]

Since I have setup a new number, it is now unlisted, I have
not gotten any type of calls.

[optimistic1]

They would call your mom and dad all day long, they are still calling mine every day, looking for me, lol, and I have a phone.

[GoingDown]

Why is everyone so afraid of them calling their relatives or neighbors? I don't care. My family knows about my credit problems. I'm not trying to hide it from them. And I don't care what my neighbors think. Most of my neighbors can't speak English anyways, so I'm sure the debt collector doesn't get very far with them.

[GoingDown]

I just sent them Saturday...one to a CA who apparently is a letter writer/phone strongarm for GE Money. They call 20+ times a day and hang up. Never once left a message. Sent a letter demanding PIF to GE's billing address. Sent a two sentence DV and "while you are at it, phone calls are inconvenient so stop it." kept it short and polite.

The other was BoA; they have polite collectors so I just told her that I was away from phones so much it was inconvenient to phone. She said she would note this...I told her letters and email were fine alternate means of communications and if they had payment options I would be amenable to reading about them. BoA has not called since Saturday, when I called and told them this.

Got several for the old holder of my home phone. The nice CA man told me he would remove the number. No new calls from them. Wells Fargo does not believe me...their polite collectors always apologize but the number is never removed. The best part...they left a VM with her name and address and SHE HAS A LISTED NUMBER! And it is not mine. I thought skiptracers were supposed to be so on the ball.

I am amazed at how horrible most collection agencies are at skip tracing.

I think most of them rely on getting millions of delinquent accounts and then using autodialers (computers) to call them and if even 25% of them get the right debtor on the phone and that debtor pays them anything, they turn a significant profit.

They know most of them are either the wrong person or that the person is not going to pay and they don't care. They move onto the next call.

It's only when the account has gone for a long time without payment that an actual human gets involved with it, and starts looking at the info in the credit report, etc. If they see any signs that the person can probably pay part or all of the debt, that account gets bumped up to the next level.

If they think the person is judgment proof they let the account drop down to the inactive accounts file. That's where I am at this point. The phone calls and letters from junk debt buyers and collection agencies have all ceased. Most of the debts are beyond the statute of limitations for lawsuits. I think they will eventually be sold to even lower junk debt buyers and they will start calling again, but maybe not.