Arahhhhgggggg!!! I hate creditor calls!

[SinkingFast]

Most of the time I have not answered the phone. But there have been times.

Sometimes they caught me totally by surprise. On caller ID it looked like a legit number, so I answered.

Other times, it was a rush to beat the answering machine picking up, didn't get to see the phone number coming in on Caller ID.

Sometimes, just because the phone had been ringing off the hook all day, so finally I just gave in. Knowing full well, the person on the other end of the line wasn't going to listen to me.

I've done enough phone calls that I have a really blase spiel. I don't get mad or snap anyone's head off as long as the person on the other end of the phone is nice to me. If they get snotty, I give it right back to them. Only had one guy like that, and when I threw it back in his face he settled down. But for the most part, I've gotten nice people, trying to do their job. They ask questions and enter info, tell me they are sorry for my situation, and wish there was more they could do to help. Thank you and have a nice day.

[edwards2]

Because Rover as SinkingFast has posted sometimes you inadvertently answer it w/o thinking of looking at your caller id. During our BK process we only received phone calls from BofA and Providian. BofA was persistent, but not rude, but Providian was another story. They were insulting and demanding despite the fact I had had the card for over 10 years and had NEVER been late. I was calm but firm with them. I even apologized to them for having to file BK. I also felt compelled to say something to them because they would have kept calling and quite frankly they needed to be told what was going on. After all we did have an obligation to the creditors and they had a right to know why we had not paid our bill. Once I told them our lawyer's name and the case number they backed off but I might add, not until we had a case number did they stop calling. On the contrary had the creditors been abusive it would have been a different story. And by the way sometimes the caller id shows name unknown, etc. You can always wait until the call hits your answering machine and then decide - that would be up to you of course.

[Rover]

SinkingFast & edwards2,

Thanks for the replies.

Best,
Rover

[Annika]

I had my phone number changed immediately after filing. I had enough to worry about (recovering from major surgery), and didn't want or need the hassle. I tend to get extremely upset if someone is verbally harassing me.

Changing the phone number didn't stop the mail, but for me, mail is easier to deal with. All but one company stopped sending nastygrams after the "stay" was implemented. My lawyer sent a letter to them (didn't help), then I personally sent a copy of my discharge papers once I had them, via registered mail, along with the legal verbiage saying that they're not allowed to contact me at all! They finally stopped bugging me after I "threatened" them back, for violating the automatic "stay".