12-step plan to deal with collectors and keep your sanity!

[JJH77]

This is an awesome post! I'm just starting this whole bk process and creditors are calling my work even after telling them I cannot receive personal calls at work! They've even called and left messages with minutes on the same day and lied that it wasn't hem when it clearly was the same person bc she left her name and number for call back. Since then I've filed a complaint with FTC Consumer Finance. Not sure what the outcome is but I had to do something. I wanted to move forward with the process however in Jan of this year I had a car accident and was injured and need surgery and currently have a personal injury case that's unresolved. My attorney has advised me to hold off on bk until afterwards. I'm so afraid of having my wages garnished or account frozen especially from this bottom feeder loan company that harassing me. Has any had a unique issue such as this? TIA

[kasey227]

Thank you!!! Just starting the process, will be getting google voice! By the way, what is a JBD?

[HopefulMamma]

Many thanks for this awesome thread! I thought I had most everything covered & then read your suggestion about removing authorized users on all (to be discharged) accounts... I don't know if I'd ever have thought of that.. I have one account my hubby is linked to and am thrilled that deleting him off that account will save some lates on his credit report!

I really appreciate the time and effort you took to type & post this!

Hopeful

[Sammie]

Thank you for this very imformative forum & posts.

Because of all your great advice and information, we changed our bank accounts from Wells Fargo to a small bank in town. Closing our safe deposit box tomorrow. My husband went online to all of our credit card accounts & changed our phone numbers. We signed all of the papers this past week & file this coming Wed., Aug. 1st.

We were current on everything until last week, so I think we were ahead of them, at least up to this point.sammie

[GoingDown]

Yes, I agree with you on this.

[dman]

Do you think it is really necessary to call the debt collector from a pay phone when you are using your Google Voice number to call them?

I don't think so. I don't think they could get your real number from that call because it is actually Google Voice calling the debt collector, not your real phone.

Google Voice first calls you, then once you answer the phone, Google Voice dials the debt collector's phone number, so all they would see on their caller I.D. is the Google Voice number, not your real phone number.

So far, it has worked fine for me just using Google Voice to call them, using my cell phone, not a pay phone. They have not yet found my cell phone number using this method.

And yes, don't give them any other information, if you do choose to talk to them on the phone. They are experts at getting information out of debtors.

The point is simply to not directly call them from your phone, from your friend's phone, a work phone, etc. Calling from a payphone would be ok. As would calling them using your GV number (I'd recommend using the call-back feature in the call history; this will insure you don't accidentally call them from the wrong GV account).

[GoingDown]

Full disclosure, that pretty much sums me up.

HOWEVER, only about half of what I wrote pertains to avoiding creditor calls. Also, it's pretty easy to combine the "Ostrich" method and your "Grow a Backbone" method. I even go into detail about how to handle any calls you make to them (i.e. call using a special GV number you set up just for creditors or from a payphone...but NOT from your real number, work number, friend's number, etc.). It's simple. Go through your call history once a week. Call each company once, tell them you still exist, confirm name/address/phone number, tell them your situation has not changed, and hang up (don't let them keep you on the phone). Don't say anything else (i.e., do NOT say "well yeah, I know I owe you money, but..."). If you really want to talk to them, I think that's the way to do it. No need to have the phone ringing off the hook, dozens of calls a day (or more), scared to answer the phone, stressed out of your mind, etc.

Do you think it is really necessary to call the debt collector from a pay phone when you are using your Google Voice number to call them?

I don't think so. I don't think they could get your real number from that call because it is actually Google Voice calling the debt collector, not your real phone.

Google Voice first calls you, then once you answer the phone, Google Voice dials the debt collector's phone number, so all they would see on their caller I.D. is the Google Voice number, not your real phone number.

So far, it has worked fine for me just using Google Voice to call them, using my cell phone, not a pay phone. They have not yet found my cell phone number using this method.

