Debt-collector abuse claims surge

[RockaFowler]

The Federal Trade Commission says consumer complaints about debt collectors tactics, including abusive, obscene and threatening phone calls, have skyrocketed during the economic downturn.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39153113/vp/39737563#39737563

[BlueIris]

1. No comments? Fine, I will: what's next, debtors prisons? nt

[pipoman]

6. Uh, it doesn't seem this is government sanctioned

there is the Fair Debt Collection Act which makes most of these claims punishable.

[ejpoeta]

2. people don't know they have rights. and debt collectors know that the vast

majority don't know they have rights.

[sharp_stick]

3. I had one of these scumbags

calling me shortly after we moved to CT. They were looking for someone with the same last name and obviously I must know who they are because I now live in the same metro area as the deadbeat they were looking for.

It started off innocently enough they were "polite" when I told them that we just moved here and had no idea who Monica was then the calls started to pick up in frequency and started to come a bit early in the morning.

One day my wife told me that the collection scumbag called her a bitch when she was a bit short with the asshole for calling at 7:30 AM so I'd had enough.

Nasty confrontation the next time the scumbag phoned, he told me that he knew where I lived, I called him a couple of choice names and asked him to come on by. He hung up, I called his company, reported him to someone that was supposed to be a supervisor and then called the AG office in CT. I never heard from them again.

[Missy Vixen]

4. The complaints will continue till there's actually decisive, punitive action taken

against collection companies that break the law on a national level.

Of course, I'm sure that's interfering with the "free market".

What's the unemployment rate again?

:eyes:

[NNN0LHI]

5. Shit, even I have been getting them and I don't owe anybody a dime

Some are for the guy who used to own this house over 20 years ago before I bought it.

:shrug:

Don

[EFerrari]

8. I just got a notice from MasterCard and I haven't had an account with them

since 1982 and still don't owe them any money. Maybe they're phishing.

[Dappleganger]

9. We used to get them because of one of the neighbors

they would call houses around the neighbor's home in hopes that we knew them and we tell Mr. Q to call them back on the "urgent business matter." After the third call I told them that if they called one more time I was going to report them for their nasty business practices. I never told Mr. Q that creditors were calling here as he has a nice family and I don't give a damn about what they owe, it's none of my business.

[Posteritatis]

10. Last place I lived in was previously full of people like that

Debt collectors calling constantly, in three or four languages, and letting the phone ring as long as necessary to get someone on the other end of the line. One day I just let it ring to see how persistent they were, and one let the phone ring seventy times.

[SmileyRose]

14. heh heh

my husband has become disabled and is home most of the time - and often bored. We started getting calls from one of these schmucks who simply had a phone number that had been typoed into their computer. (we've had this phone number for over 30 years) First time the guy called screaming right off the bat about how my husband committed fraud for $174 and is going to jail - my husband called me at work in tears. I called them back but it didn't help much.

So of course that's not the funny part.


Once husband understood what the deal was he decided to play with the asshole. Next time jerkface called , husband says, "Oh you have the wrong phone number, let me see if I can get that number for you." puts the phone down where jerkface can hear the TV, husband ruffling papers etc for a good 5 minutes or more - husband picks it up "you still there?" - yes - "hang on I'm looking to see if I can find that guy's phone number for you." - wanders off 10 minutes - Jerkface is still there waiting. Unbelievable.

There's been 9 calls so far, the record husband has kept them on hold is 30 minutes - sometimes can hear them screaming into the phone hoping to get him to come back. It's a landline, costs us nothing, and nearly all the important calls we'd want to get are on the cell, so he knows we miss nothing.

It's a 2fer. Husband is so proud of himself and enjoys the entertainment and jerkface gets all wound up.

[AnArmyVeteran]

16. Get a cheap whistle and blow it when they call!

It will hurt their ears until they hang up.

[cbdo2007]

12. There are a lot of protections if YOU are the one they are after.....then on the other hand

if you have that person's number they can harrass you all they want.

We're in the same scenario at our house. I ended up asking for the company name of each company that called and keeping track and when one called three times I told them I would report them to the attorney general. It seemed to have worked....for awhile.

[ChoralScholar]

7. I talked to one today

On a debt from years ago. I was conciliatory - I owe the money and am glad to make payments. The dude was seriously hateful. "LET ME TELL YOU WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT" kind of deal.

[truebrit71]

11. If it's beyond the SOL in your state tell them to go pound sand..

...nothing good comes from re-awakening zombie debt...and by admitting that the debt is yours you just re-started the SOL time limit and they can report the debt as new on your credit report...

[SmileyRose]

13. Love your sig pic

:hi:

[Liberal_in_LA]

15. horrible. I hope you hung up on him

[AnArmyVeteran]

17. When they call speak in a foreign language. It's fun!

I didn't owe anyone, but I kept getting calls for the previous user of my phone number. When I realized who was calling I began speaking in broken Spanish and a lot of made up Spanish sounding stuff. The English speaking debt collector told me to hold on and a minute later a Spanish speaking person began speaking. Then I changed to speaking in a completely made up Japanese 'language'. The debt collectors were going crazy because they had no way to communicate.

If you want to turn a nuisance call into a funny event that ties up those debt collector goons I've found this is a great way to waste their time and amuse yourself. I've also used this tactic on telemarketers too because I believe anyone who calls me who I don't know or I do not do business with is free game. And it's a lot if fun.

[Canuckistanian]

18. I can imagine what happens in a job interview for a debt collector job

"So, how much of an asshole ARE you?"