Results 1 to 17 of 17

Thread: Bill collectors

  1. #1
    God/dess krchab99's Avatar
    Joined
    Mar 2004
    Posts
    3,233
    Thanks
    100
    Thanked 43 Times in 30 Posts
    My Mood
    Breezy

    Default Bill collectors

    I have a question if you are past due on a bill do you have the right to be treated with respect from the person who calls you if you are treating them with respect? I was treated so badly from a lady who called about bill we are late on i was in tears i was talking to her calmly and proffiesanly and i expected the same from her. I mean she was shouting at me i was very offened. Please offer insight.

  2. #2
    Banned Melonie's Avatar
    Joined
    Jul 2002
    Location
    way south of the border
    Posts
    25,932
    Thanks
    612
    Thanked 10,563 Times in 4,646 Posts
    Blog Entries
    3
    My Mood
    Cynical

    Default Re: Bill collectors

    In 'real world' terms, collectors of delinquent debts are trained to come across as obnoxious. Their whole 'reason for being' is to convince people to pay their overdue bills by whatever means necessary.

    From a theoretical standpoint there are legal limits in regard to just how obnoxious debt collectors can be. But again in 'real world' terms it's virtually impossible to ever bring enforcement efforts against specific obnoxious bill collectors because the people owing the overdue bills A) can't specifically identify who exactly was behaving obnoxiously, B) would likely be interpreted as being a self-serving liar seeking revenge upon a legitimate creditor

  3. #3
    God/dess Deogol's Avatar
    Joined
    Dec 2003
    Posts
    5,493
    Thanks
    120
    Thanked 50 Times in 35 Posts

    Default Re: Bill collectors

    Get use to it.

    I had financial troubles 20 years ago and my heart still skips a beat when the phone rings. I will not answer it if I don't know who it is and I give my cell phone number to no one.

    You will be called everything from a thief to a con-man and they will threaten you with prison and court actions and all kinds of shit. Sometimes they can do that - most of the time they can't - which is why they are calling you up.

    Look at it this way - think of them as economic drill instructors teaching you to never live outside of your means and to never fund a bank with credit cards, loans, etc. unless you absolutely have to to put food on the table or a roof over your head. The rest of it - simply want - not need.

    Sometimes I would have fun with them and act Jamaican (really fun!) or I couldn't speak English and tell them "Yes - I buy that! When I get?" with an asian voice.

    Don't expect any mercy from them. Most of those places are boiler rooms where the people work on commission only.

    They are being scammed too by being told "Here is a phone, a list of 'customers' (who are broke obviously), and told the BS 'You make as much money as you want by only putting the effort into it.'"

  4. #4
    Sitri
    Guest

    Default Re: Bill collectors

    I think they can only call you once a day or else it is harrassment. When they start talking just say you are aware of the debt and hang up. You aren't going to get any better or any worse of a credit rating by listening to them abuse you.
    Or, don't answer the phone.

  5. #5
    God/dess krchab99's Avatar
    Joined
    Mar 2004
    Posts
    3,233
    Thanks
    100
    Thanked 43 Times in 30 Posts
    My Mood
    Breezy

    Default Re: Bill collectors

    Thank you guys soooo much for you help i truely appricate you taking the time to responed.

  6. #6
    God/dess VenusGoddess's Avatar
    Joined
    Oct 2003
    Location
    Home
    Posts
    13,598
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 28 Times in 23 Posts

    Default Re: Bill collectors

    ^ What Sitri said. Or, if you are attempting to make payment arrangements and they are being rude, just calmly say, "Feel free to call me back when you can speak to me politely and civily." And hang up.

    You owe a bill...that does not mean that you have to take the abuse the collector is dishing out. Don't let them stress you out. Just take a deep breath. If there is nothing that you can do at this time to pay the bill/make payments on the bill, then just don't answer the phone.

