Do collectors have to know my phone number?

[maxobk]

In July I've stopped making payments on all my credit cards after making minimum payments on maxed out cards for over a year or so. My problem is that they do not have my phone number as a result of recent move around the time of my default. Of course they have been notified about my new address so those statements with ridiculous interest rates and late fees are still being mailed to me together with some initial collection letters that seem like in-house attempts to collect the grossly enlarged amounts. However I do not get any collection calls since they don't know my new number. I'll probably end up filing BK in the spring or sooner if Judgment comes around, but in the meantime should I let them know my phone number, or written communication about my inability of keeping up payments do to loss of work and being insolvent should keep me in "good faith"?

Do they have to know my phone number?

[chpxiii]

Do not give them your phone number. Write them and tell them that all communications with you must be in a writing. You will then start a paper trail.

[thewife]

If they know your address and cannot communicate with you, they could try tracking down relatives and neighbors. I simply ignored my phone and let my voicemail get full, thinking that this would make them leave me alone. My neighbors got called, my in-laws, calls to work, faxes to work. I finally ended up giving them my cell phone number so they would stop calling other people. The man that I spoke to said they will stop at NOTHING to make sure they talk to you even if they have to call neighbors.

I would definitely send the letter telling them that they cannot call you and all communication must be done in writing. It's worth a shot, but if they are as aggressive as mine were, they might start calling other people.

[maxobk]

Thanks for the replies...

I probably don't worry about collectors calling my neighbors or relatives as much as myself "acting in bad faith" by not providing any phone number. Can they use that against me in court?

It's been three months that I have stopped making payments.
I have two unlisted numbers and a cell phone. I only use my secondary line not the main "billing" phone number. So even if they find my "main" phone number it's just an answering machine. But it's so quiet that I actually have to check that it's working.

My relatives are all over the world. Some even I cannot find. I'm self employed whenever I get some work, so it's unlikely they would call my "employer".

[familyof7]

No you do not HAVE to give them your phone # and I personally would not

[dscurlock]

I probably don't worry about collectors calling my neighbors or relatives as much as myself "acting in bad faith" by not providing any phone number. Can they use that against me in court?

It's been three months that I have stopped making payments.
I have two unlisted numbers and a cell phone. I only use my secondary line not the main "billing" phone number. So even if they find my "main" phone number it's just an answering machine. But it's so quiet that I actually have to check that it's working.

My relatives are all over the world. Some even I cannot find. I'm self employed whenever I get some work, so it's unlikely they would call my "employer".

i stopped making payments two years ago, most of them will give up after a while...I do not have a phone, i use those internet free voice mail boxes...and i have 2-3 new credit cards, i guess someone thinks im worthy again...ive been thinking about filing chap 13, so i can clean the slate up once and for all.

[wingnut]

If worried, send a letter.

Hey,

You are not required to provide an explanation as to why you aren't paying your bills. As mentioned earlier, you could stop all communication attempts by sending one of those cease and desist letters.

Personally, I just put them on hold while crazy music plays in the background. For some reason, they still keep calling, probably due to their automated dialers / etc. I've also noticed that the more funny and/or offensive the music is, the longer they'll listen.

Ultimately, it will probably be between you and a trustee regarding why you weren't paying.

Don't let them fool you into believing that they are more powerful than they actually are. I stopped paying my cards in April of 2006, and only 1 card has begun the arbitration process, which is still ongoing. I wouldn't be surprised if it takes 1.5 - 2 years usually to go from not paying to having your wages garnished.

Best of Luck,

Wingnut