Wondering what the record is?

[DYLAN150]

Wasn't home yesterday and U.S. Bank called 17 times. Starts at 8 am and goes right up to 9 pm.

[chicagoannie]

I thought there was a limit to the number of times a creditor can call in one day? 3, I think?

[DYLAN150]

I don't know if there is a limit but I have comcast and it keeps track of every out going and in coming phone call. Man, there was alot of incoming phone calls yesterday. It logs them right down to the second. I loss most of my hearing thanks to a landmine but my german sheppard barks at the ring of a phone or door bell, guess I will have to get him some ear plugs.

[debtprison]

Look into call blocking from your phone company. If they don't offer it even Walmart has a phone for $15 which allows you to turn off the ringer only for certain numbers. I do this and simply save an entry like "ZzzzzNCO" (so that it appears last in the phone book display). It works great even though they can still usually leave a voice mail, at least it won't ring and disturb you. One step further is switching to Google Voice. Their call block makes it so that the caller hears a message which indicates that the number isn't even in service!

[espo1357]

Just get a new phone number. They won't call then. Better yet, file BK, and then its breaking the law if they dare call.

[DYLAN150]

I was hoping that by them leaving a message in my voice mail they wouldn't call my neighbors like I have read so many times of that happening on this site.

[Jacey]

I had about 7 unsecured creditors, and used google voice when I stopped paying. I would check for missed calls (out of perverse curiosity) about once a day and find around 75 calls/day. Dillards called every 15 minutes, it seemed.

[frogger]

I thought there was a limit to the number of times a creditor can call in one day? 3, I think?

If you don't answer, they can keep calling until the cows come home or 9:00 pm, whichever comes first.

[shark66]

I was hoping that by them leaving a message in my voice mail they wouldn't call my neighbors like I have read so many times of that happening on this site.

Don't kid yourself, they'll be calling everyone and their seventh cousin five times removed regardless of what you do.

They don't want to talk to you. Not really.

They want what they claim to be their money. Yesterday.

Just shut the ringer off and call it a day.

Good luck.

[debtprison]

Don't kid yourself, they'll be calling everyone and their seventh cousin five times removed regardless of what you do.

They don't want to talk to you. Not really.

They want what they claim to be their money. Yesterday.

Just shut the ringer off and call it a day.

Good luck.

Agreed. And if you answer it might even make you the low hanging fruit. They know you are there and hey, maybe by putting a little pressure on you and your family and neighbors they might make you pay them. Then with the autodialer it probably costs them less than a 1/10th of a cent to call you. They don't care.

I just tell people who get calls for me to give them my PO Box (I always use my PO Box for everything since it is more secure) and phone number if they want and that's it. I think that helps because that way the person isn't "getting in the middle of it" and it less looks like I am hiding. Then I ignore the letters and the calls and it's no big deal (I really don't have any money to pay so there is no use dealing with them). I also let them know that often these calls are nothing more than scammers and that's basically true (Debt is 5x what it was originally, past the SOL, etc.). Sometimes they are outright scams - for example there is one going around where a guy calls you and your relatives and tells you that unless you pay $XXXX today the FBI has a warrant for your arrest and will arrest you tomorrow morning at your home (see all sorts of complaints about it on ripoffreport). Usually it's associated with a payday loan scam. Of course it isn't even a real debt collector and is illegal.

[clevelandmom]

I used to tell people I thought it was incredibly thoughtful that my debt collectors would call me several times a day just to see how I was doing.

[Exployer1234]

I remember the days when my phone rang every 15 min from a creditor. I am glad those days are over with. The problem is now I have creditors calling looking for other people. I don't even know the people they are looking for, but today I received 5 calls from this creditor while I was at work. I called the creditor back, but they were already gone (it was a lawyer's office). Guess they are trying to track down someone, but I wish they would stop calling my phone.

I even spoke to another creditor numerous times that called looking for someone and asked who they were looking for. This creditor was smart and said "well who am I speaking with" I told the creditor my name and then stated if you have any matter concerning a past debt with me then you are in violation of the bk code. I said I was discharged last August. The creditor then came back and asked of I knew the person they were looking for. I said no, but i expect you will stop calling this number now or I will file a violation of the BK code for harassing me. I said I have repeatedly told you that I do not know the person you were looking for, but I am done playing games at this point. I said if you call one more time I will get my lawyer involved. They stopped calling at that point. I took down all the numbers and times they called and who it was.

It is sad that I am still getting someone else's calls and I filed BK to have a fresh start.

[DesdemonaB]

I thought there was a limit to the number of times a creditor can call in one day? 3, I think?

Hi - every state is different but a quick Google search will give you the answer - example: state of washington collection laws:

Washington State Attorney General Website:

This section summarizes portions of the state's collection agency law (RCW 19.16) and the federal Fair Debt Collections Practices Act (15 USC 1692). These laws apply to businesses which collect debts for other businesses. They do not apply to a firm which is collecting its own past-due accounts.

The first time a collection agency contacts you, it must give its name and address, and the name of the original creditor (the business or person you owe money to). It must also tell you in writing the amount of the debt and any fees which have been added, such as interest or collection fees. You must also be informed of your right to dispute the information.

A collection agency cannot call or write to you more than three times a week.
Only one of those calls can be at work.
You cannot be called between 9 pm and 8 am;
A collection agency cannot harass, intimidate, threaten, or embarrass you;
A collection agency cannot threaten violence, criminal prosecution, or use offensive language;
and If you send a written statement requesting a collection agency to stop, it cannot continue to call or write to you to demand payment.

When Contacting Other People

If you have an attorney, the law prohibits a collection agency from contacting anyone other than your attorney. If you do not have an attorney, the agency can contact other people only to find out where you live or work. The collector cannot tell these people that you owe money. In most cases, the collection agency can contact another person only once. These same rules apply to contact with your employer.

You said it was Dillard's - which I believe is the OC so they don't fall under the state laws, and the Federal law only addresses the following:

§ 806. Harassment or abuse
(5) Causing a telephone to ring or engaging any person in telephone conversation repeatedly or continuously with intent to annoy, abuse, or harass any person at the called number.

IMHO I believe calling someone 17 times in a 12 hour time frame should/would be called harassment - intent to annoy and I bet your state AG would agree.

Good luck

[tobee43]

ok....i think your the Winner" in my book....we never had one creditor 17 times in ONE DAY!! holly cow!

[lillymarlene]

Don't kid yourself, they'll be calling everyone and their seventh cousin five times removed regardless of what you do.

That is for sure. My creditors used to call my brother all the time. I haven't lived in the same house as him for over 25 years! He used to have fun telling them he'd just gotten a post card from me postmarked: Saskatchewan. LOL