The calls just started and I LOOOVE Google Voice!

[coolmom04]

So the debt collector's tactic only works if you have fear, or actually care what others think.

You know.. you have an EXCELLENT point! The only person I've been worried about finding out is my MIL and we're dropping the bomb on her tonight!

[ApresMoi]

Well, I HOPE they call a relative or two who had the prissy nerve to pass judgment on my long-term unemployment. And I hope they keep calling them. Because these wet noodles will get flustered, and/or feel embarrassed that my pending bankruptcy is now common knowledge among family and (more importantly) their inlaws. That's why.

So the debt collector's tactic only works if you have fear, or actually care what others think.

Personally? I'm AWFULLY close to jumping the shark on 'what others think'.

I can't say for certain, but in my opinion the willingness to throw a "block party" (call your neighbors) or an "office party" (call your office/boss) is strictly related to the meanness of the collector, or a policy by the creditor that they really must bring you to the phone every so often for a little chat.

I suspect that if they get voice mail long enough they will eventually try to "locate" you like this, which stretches the meaning of "locate" to mean "force to have a conversation with us."

I realize this is splitting hairs but it may affect those of you using voice mail diversion strategies to avoid this nasty behavior.

[flyinbroke]

Catleg, this is why I take the calls once or twice a month. This tells them they have me, and have no need to "locate" me. I don't answer 99.9 percent of the calls; I actually have answered several where once I IDed myself as me I was asked to hold and hung up on. Not sure if answers actually register on them though. Answering 17 calls a day is a FT job and I have to tell them that my situation has not changed in the 44 hours since I spoke to them last.

And yeah, I got that "we must document this as refusal to pay...even though you are not really refusing" and I replied that he had to do what he had to do as it was his job. I also mentioned that I have to do what I have to do and IF my situation changes I will let them know.

[landofpoor]

its been over 16 months since i quit paying on credit cards one roughly is 25k other one is 21k and have only spoken to first collectections by mistake once when it went outof the oc hands.i am on my 4th different collections now .bout every 3 months it changes to new aholes all they ever get is a phone recording verifying who they have reached.if they have contacted anyone trying to talk to me i dont know about it.they can all go pound sand

[JEM]

I hear what ya'll are saying, but when I have each creditor calling 10-15 times in one day....I don't have the time to take the calls. I've got a job which doesn't allow me to have my cell phone in my office and a toddler who seems to want all of mommy's attention in the evening. The best I could do was that - for some sanity until I file my chap 7.

Same here, the phone rings allllllll day and evening. It would be a FT job answering the phone.

One thing the attorney I had the consult with yesterday told was that if I chose to answer *some* of the calls--keep it VERY brief and just saying "Yes, I'm aware of the situation--we;re working on it" That's it.

[ready2file]

I hear what ya'll are saying, but when I have each creditor calling 10-15 times in one day....I don't have the time to take the calls. I've got a job which doesn't allow me to have my cell phone in my office and a toddler who seems to want all of mommy's attention in the evening. The best I could do was that - for some sanity until I file my chap 7.

[calgirl67]

I would not avoid their calls for long. Quite soon they WILL start calling your relatives, YOUR WORK, YOUR BOSS and your neighbors. They are calling because they want to get a hold of you to bug you into paying.

I would strongly suggest taking their calls unless you want the world to know you are not paying your bills.

Believe me, I'm been there...

[catleg]

I can't say for certain, but in my opinion the willingness to throw a "block party" (call your neighbors) or an "office party" (call your office/boss) is strictly related to the meanness of the collector, or a policy by the creditor that they really must bring you to the phone every so often for a little chat.

I suspect that if they get voice mail long enough they will eventually try to "locate" you like this, which stretches the meaning of "locate" to mean "force to have a conversation with us."

I realize this is splitting hairs but it may affect those of you using voice mail diversion strategies to avoid this nasty behavior.

[nerves]

Google keeps voice recordings for a minimum of a year and internet searches indefinately. Be careful what you have recorded. I just seen this on MSNBC the other night. They have a team that pulls warranted records - many times the individual they are sharing records for don't even know it.

[coolmom04]

BoA is the one that has started calling us. They've called 10 times in the past two days and we're only 30 days late. I have someone else calling with an "unknown" number and I have GV set up to drop those calls immediately. I'll start answering some, but I don't want to answer while hubby is home.

I'm trying to get some cease and desist letters ready to mail, too.

[coolmom04]

BTW Thanks for the 'Google Voice' refer ...got the email,didn't take long at all.

Wow! I'm glad you got it so fast!!! Have fun with it! It's so cool all the stuff you can do.

[flyinbroke]

Eventually they do leave messages. I am bombarded by GE Money lately. However I take calls once a month or so, but every time I pick up (I say a curt hello) it beeps and hangs up. Last night they left a message about a private confidential matter and I needed to call back. I haven't, but will have to leave another "sorry, can't afford it" call soon.

BoA called and I took it...not even 60 days out and already collections is calling. I told them I can't afford it and when they asked why I said "insurance went up, rent went up, gas went up, food went up, utilities went up...salary went down." I will owe the IRS too. She put me on hold and I got a manager. He babbled on about "valued customer" and I fired back that I am so valued I was ratejacked AND CLDed to the tune of 9K, maxing me out. I apologized and said there was no money anymore. He said he had to document a "refusal to pay". Yeah, I know. I figure I bought a week or two of radio silence though, and in fairness they were pretty nice. They have a job to do, but I have needs that need cash.

GV may be worth looking into. I bought a 14 dollar prepaid.

[ready2file]

GV's the best! I changed my # to my google voice line months b4 I stopped paying and temp suspended my cell phone(only # any creditor had for me). I saved the #'s in my contacts so I know excatly who's calling. Also I have more than one GV account..one for creditors...one for me!

[rooster0330]

This all sounds great, but don't you run a big risk of them trying to track you down, calling relatives, friends, neighbors!!! I would rather talk to them and confirm they have the correct number. I had a CA call my parents even after they had confirmation of my telephone number. I would rather not run the risk of them calling all over creation looking for me!!!!

[treehugger1]

Google voice is pretty cool. I even have all my cell calls now forwarded to GV and let GV decide to "forward them back." I also changed my cell number and have a message on the olf number that states where I can be reached (GV.) In the meantime, I have applied for many, many different lines of credit using the GV number. Interesting is that recent information related to my phone numbers (CR's, LN, etc) all show the GV number to anyone that has a legitimate request for info related to my credit reports, chexsys, etc. My new cell number is nowhere to be found. Will Google share such information with others? I think their record stands for itself. They will mount an army of attorneys to fight against any effort to deprive individuals of their privacy.

All my personal communication between friends and relatives is now done through real-time free providers such as Skype, etc. There are now fewer than 3 people who have direct access to my cell, but everyone has access to my GV number. And, the great thing is that GV will shutdown (not accept) calls marked unavailable, unknown, etc.

Just my opinions.

On the other hand, i always speak to OC's and new collectors until I can get an address to mail a DV or cease and desist letter. I believe hiding form the enemy is not in your favor, ever.