And yes, don't give them any other information, if you do choose to talk to them on the phone. They are experts at getting information out of debtors.

[GoingDown]

I agree with dman on this.

GV gives you control over whether or not you choose to answer the phone. It gives you a clue as to who may be calling you upon which you can base your decision to either answer the phone or let it go to voicemail.

In my experience, once the debt collector calls you even just once on GV and gets you on the phone, they will keep calling that same number over and over again, without trying to call neighbors or relatives. Especially if you have your voicemail set up to clearly say your name, so they know they have the right phone number to reach you. From time to time you can go ahead and answer it to let them know that they have reached you at the right phone number, and then hang up on them. But being a slave to the phone, by thinking you always have to answer every call from a debt collector would be torture. Like dman said, sometimes they will call over and over, many times during the same day. I don't suggest answering the phone over and over for them. And in any case, NEVER give them any information, if you do choose to answer the phone. Just let them know they have the right person, tell them to stop calling you on the phone, and then hang up on them. And don't answer if they call right back.

Another option is to tape record their phone calls (if it is legal in your state) and tell them you are tape recording them to try to catch any violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, and then play back a little bit of the tape for them, so they get to hear themselves on the tape recorder, so they know you aren't bluffing, and that tends to get them off the phone in a hurry, and many times it gets them to stop calling you. They don't want to be tape recorded by you. They know they are probably going to violate the FDCPA during the call, and they don't want you to get it on tape. With Google Voice, you can record all inbound calls from debt collectors by simply pressing 4 on your phone. So you can get an mp3 recording of the entire conversation. It is a great feature of GV. That way you don't even need a tape recorder to record their calls, but if you want to play it back for them on the spot and still record their call to get their reaction to you playing back the recording you will need both a tape recorder and the record option on Google Voice. Remember, this only works on inbound calls, so they have to call your Google Voice number to activate this option.



For those debt collectors who do go on to call neighbors, relatives, or call you at work, then I would suggest sending them a cease and desist communications letter in the mail to get them to stop calling. In the many, many times I have sent one of these in the mail to debt collectors, I have only had one of them ignore it and keep calling me. I finally got them to stop calling me by filing a complaint with my local attorney general's office, which sent them an official letter in the mail.

[dman]

Argh, my long reply was eaten by the forum! Short version:

Just because you have a separate GV for creditors, doesn't mean you HAVE to hide from them. You can have calls to this GV number forwarded to your landline too. And while you can only have one GV number forwarding to a mobile number, you can simply tell GV that your mobile number is actually a home (or landline) number. You'll lose some nifty features like text forwarding, but calls will still be forwarded.

My way, you get to CHOOSE if and when you answer a collector's call. What if you answer every call, but they don't like the answer and decide to call every 5 minutes? If you have GV, you can block their calls. But what if they keep calling from a different number?

A neat trick with GV, is you can choose to have the caller's number show on your forwarded phone's caller-id, or your GV number. So let's say your GV number is 212-555-1212. You can have it set so that anytime anyone calls it, the number that shows up on your real phone (landline or mobile) is always 212-555-1212. Now, you won't know exactly who is calling, but you'd know which number they called. So have your "real" (i.e. the one you give friends/family/work) GV number pass through the caller's number (so when your mom calls, your mom's number shows on your caller-id), and have the "collections" GV number pass itself as the caller-id (so any time someone called 212-555-1212, whether it's capital one or hsbc or citi or WHOEVER, on your forwarded phone the caller-id will always read 212-555-1212). This is great if you HAVE to take calls from work (say, you're on call for a shift or whatever). If a local number pops up that you don't recognize...well you know they called your real GV number (or perhaps the phone's true number) and you always answer. If a collector calls, it'll show up 212-555-1212, so you can ignore it or answer, whichever you choose.

