Should I talk to the collection agencies?

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Last week, collection agencies (I don't know for which cc) started calling. Today one called my mother. Should I talk to them or ??

I'm in the process of getting funds together for my attorney fees, and will be sending them a payment and signed fee agreement probably next week. In the mean time, what should I be doing? I read the sticky about debt collectors, but some of the info is a bit dated.

Thanks for any advice!

[shark66]

My experience has been that it's entirely pointless and often counterproductive to talk to debt collectors.

They want the payment. Yesterday. And if you think that talking to them will stop them from calling your mother, think again.

Good luck.

[lrprn]

Last week, collection agencies (I don't know for which cc) started calling. Today one called my mother. Should I talk to them or ??

The reason that original creditors and collectors move on to family members is that they have not been able to confirm that they have reached you because you aren't answering their calls.

Pick up the phone, make the creditor identify themselves, confirm you are you, and then quietly hang up. If you have a landline phone message machine or a cellphone, put on a message that clearly identifies you as you and let the machine pick up the calls. The creditors and collectors may continue to call your mom, but there's also a chance they will stop once they have confirmed how to find you.

There's no need to talk to them other than to say you cannot afford to pay them anything right now. You can hang up any time, even if they are in mid-sentence

I'm in the process of getting funds together for my attorney fees, and will be sending them a payment and signed fee agreement probably next week.

If you are filing within the next few months, why are you sending your unsecureds anything? And why are you signing a fee agreement with an unsecured creditor right before filing?

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If you are filing within the next few months, why are you sending your unsecureds anything? And why are you signing a fee agreement with an unsecured creditor right before filing?

Sorry, should have been more clear -- I am referring to the attorney re: fee agreement/payment.

[frogger]

Yes and No are the answer.

You should talk to them in order that they know that the contact information is correct. Make sure they have your current address and telephone number, and then let the answering machine/voice mail do its job.

You might want to pick up once a month to just say hello and that you don't have any money in order that you information remains verified as correct.

When they can't fine you, they will call everyone to try to do so.

But no, don't talk to them. They don't care about anything other than payment, in full, today.