citibank already calling

[SamanthaJones]

It is absolutely effective to change your number, and not list it.

If people get it anyway, might want to check your credit report info- I'd also advise to delete your employer, or make one up for the credit bureaus.

[havetodecide]

If people get it anyway, might want to check your credit report info- I'd also advise to delete your employer, or make one up for the credit bureaus.

the employer one is not a problem since i don't have an employer

[AMISLANDER]

Here's what I used to tell them....

....john/mary doe has been deployed to Iraq...can I take a message or would you like their overseas number?

[havetodecide]

....john/mary doe has been deployed to Iraq...can I take a message or would you like their overseas number?

That's a good idea

[SinkingFast]

If people get it anyway, might want to check your credit report info- I'd also advise to delete your employer, or make one up for the credit bureaus.

I just checked my current Credit Report and there's no phone number at all listed.

The Credit Reports we submitted prior to filing BK list the old phone number.

We never gave our Creditors our new phone number, yet they got it anyway.

Creditors employ people called "Skip Tracers". That's their job. To find your current address and phone numbers so your Creditors can contact you. When I first joined here there were several posters that had worked as "Skip Tracers" before.

If you list a friend or a relative on your application, they'll call them. The "Skip Tracer" gives them a line about trying to get in touch with you. Old friend from college or whatever. Many times friends and relatives think they're being helpful and just give up your info without realizing who they're telling what to.

That's just one of many ways Skip Tracers find you. It's generally the easiest, so it's the first thing they try. But they do have other tricks up their sleeve.

They can access Public Records thru the State and at the County Court House. Lots of places, contact phone numbers are listed on Motor Vehicle licensing records, tax records, and such.

They'll look up the phone numbers for addresses of neighbors living near you. Call them. Sometimes one of your neighbors will give up your contact number.

Skip Tracers can find you any number of ways. Save the fee to change numbers. Doesn't matter if you do change your phone number, they'll eventually find you anyway. The $30-$50 you spend changing phone numbers may buy you a month or 2 of peace. But then the calls will start again.

[jenrw74]

I had to stop paying my cards and it's been only 2 weeks and citibank is already calling me everyday, couple times a day, started yesterday. Is this normal? Just wondering...

I am not surprised by this at all!! I did the same thing and they turned my account over to collections. Out of all the creditors listed in our ch 13, Citibank is the only one who filed a lawsuit on us!! They wouldn't accept any reasonable payment plans we offered to do. They are the main reason we had to file BK in the first place. Evil, evil, evil.......

[SamanthaJones]

I have had a cell phone only for so long,

I can't relate to people being able to trace a number, call if you don't want them to, or that stuff. Still, it's best practice to keep your credit reports as clear as possible of anything you can delete.

[lrprn]

...it's best practice to keep your credit reports as clear as possible of anything you can delete.

An exception - keep your old accounts that show positive tradelines - paid off loans, for example. The longer you demonstrate responsible credit management, the higher your credit score.

[Liaah]

It's been only 2 weeks for us too, and citibank has called once. We have voicemail and they left a little message asking us to call them. They haven't called back again yet. Maybe if you had a voicemail set up where they can leave a message maybe that would get them off your back for awhile. That way they know they have made contact with you.

I don't really know, this is all new to me but so far that is my experience.

I can't believe Chase hasn't called yet. It's 4 day's late, but I have heard they are bad about calling.

[NYCountry]

A police whistle blown as hard as you can in their ear is fun.

[CityGirl]

If you're in bankruptcy, why are they calling you?

P.S This IS normal. Set into your mind that your creditors WILL harass you to no end.

But, understand that they will, in almost all cases, only use the phone to do so.

Don't obsess over phone calls. Take charge, don't be the victim.

Use whatever method you can come up with to get yourself off that phone. Disable the ringer, get an answering machine with an on/off ringer that you can turn off.

Set your message to include your first and last name. This may discourage calls to work, family, friends etc. (They figure they have "found" you).

Don't answer the phone. Enjoy the peace and quiet. These people use automatic dialers...the creeps on the other end really don't care if you answer or not. Their computer just moves to another number if you don't answer.

Or, leaves some pathetic message. Erase it.

Make the decision that it's your money, your phone and your life. You take orders from nobody, and you are in control.

If you have no money to pay, then it serves NO PURPOSE to allow yourself to be harassed anyway.

You are already under economic stress, don't make the problem worse by "negotiating" with idiots. THEY DON"T CARE ABOUT YOU. ALL THEY WANT IS MONEY.

Don't kid yourself.

Organize your collection letters in a nice folder system, screen your calls, pay your living expenses with relish and satisfaction, and let the money monsters talk to an answering machine until you can get on your feet and get help.

Whether you answer the phone or not really does not change the process and/or time frame involved....only if you pay them does anything change. If your broke, why set yourself up to be harassed?

I wish you the best.........

CPO

Oh....and visit this site daily, a few times a day if available, and educate yourself on all your options and read of others experiences...

http://www.bankruptcyforum.com/showthread.php?t=12887

[CPO]

If you're in bankruptcy, why are they calling you?

I have not filed yet....soon, but not yet...

So, they get to call me....

And, probably will continue to do so until the automatic stay goes into effect...

And then some will still call...

It's the nature of the beast...

That's the point.

CPO

[rami]

I had to stop paying my cards and it's been only 2 weeks and citibank is already calling me everyday, couple times a day, started yesterday. Is this normal? Just wondering...




had one account with City, was past due 6$ 5days they were calling 20 time a day

[liz417]

OP:
Yes, this is "normal"...I had my creditors calling within 2 weeks of missed payments (I had already retained an attorney and forwarded all calls to his office). If you are going to file soon, turn off the ringer. It is also wise to pick up the phone every once in awhile to verify to your creditors that you are "alive" therefore, eliminating the need for them to contact your family, friends and neighbors. I still haven't file BK (retained attorney in Mid May '08) and haven't heard a peep from my creditors.

Good Luck!

[DaisysMom]

I have just started receiving the calls. I just say I am sorry, but I cannot pay them, I am filing bankruptcy and will give them my lawyers contact info as soon as I have my next appt. with him. That is all I say....if they insist on keeping the conversation going (as Beneficial did, asking if I could maybe borrow from a relative to pay them, etc) I just repeat that I cannot pay them and will be in touch. Hang up...end of call.

I am nice and polite, but I keep control of the conversation. I do this because 1. It is the truth 2. I don't want them to be calling around to friends and relatives looking for me.

Sometimes I have had to assert myself and interrupt their collection spiel, but it is what it is....I am not going to waste my time listening to them plead for a payment.

D...