They called my mother!!!

[JEM]

What I've been doing this week was answering 2 or 3 calls. (Or returning voicemail). I'm hoping that it will cut down on the calls, and eliminate the calls to family. We really have allll the creditors... Chase, Discover, Citi, American Express.....so we get TONS and TONS of calls. I figure though, if I talk to Chase in the morning, they shouldn't be calling me back in the afternoon 10x. So it HAS cut down a tad on the phone ringing quite as much.

[Lissy]

I wonder if asking for names and numbers of references for credit is a relatively new thing. I don't remember ever having to provide that information on credit card applications (and I filled out a lot of them!). I don't remember having to provide it when I bought a car 3 years ago. But I just bought a new car 3 weeks ago and I did have to provide names of references.

I guess I understand why they do it now, with the state the credit/collections industry is in. Interestingly, I was one of those that never talked to my creditors before I filed. I let all calls go to voicemail and never called any of them back. I know that my sister got one phone call, but no one else I know ever did. I was shocked that my parents didn't. They never called my job. Of course, I've only been at this job for a year and they probably didn't know where I was working since it was a new job at that time. Plus, I have never given out my work phone number. Neighbors I can see. If they are listed in the phonebook, a creditor can very easily find someone with an address very close to yours and call them.

[boochase]

I made myself a note that I keep by the phone--with all of the creditor numbers that call. I haven't filed yet, but I sent notices with the intent to file to the two credit card companies to whom I owe money. The calls have subsided. But when they do call, it is four rings and a hangup. I have discovered the reason for this: The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). It came out of a case, Foti v NCO Financial. Basically, it sees any voicemail message left by a debt collector as a violation. One can sue for $1,000.00 damages. Today, no one should be answering the phone when the Caller ID indicates a "stranger." Just let it go to voicemail. Anyway, I think the key is sending a certified letter of intent to file giving your retained attorney's name, address, and phone number.

[ssmdem]

I don`t want any family members to know that we are planning on bk and thats why we are still paying our c.cs.I remember very well that citifinanicial made us list like 6 relatives or friends when we took out a loan.Its humiliating enough to have to do it ,let alone let everyone know we are doing it. When I read posts and see some people haven`t paid in months and months I wonder how they have not had their wages garnished or all their friends and family contacted. Do they just tell the c.cs they don`t have the money right now or what? ...We will be talking to an attorney tomorrow to see what chapter we will have to file..................

I'm contemplating staying current on mine as well. The mortgage - we have no chance of continuing to pay, so not an option. But without that, we can actually afford the credit card payments, and if it buys us some extra peace in this stressful situation, so be it. Although we ARE telling our parents soon - we're surrendering our home, so we have no option but to inform them of what's going on.

[owoody]

I don`t want any family members to know that we are planning on bk and thats why we are still paying our c.cs.I remember very well that citifinanicial made us list like 6 relatives or friends when we took out a loan.Its humiliating enough to have to do it ,let alone let everyone know we are doing it. When I read posts and see some people haven`t paid in months and months I wonder how they have not had their wages garnished or all their friends and family contacted. Do they just tell the c.cs they don`t have the money right now or what? ...We will be talking to an attorney tomorrow to see what chapter we will have to file..................

[Flamingo]

Remember, when you signed for the credit, you allowed them to contact others to get ahold of you if they cannot contact you. To avoid that from happening, answer the phone so they know you are reachable at your number and address. What they are trying to do is collect money owed them; if you put yourself in their place, you would do the same if someone owed you several thousand dollars or so and stopped paying...looking at it in that perspective makes one take a different view of the situation and eliminates anything personal. It's all business.

[NoTomatoCan]

So long as they don't discuss the details of why they are calling with your neighbor, it is still legal.

Although little is left to the imagination when a car finance company calls and says they need to "discuss a matter with your neighbor's account". It typically ain't a good thing. It pretty much tells your neighbor the whole story without even giving a single detail. Pretty sleazy.

Spend some time reading the posts on the "Collections" section of this forum and you will see how big of low lifes some creditors can be.

[frustrated51]

I believe they used a reverse directory or something to find out my neighbors number. Can't figure out how they would have gotten it any other way.

Toyota Financial is horrible about harrassing. They will call 8 times a day and call anyone and everyone they think might know you.

[shark66]

Now that's impressive...how did they get your neighbors' number...?

Is it me or is this one crossing the fine legal line?

[frustrated51]

Toyota financial called my NEIGHBORS supposedly looking for me. I have lived in the same house for 22 years. It is plain and simple harrassment, but it seems they seem they can do anything they want.

[Flamingo]

Ok..I am beyond furious!!! I just got a call from my mother, this poor senior citizen lady who is just about in tears asking why the credit union is looking for me?! WTH!! I thought it was illegal for them to contact someone about my debts? I was so ticked off....I have called the credit union & let them know & I have called my attorney....so what recourse do i have here? I keep my parents out of all my financial business so they know nothing & needless to say she is a nosy busy body anyhow, so this will NOT be good....I don't even know how they got her info....Ugghhh!

When you apply for any credit, you are specifically asked to provide the name and contact informatoin for one or more relatives that do not live with you. That is why they called your mother; if you read all the clauses in the agreement you signed when you obtained the credit, you allowed them to do that. The next time you apply for credit, read all the informatoin that comes with the card. If everyone did, many would not sign.

[krielly]

Oh, this brings back memories!

Back in 2005, Citifinancial used to call my 85 YO MIL if my husband was even so much as 1 (yes one) day late.

Despite the fact that they knew how to reach us, and that they had a valid number for us.

They would call and leave a message during the day (while we were working), and then call my MIL and get her all wound up. Their excuse was "we couldn't reach you". Well.........DUH........ we were at work.

I had the last laugh on Citifinancial. We filed a 13, and they submitted their claim AFTER the deadline. I brought this to the trustees attention, and he filed a motion to deny their claim, and the judge agreed!!!!!

Justice is SWEET!!!!!!!!!!!! It didn't make one bit of difference in our payments, it just meant other unsecureds got the share they would have. But it was more priceless to me that any amount of money ever could have been!

[JEM]

Yep. Happening here too. Sears, American Express and Chase are the culprits. They have even spoken with us and I have made sure they have 2 contact phone numbers and our address correct. Yet, they still tried calling the IL's.

[debtinohio]

My parents, neighbors, brother, sister, ex-wife all received calls.

[NoTomatoCan]

Before we filed dirtbag Discover did this to me. Called my 70 year old mom (it was actually for my wife's card). They had already "located" us and we had spoken with them several times.

Unfortunately, all perfectly legal.

Few things suck worse than a credit card company calling your mom! Makes me feel like I am 12 years old... Even worse, it was right around Christmas time, so we saw each other a bunch around the time it happened. Yuck.