We need a new law to require creditors to back the hell off

[ddeclue]

when people are unemployed short of having to declare bankruptcy.

I'm getting calls all the time now and I've already told them I'm not working and have no prospects and will pay them as soon as I can get back to work.

This is just harassment and will not get them any money since I have none to give them anyways.

Doug D.

[UndertheOcean]

1. Just hang up on them !

[ddeclue]

7. I usually do or let the machine get it 90% of the time but they just keep on calling.nt

[saigon68]

12. You Can thank the Senator from MBNA

That would be Joe Biden (D) Delaware architect of the 2005 Bush Bankruptcy Bill (A Truly Bi-Partisan Effort)

The one that CLINTON vetoed 3 times in the 90's

[Maru Kitteh]

27. It's time for a new bill to repair that damage - one that recognizes our new realities.

That was one crappy bill.

[undeterred]

28. Joe hasn't actually lived on "main street" for a long time.

[rcrush]

2. The worst part is the time of day that they call.

These people call me at 730 in the morning and its not even a person at the other end. Its some robocall telling me to call this number. I've had to turn my phone off at night so I can sleep in. Or if you dont answer the phone at 730 then they call you at lunch and at dinner.

[midnight]

3. That is awful.

[SoCalDem]

4. change your number?

That would stall for a while..

[Tandalayo_Scheisskopf]

6. A call at such an hour is patently illegal and harassment.

The next time they call, log or record, with timestamps(This is where recording onto your computer can be your friend) the call, and call your state's attorney general's office for a referral to the appropriate agency where you can file a complaint.

[Skink]

5. Once you start working again they'll call work if you don't answer at home.

[ddeclue]

11. The hell they will... they keep asking for additional numbers to call me at

and I keep telling them to jump up my ass.

Doug D.

[Telly Savalas]

26. Even if they were to get a work number I believe they are forbidden to contact you there

if you tell them to stop.

There are some protections in place to keep people from being excessively harassed by creditors, although there certainly aren't enough. I'm too lazy to google them up right now, but I'd encourage you to do so.

[madville]

8. Have you tried calling them ?

Have you tried calling them and speaking with customer service? Ask what you're options are, can they reduce interest, delay payment, settle a balance for less, etc, etc.

I guess it depends on what type of creditors we are talking about. Are we talking credit cards, vehicles, student loans, home mortgage, medical bills, unpaid utility bills, (insert creditor here) ?

[ddeclue]

15. Credit cards and today the DirecTV people

who have already turned off my signal...

There's really no negotiating with these people unless you have a job and a source of income.

They are demanding that I ask relatives, roommates, friends etc. for money and I've told them I live alone and it's not anyone else's responsibility anyways.

Then they always ask if I'm collecting unemployment and I tell them no - which I'm not because I'm working on a side project that will eventually get me a little money - and even if I was it's only $275 a week here in FL which doesn't even pay my rent.

[Mother Of Four]

22. Make sure you get online and REMOVE your card information-

If you were paying your DTV bill online.

A friend of mine just had 700+ dollars sucked out of his account as a "final payment" as agreed to in the fine print of paying with his card.

Make sure your bank knows NOW that you don't authorize any further payments to DTV, and if you decide to get them again reset it back up with your bank.

DTV people policy is slimy, they even hit my friend for hardware costs.

They let it go 6 months, then smacked his account for the money with no clear warning- they said "Look at the back of your bill (in very small type) it's all there"

Friend and new wife are fighting it right now, because they only owed 200 something.

[JDPriestly]

9. Remember, the guys who are calling you were probably unemployed

not all that long ago. They get paid to call you. It puts food on their tables. So, just tell them you understand why they are calling, but if you had a job like them, you would pay. Until you get one, you can't pay.

[ddeclue]

17. Sorry but I have little sympathy for them and most of these people

sound like they are calling from out of the country anyways and if they'd listen and not keep calling every 3 days on the same bill I wouldn't mind but clearly things are NOT going to turn around so dramatically that I can pay someone in 3 days if I can't pay them now.

[JVS]

25. The guy at the other end had no control over what number is dialed.

Once you pick up, the computer gets a message and connects you with an operator while flashing your name and info on his/her screen.

[Greyhound]

10. You can get rid of them pretty easily. When they call, start gathering their information,

who is calling, what company do they work for, what is their main company mailing address, and return phone number. Next you draft a http://clarkhoward.com/topics/drop_dead_letter.html">drop dead letter and send it to them.

This is very effective and they really hate it when citizens know their rights.

[ima_sinnic]

16. you can take it one step further with a cease and desist letter

this letter sounds much more "authoritative" than Clark Howard's, though I suppose his is also legal and effective:
http://www.ihatedebt.com/DealingWithYourCreditors/DealingWithDebtCollectors/Cease_and_Desist_Letter_for_Debt_Collectors.php

on edit: by the way, if you don't have caller ID, it's worth the small investment for your sanity. Though I have no overdue debts, I get calls all the time for somebody who apparently used to have my phone number. Whenever I see an 800 or other toll-free number in the ID, or "out of area," I just ignore it. It goes to voicemail, where I promptly delete it.

[ddeclue]

19. Yes I have caller ID but these people fake their CID to say unknown

or all zeroes or other crap like that.

:argh:

[ima_sinnic]

23. also ignore the unknowns and the all zeroes

in the unlikely event it's someone you know, you can always call them back immediately. Just check your messages regularly. Really! I have gotten out of the habit of feeling I MUST answer the phone every time it rings. Try it! even with friends, I call them back.

[ddeclue]

24. It's hard to do that though because I am also job searching

and the recruiting agencies have an annoying habit of ALSO using "unknown" so you don't know if it is a recruiter or a bill collector until the call is answered. I generally screen, let the machine pick up and if it is a recruiter pick up and talk to them.

The bill collectors apparently have an auto detection system to know if they are talking to a machine because they usually hang up immediately when a machine kicks in. That is ALSO annoying because I have NO idea who called if I try to screen the call most of the time.

Doug D.

[ddeclue]

18. OUTSTANDING! I will use this one starting with the next call...

:)

[Matariki]

13. You can tell then to only contact you via mail

check out this site: http://www.fair-debt-collection.com/rules/harrassment-abuse-tactics-6.html

6. Section 806(5) prohibits contacting the consumer by telephone "repeatedly or continuously with intent to annoy, abuse, or harass any person at the called number."

1. Multiple phone calls. "Continuously" means making a series of telephone calls, one right after the other. "Repeatedly" means calling with excessive frequency under the circumstances.

[Matariki]

14. another link

http://www.consumerrightsgroup.com/Credit_Harassment_Inner_Page.aspx

[brer cat]

20. Pick a date in the future

Tell them you are getting a tax refund, or something. They will leave you alone until that date.

[NJCher]

21. the stop harrassing me letters really work

here's one I wrote after I researched the law:

Dear Sir/Madam:

Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, you must cease calling this phone number if you are sent a letter asking you to do so. It is not convenient for me to accept your calls between the hours of 8 a.m. and 9 p.m. as I work two jobs.

If you call this number again after receipt of this letter, I will report you to the Federal Trade Commission and the office of my state attorney general.

Sincerely,




And I didn't even sign it with my name--just the phone number at which they were calling me.