Talk About Sleezy

[sisterfunkhaus]

A debt collector called my sister-in-law's in-laws trying to find us!!! That's my husband's sister's mother and father-in-law!!! They asked if they knew my husband or me (they used our real names which we don't go by so I know it was bill collectors.) Then they asked if they knew my SIL. When they said yes to knowing my SIL the bill collector hung up.

We have a VERY common last name so I have no clue how they got my sister-in-law's name then her new last name and her in-law's names.

They have our address and current phone number. We haven't moved recently.

I wonder how long they will keep this up. Can we send a letter telling them to stop calling anyone but us? If we do, do they have to oblige?? Can they just keep calling friends and family as much as they want or can they only call once, get the info they need and that's it???

We are telling people (friends and family) the truth about our situation, but it is still embarassing.

And, using such a practice is sleazy beyond sleazy.

[bowlingmt]

Yeah - they are great. They called my mother (whom I haven't lived with in 20 years) and they called my neighbors looking for us. I am so glad we are now filed and they leave us alone.

[ekelly4200]

Yeah - they are great. They called my mother (whom I haven't lived with in 20 years) and they called my neighbors looking for us. I am so glad we are now filed and they leave us alone.

I had Thrifty internal collections send a letter and call my MIL. We did used to live with her but that was over 6 years ago. They do have my current info from when I rented the car in June. They also call all the time on my cell which I never gave them. They have my home # but never once called on it. I know our old addresses are listed on the credit reports and was curious if thats how they found that address. We filed about 3 weeks ago so hopefully by now they know and will stop with the calls/letters. They are some thieving bastards I am happy to include in BK.

[sisterfunkhaus]

I just wrote them a very legal sounding letter telling them that they may only contact us at our current address and phone number then I gave it to them. I told them we were unable to receive calls at work and that it was a violation of the FDCPA to call others about our debt when they have our current contact info. Don't know if it will stop but I'll let you guys know.

Can I say again how sick this makes me? Ugh.

[GoingDown]

I just wrote them a very legal sounding letter telling them that they may only contact us at our current address and phone number then I gave it to them. I told them we were unable to receive calls at work and that it was a violation of the FDCPA to call others about our debt when they have our current contact info. Don't know if it will stop but I'll let you guys know.

Can I say again how sick this makes me? Ugh.

Make sure you send the letter by certified mail so they know you can prove they received it.

This sounds like a very unethical and corrupt collector. Letting your family know about this, and letting them know that what the collector is doing violates the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act might help in this case. If they call your family members and then your family members tell them that they are violating the FDCPA, they might back down and stop calling them.

If it continues, then get some phone recorders for your family members and have them record the collection calls, so you can then use that info to file a lawsuit against them. Ultimately, with a corrupt collection agency, filing a lawsuit against them for violating the FDCPA may be the only way to get them to stop the harassment. Depending on how many times they called your family, the lawsuit could run into the thousands, and be well worth your time and effort to pursue it. You could end up wiping out the alleged debt with the proceeds from the lawsuit you file against the corrupt collection agency.

[CJH]

I had a collector that was constantly calling my very elderly grandparents (in their 90s), and my mother, who was very ill with cancer. They had all my current contact information, but still called them several times a day.

At one point, the collector reached my roommate, who told them I was out for the day. The collector asked how to reach me. My roommate told her I could not be reached that day (I had gone to church, and then to another function).

So the collector asks why she would try to cover for the kind of person who would leave for the day without leaving contact information if they had elderly grandparents and a sick mother to worry about. My roommate said my personal life was none of the collector's business. So the collector said "well, I'll just call her grandparents back then, and see if they know how to reach her today." My roommate said don't you dare call her grandparents. Then the collector says "well, if you won't help me contact her then I have every right to call them to find contact information," and hung up. It still steams me to this day, the way they behaved. These were Discover collections. And the sad part is they get away with it all the time. I seriously don't know how these collectors can sleep at night.

[whatamess]

UGH!! Discover is so annoying. They have been bothering me ten times a day. Even BOA isnt calling that much anymore. Maybe four or five times, but discover is becoming an issue and keeps waking up my mother from her naps.
GRR
WAM