Collection Calls

[littlered1003]

Prior to filing BK do you tell your creditors you plan to file? Collections calls is annoying, and I don't have the money to make arrangements. What has others done?
Thanks!

[SinkingFast]

NO!!

Don't give your Creditors a heads up about BK. They may scurry to charge off your debt. Sell it to a Zombie Debt Collector. Or any number of other things they can do.

Best thing to do is get caller ID and/or an answering machine and use that to screen calls coming in. Answer the phone for family and friends. Let the collectors leave a message.

[LostOne0069]

Who cares if they charge it off faster? They're going to charge it off sooner or later anyway.

The only time I could see this as being a problem is if you were trying to hold out as long as possible before filing... In this case it might make a creditor file a lawsuit against you earlier and thus give you one more hoop to go through to get the suit dismissed and/or get the judgment vacated.

If you're planning on filing soon I don't see how it could hurt you and it just might get them to stop calling so much. It did for me. I told my creditors a couple of months ago that I was going to file and the calls from them dropped to next to nothing.

[lrprn]

Our lawyer said he figured we had about 5-6 months between telling our non-secured creditors we were filing and them going through the motions to get a judgment against us. We had four months between telling our creditors and filing - they had barely gotten us to collections, let alone to court for a judgment. (And the blessed silence with no telephone ringing day and night was lovely!)

Btw, we didn't tell our secured creditors anything about filing - they found out when they got their letters after we filed.

[NASCAR20FAN]

I went all cellular about a year ago! They were unable to reach me because thye didn't have my number and it's not listed anywhere

[NASCAR20FAN]

Who cares if they charge it off faster? They're going to charge it off sooner or later anyway.

The only time I could see this as being a problem is if you were trying to hold out as long as possible before filing... In this case it might make a creditor file a lawsuit against you earlier and thus give you one more hoop to go through to get the suit dismissed and/or get the judgment vacated.

If you're planning on filing soon I don't see how it could hurt you and it just might get them to stop calling so much. It did for me. I told my creditors a couple of months ago that I was going to file and the calls from them dropped to next to nothing.

Well it couls cause problems for you in the fact they could change the reported date on the items (not that that id legal to do so). So if you are not paying close attention to your file, they could try to keep those items items on there longer then they need to be.

[Fedler]

Just hang up. You're not under any obligation to talk to anyone who calls you.

[anonymuse]

Prior to filing BK do you tell your creditors you plan to file? Collections calls is annoying, and I don't have the money to make arrangements. What has others done?
Thanks!

My lawyer gave me a special number to give the creditors so that they could confirm that I had retained him but not yet filed.

[littlered1003]

Phone Calls

Thanks for all the advice. Tehy have been calling my business#. I am self-employed,so I can't change my#. I have decided not to try to file on my own.I am going to file as soon as I can get the appintment with the lawyer.When I had my consultation, he told me it takes about 4 or 5 hours so it might be aweek or so after I call before I can get in.Looking foward to getting this behind me.thanks again,
Gina

[JeepMom]

If you are a week from filing I would tell them to stop the calls. Once you file there is nothing they can do.

I called to get balances on all my accounts(I didin't realize I shouldn't do that). LUCKILY no one did anything but I also gave them the name and phone number of the lawyer I had retained.

[13inOR]

Give them your attorneys name and number and they drop you like a hot potato, immediately.

[fellowpoorman]

Put up with it, don't talk to them, screen the calls, they aren't going to be nice , they don't give a s--- about you, they do and say anything to get you to pay, they will try to make you feel bad about yorself, they will lie and thats no way to live,l the more you pay the more they make, if you are going to file all that will stop, I have gone thru it, been stressed too, but now am discharged and case closed, no calls and am at peace in my life and all is looking good. "F" them, its time to wake up and stand up for yourself, you will not be dissapointed.

[anonymuse]

When I gave the number to two CC companies, the people were very nice. One told me that he hope things turn around for me and wished me the best.

The one that was a PITA was a collection company. They said it's only $200 so let's just start you on a payment plan anyway. I told her I obviously don't have the money and said I needed to get back to work. Not sure what she was thinking.

[fellowpoorman]

she was thinking $$$ any way I can get them. Like I said they don't care and its all about the money .(period)