  7. #7
    Veteran Member stripperMBA's Avatar
    Joined
    Jul 2006
    Location
    Texas
    Posts
    554
    Thanks
    33
    Thanked 159 Times in 58 Posts
    My Mood
    Bored

    Default Re: Bill collectors

    One of my best friends has a lot of unpaid medical bills from an accident in which he was hit head on by a druck driver. He spent about two month in the hospital, and this does not include the physical therapy he needed. He had health insurance at the time but it was just a student insurance plan.Needless to say the drunk driver just fled back to Mexico, so my friend was left with a huge bill. He has caller id if he does not recognize the number he does not pick it up. If he does talk to them he says,"I am recording this conversation." They will either refuse to speak with him or just keep it to business without all the crazy threats. If he does pick it up accidently most of the time he just hangs up. You do not have to talk to them, so don't.
    "Can we read it on the Smoking Gun? "

  8. #8
    Temporarily Banned Vaughn's Avatar
    Joined
    May 2006
    Location
    USA
    Posts
    246
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts

    Default Re: Bill collectors

    You have the right to demand that they 100% stop calling you, period. Just send a certifed letter that demands they contact you by U.S. mail and ONLY by mail.

    If they call you after they sign for the letter you have the legal right to sue them for violation of FDCA .

    c) CEASING COMMUNICATION. If a consumer notifies a debt collector in writing that the consumer refuses to pay a debt or that the consumer wishes the debt collector to cease further communication with the consumer, the debt collector shall not communicate further with the consumer with respect to such debt, except --

    (1) to advise the consumer that the debt collector's further efforts are being terminated;

    (2) to notify the consumer that the debt collector or creditor may invoke specified remedies which are ordinarily invoked by such debt collector or creditor; or

    (3) where applicable, to notify the consumer that the debt collector or creditor intends to invoke a specified remedy.

    If such notice from the consumer is made by mail, notification shall be complete upon receipt.

  9. #9
    Veteran Member Rockette's Avatar
    Joined
    Aug 2006
    Location
    everywhere
    Posts
    632
    Thanks
    87
    Thanked 40 Times in 30 Posts
    My Mood
    Amused

    Default Re: Bill collectors

    Scream at the top of your lungs into the phone. I am actually not on the national do not call list, but telemarketers have stopped calling me entirely because I scream at the top of my lungs when they call me. Shortly after I started doing that, they stopped calling entirely.

    Never had to deal with bill collectors, but this tactic might work the same.
    Isocrates: “Democracy destroys itself because it abuses its right to freedom and equality. Because it teaches its citizens to consider audacity as a right, lawlessness as a freedom, abrasive speech as equality, and anarchy as progress.”

  10. #10
    madmaxine
    Guest

    Default Re: Bill collectors

    I don't recommend this, but when bill collectors would call my ex-boyfriend's apartment, I would B.S. with them (some of these people just have to confirm that they talked to someone/ got a promise of payment.) I told my ex to tell the collectors that the repeated calls were making him depressed & suicidal, and they'd never get their money if he killed himself......
    One day I overheard him using the "don't push me to the edge" routine to a bill collector. LOL! And he did pay off his debts eventually, so there's one happy ending.

  11. #11
    BrunetteGoddess
    Guest

    Default Re: Bill collectors

    ^^^lmao

  12. #12
    God/dess cinammonkisses's Avatar
    Joined
    Aug 2002
    Location
    Some Fat guys Lap!
    Posts
    9,647
    Thanks
    11
    Thanked 90 Times in 67 Posts

    Default Re: Bill collectors

    Quote Originally Posted by madmaxine
    I would B.S. with them (some of these people just have to confirm that they talked to someone/ got a promise of payment.)
    This is the scenario when they call me:
    Them: "May I speak with ____________"
    Me: "whose calling?"
    Them: "Is this ______________"
    Me: "Maybe"


    LMAO that totally pisses them off. I once had the girl say, "look I dont have time for this." She hung up on me. I called HER back at her office and I was like, "yea you hung up on me. You didn't tell me what you wanted" I am such a biotch, boi I tell ya







    Some Douchebag: "[Pimp C] 12:43 am: its true we got to stick together the black people on SW CK you is teh condoleeza of SW"


  13. #13
    God/dess sxybrat07's Avatar
    Joined
    Jan 2006
    Location
    in yer bum
    Posts
    3,827
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 12 Times in 11 Posts

    Default Re: Bill collectors

    Eh, I guess I'm the evil one here, but it's because I was a collector for quite awhile. Collectors don't start out being total assholes, but after listening to lame ass excuses, people screaming in their ears, and generally being rude for 8 hours, you can see where they'd get slightly bitchy.

