Did cc companies/debt collectors call your PARENTS?

[newstart4me]

I read on another thread where someone had debt collectors call her parents about her debt. What can be done if anything to prevent this? Filing BK is stressful enough w/o me thinking about my parents receiving these calls! They are older and have their own financial woes! I do not want them involved. How do these companies find your parents if they don't have any connections to you credit wise? I know I will be filing and need to be proactive about stopping these kinds of calls if I can. Thank you all for your wonderful advice!

[JRScott]

Generally creditors only contact friends and family if they cannot contact you. The best way to help avoid this is to get an answering machine. Leave a clear and concise message on it identifying yourself and then they can leave a message.

As for how they get the names and numbers, all kinds of ways. The most common is if you've ever shared a bank account, address, etc with someone else.

[newstart4me]

Will leaving a clear and concise message on my cell phone voicemail do the same thing? I don't have a land line.

[JRScott]

Yes it should.

[Flamingo]

When you applied for your loan or credit card(s), there is almost always a space where you have to put the "next closest relative not living with you" name(s) on the application. That is where they get the contact information of anyone they call when they cannot reach you. If you read all the fine print when you appliy for a loan or credit card, it is all stated in there. Unfortunately, the majority of us never read the fine print and are baffled when certain events occur if bills are not paid.

[Cali]

No, but one did call my neighbor across the street. The reason they claimed to call them was because they couldn't get a hold of me, which wasn't true since I've lived in the same place for 4 yrs, with the same phone number.

[Critty]

I had one call my parents. For the life of me, I don't remember ever putting their names on anything. I told my dad to tell them they haven't heard from me. They said to tell us they called next time they see us. My dad just laughed and said okay and that I live 1400 miles away and wouldn't be making any trips soon seeing that we are broke, lol. They never called them again.