Debt Collectors

[skp9011]

A Debt Collector Who is Trying to Find a Debtor Cannot…

Tell a third party that he/she is a debt collector, unless asked,

Use a postcard or indicate on the envelope that he/she is engaged in
debt collection, or

Contact a person other than the debtor more than once to learn the
debtor’s location.



Once a Debtor Is Located, a Debt Collector Cannot…

Contact you at an unusual time (generally between 9:00 p.m. and 8:00
a.m.),

Make continuous or anonymous phone calls to harass you,
Contact you at your place of work if the employer forbids
communication during work hours,

Use profanity or other abusive language,

Threaten to use violence or other criminal means to harm your person,
reputation or property,

Impersonate a police officer or government official,

Misrepresent the legal status of a debt,

Threaten imprisonment or other action that legally the bill collector
or creditor could not take, or

Make other false and misleading statements.

You can write to the bill collector saying that you want him/her to
cease communications. The bill collector must stop contacting you
except to advise you of any legal action he/she or the creditor
intends to take.




If a Debt Collector Violates the Law, You May…

Notify the Federal Trade Commission, 202-326-2222, which supervises
the bill collector.

Sue for actual damages and punitive damages.

 

[Lost-In-Translation]

There are a lot of "can't dos" with bill collectors, the majority of them
will violate anyway knowing that most people they are harassing don't know
the rules.

Like the bill collector for citibank visa who suggested that a fellow commit
suicide so his life insurance would pay off, then the estate could settle
the debt with the bill collector. He told the guy that if he didn't do it he
was going to make his wife's life a living hell. That one was rich! and
CNN had a field day with it.

Bill collectors are garbage, no morals or scruples either one. Turn over in
that industry is like 99% and most of them are doing it while between jobs
anyway.

My best advise is not pretty, tell them all to **** off!

 

[RacerX]

This is a very stressful time for you. Have some fun with these idiots.
It'll help relieve some of the stress.

You could just not answer but where is the fun in that? I suggest the
following:

1. When they call and say "May I speak with John" simply say "Sure, Let me
get him". Then set the phone down and go on with whatever you were doing.
2. Tell them they've got a very sexy voice and ask them what they are
wearing.
3. Keep track of all the collectors phone numbers. When you do talk to one
of them tell him or her you can talk to them tomorrow at work. Then give him
one of the other collector's phone numbers and tell them to page you at work
tomorrow.
4. Get a Sponge Bob Square Pants DVD and have the theme song playing really
loud when you answer the call. Act like you can't hear them while you sing
along with the theme song "Who lives in a pineapple under the sea?"
5. Tell them you don't have time to talk right now because you just won
$1000 on a scratch-off lottery card and you're going out partying with your
friends.
6. Tell them you can't send a payment right now because you sent all your
money to a preacher you saw on television.
7. Tell them one of your other creditors has agreed to take 10 cents on the
dollar so all of your extra money is going to that creditor.

Just some thoughts. I actually did six of the seven items listed here. I
still chuckle when I think about it.

Good Luck to you.

 

[Joe]

There are a lot of "can't dos" with bill collectors, the majority of them
will violate anyway knowing that most people they are harassing don't know
the rules.

Like the bill collector for citibank visa who suggested that a fellow commit
suicide so his life insurance would pay off, then the estate could settle
the debt with the bill collector. He told the guy that if he didn't do it he
was going to make his wife's life a living hell. That one was rich! and
CNN had a field day with it.

Bill collectors are garbage, no morals or scruples either one. Turn over in
that industry is like 99% and most of them are doing it while between jobs
anyway.

My best advise is not pretty, tell them all to **** off!

Apparently they cannot reveal who they are until they know who they
are speaking with, so this is a good way to have fun. I had one call a
while back, and ask if I was Joe Bloe. I said who is this calling?
They said is this Joe Bloe? I said I will not tell you who I am till
you tell me who you are, since you called me. They said they could
not say who they were unless I was Joe Bloe. Was I? That depends on
who is calling, who are you? Round and round until THEY actually hung
up ON ME!