My way just gives you extra control. You can ignore the calls, answer every single one, answer some of them when you feel like it, whatever. It's all up to you. Someone could start out ignoring every collector call, later change their mind, and then answer every collector call. Or they can start out answering every call, change their mind, and with a few clicks they can ignore every single collector call.

[Bell30656]

Dman, I took it even farther to make certain that I received their calls. I have Vonage for home phone service and I forwarded my calls to my cell phone just so that I'd never miss their calls giving them an excuse to start "Attempt to locate" calls.

[dman]

Ostrich will work fine if you are not employed, you don't care if neighbors or relatives find out and you are lucky enough to not get served with a few lawsuits.

Full disclosure, that pretty much sums me up.

HOWEVER, only about half of what I wrote pertains to avoiding creditor calls. Also, it's pretty easy to combine the "Ostrich" method and your "Grow a Backbone" method. I even go into detail about how to handle any calls you make to them (i.e. call using a special GV number you set up just for creditors or from a payphone...but NOT from your real number, work number, friend's number, etc.). It's simple. Go through your call history once a week. Call each company once, tell them you still exist, confirm name/address/phone number, tell them your situation has not changed, and hang up (don't let them keep you on the phone). Don't say anything else (i.e., do NOT say "well yeah, I know I owe you money, but..."). If you really want to talk to them, I think that's the way to do it. No need to have the phone ringing off the hook, dozens of calls a day (or more), scared to answer the phone, stressed out of your mind, etc.

[Bell30656]

While this is a great way to avoid all the collection calls, I personally call the Ostrich Method. When you stick your head in the sand the issues are still there, you just don't know about them. Hiding from collectors is a sure way to really piss them off. Often when a collector figures out you are hiding from them they will move ahead with filing suit. If a JDB has your debt all bets are off. These bottom-feeders won't hesitate to call your neighbors. They'll just run a couple computer checks and start doing attempt to locate calls. If the calling the neighbors doesn't get you to call them back, then they'll resort to calling others in your town with the same last name. If you live in a small enough town.

It was enjoyable having my ex-wife tell me about a collection call from a JDB looking for me. JDB's will also call your work, attempting to locate you. I had one that dialed random extensions leaving voice mails asking me to call him. Very effective in getting me to call him back.

I subscribe to another method. I call it the Grow a Backbone Method. When the debt collector calls, answer the call. Generally the more answer the less calls you get. After I confirm my identity with the collection agent, I then tell the debt collector that I do not discuss financial matters over the telephone. NO matter what they say, I stick to my mantra. My calls are short and sweet. As soon as the id verification is out of the way, I am quick. I tell them I don't discuss these matters over the phone, bid them a good day and hang up before they can protest. Collection agents want to be in control. They cannot stand you seizing their control.

Ostrich will work fine if you are not employed, you don't care if neighbors or relatives find out and you are lucky enough to not get served with a few lawsuits.

[Jf24]

"Hello, you have reached John Doe at 1515 Main St, Anytown, PA. Again, this is John Doe at 1515 Main St, Anytown, PA. This is the only number you may call me at. You may leave a message.".

I set up the GV but get mail at a po box. Will saying "My mailing address is po box ***" Is this ok or is a street address better.

[GoingDown]

I really like this thread. There is so much useful information in it! Two thumbs up!

[shark66]

What is the time frame for being sued. How many months can go by without payent?

That depends on a zillion factors, many of which are luck of the draw.

Having a good job and property could lend you in the court faster (especially in a creditor-friendly state like NY) than you would if you didn't have these...

Personally, we went well over two and a half years between stopping payments to all creditors to the point where we were getting sued. That being said, our particular position would make it very difficult for a creditor to collect anything in the near future...yet three JDBs sued. We never got sued for the largest amount ($35K or thereabouts with BOA) which is now past SOL.

Do bear in mind another thing: we NEVER spoke to any of them at this stage of the game.

I would be *extremely* surprised if anyone sued you prior to 6-8 months passing from the last payment.

My experiences only.

Good luck to us all.