    My advice, simply explain what's going on and be civil. That's really your best bet. Cuz trust me, we only reciprocated rudeness with more rudeness. If someone had taken the time to be civil, I was civil back. If they aren't, ask calmly for a supervisor.

    As far as asking what they want and things like that, they don't tell you, cuz legally they can't unless you're the debtor. That was always a huge pain in my ass too. "why do you want to talk to her?" "i need to speak with her" "well you can't til you tell me" "love to. can't." GRRR
    I believe you Dottie and you have my support

  14. #14
    Featured Member xbloodydewdropx's Avatar
    Joined
    Dec 2005
    Location
    New England
    Posts
    967
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 12 Times in 5 Posts

    Default Re: Bill collectors

    If your state allows it, you can record the phone call without informing the other party. However, some states require consent, or notification that you're recording.

  15. #15
    God/dess FrustratedBunny's Avatar
    Joined
    Jan 2006
    Location
    New Orleans, LA
    Posts
    2,457
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 4 Times in 4 Posts

    Default Re: Bill collectors

    In FL it is illegal to record phone conversations so be careful about the laws in your state.

  16. #16
    Moderator Optimist's Avatar
    Joined
    Feb 2004
    Location
    House of Aion
    Posts
    8,074
    Thanks
    7,881
    Thanked 5,705 Times in 2,127 Posts
    My Mood
    In Love

    Default Re: Bill collectors

    Quote Originally Posted by cinammonkisses
    I called HER back at her office and I was like, "yea you hung up on me. You didn't tell me what you wanted" I am such a biotch, boi I tell ya
    God, I love that!

  17. #17
    God/dess kitty260's Avatar
    Joined
    Oct 2005
    Location
    Winterpeg, Manitoba
    Posts
    2,042
    Thanks
    0
    Thanked 5 Times in 3 Posts

    Default Re: Bill collectors

    I worked as a collector for a while. It's true that we don't start out being obnoxious bitches but the burn out sets in quickly. I used to be cheerful and sweet on the phone, until I learned how to tell who was bullshitting me and who was playing games. Put it this way: The collectors are going to get your money one way or another. Fucking with them is just going to prolong the agony...because they're not going to stop calling. The only way to get them to leave you alone is by clearing the debt.

    When I knew people were bullshitting me and fucking around I was a lot harder on them then I needed to be. I was still polite but no longer genuinely nice. I stopped caring about the well-being of some of the debtors. I knew damn well who the honest ones were, the ones who had just fallen on hard times, and I cut them a break. Worked with them to develop a feasible payment plan, and was just generally nicer. The others? I was absolutely ruthless (and yes, I did work on 100% commission). I've put in many an order to take someone's house, their car, and all their belongings to go to auction and never once did I feel sorry about it because they chose not to take it seriously and screwed around when I'd call.

    So if you want advice from an experienced collector....be serious and polite and they'll cut you a break. To the OP...there was no excuse for you to be treated that way. I may have been ruthless but I was always very polite whether I was just reminding someone about an outstanding bill or having their car repossessed. Find out what collection agency called you and phone their customer service department. Bitch until you're blue in the face. An agent never has the right to treat a client like that.
    \

Similar Threads

  1. bill me later
    By shannonkristin in forum Other Work
    Replies: 19
    Last Post: 03-14-2011, 10:01 PM
  2. Replies: 0
    Last Post: 12-19-2007, 02:40 PM
  3. Just got the bill
    By AudreyLeigh in forum Body Business
    Replies: 16
    Last Post: 10-31-2007, 03:03 PM
  4. just got a bill
    By cheetahchick in forum The Lounge
    Replies: 11
    Last Post: 03-04-2007, 10:46 PM
  5. Bill collectors
    By krchab99 in forum The Lounge
    Replies: 0
    Last Post: 08-19-2006, 06:38 AM

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •