Does this really work on people?

[Overmylimit]

I remember these people, I would be real serious on the phone just to get them riled up.

"How do you plan to take care of this debt"

I don't

"What do you mean? your not going to pay this bill?"

No I'm not

"Can you pay for a settlement today?"

No


Best thing is use one word answers... I learned this years ago when I was in management for a company. When you use one word answers all the conversation falls on the other person and its awkward. Just like when an employee calls in sick if you only use a few words they will do all the talking and give up more info than they want and they usually won't sound so sick after they do a bunch of talking. So when I would call in sick I would reverse it I would just say I'm sick and won't be in...repeat if necessary....makes the manager real mad

[Bell30656]

Sure debt collectors are pond scum, bottom feeders, etc. There is no doubt about it and I'm sure when you accuse one of them of being such they where it like a badge of honor. Are they going to try everything they can to get into your wallet? You bet they are. That is his/her job. It is how they earn the paycheck.

Could they be nicer and not try to scare the dollars out of you? Sure, but they have found these methods work. If you have found these forums and have read much in the collections threads you are their worst nightmare... an educated debtor. They are looking for the low hanging fruit.

This entire train wreck started because we the debtors welched on our word and did not honor our end of the contract. For whatever, reason we took the money, goods or services the lender gave us and then we did not or could not pay them back. They are now taking steps to try and CONVINCE us to pay up. When that doesn't work some will try and MAKE us pay up.

It's been a while since all my creditors got screwed out of their recompense by my chapter seven filing so I don't get the collection calls any more. Hell, I think I actually miss them. I had so much fun screwing with those people. It is easy to really give them a hard time to cause them to fear for their jobs by trapping them in a violation. I loved throwing them for a loop and out of their practiced script.

Nothing upsets a debt collector more than you taking control of the conversation. I wonder how many debt collectors have quit after a conversation with an ***hole like me. Probably none, but I'd like to think there was at least one.

DON'T LET THESE PEOPLE RATTLE YOU! You are in control, not them. Don't stick your head in the sand by not answering the calls unless you don't care if they call your work, neighbors or friends. Just answer, verify you are who they are looking for... then tell them that at this time you are not willing to discuss your financial situation with them. Then gently press the off button and get back to your regularly scheduled life. If you are feeling comical then have fun with it a little but don't give them any information and don't lie to them... Well that last part, I may have told a couple that were pretty obvious... taking my vows to become a priest, joining the peace corps, leaving the planet on the next shuttle, etc...

[ryan]

Will a judgment be discharged after I file BK and it's completed. Basically, what can they do to me before I file as far as collecting.

My disclaimer is that I'm not a lawyer or even an expert on this forum.

They can eventually sue, but probably not before 6 months or so. Mostly everything leading up that is to call you and sound real 'tough' or send you mail which reads real 'tough' or send you text messages that are real "tough"...thats it.

Now if they sue and get a judgment (i'm being sued right now) they can try and collect it. I'm self employed like you, so I'm mainly concerned with bank levies. If that time comes I'll have to close all bank accts. Outside of that, not much.

From what I understand you will probably have to separately file something in court, and pay a fee, to have judgment removed after BK (if it occurred before BK).. your lawyer would know for sure.

[freeatlast98]

FReeAtLast98: Discover has been extremely aggressive like that when I was talking to them. The details they wanted to know were surprising....

Questions exactly like you got asked. Same 'double teaming' approach with one rept handing off to a more quote senior rep, who was only more aggressive than the first. Their main goal was to get a bank acct number. They would almost accept any partial payment just to get that number.

Btw, they are all ACTING, its a performance, to make you feel bad. Remember, they don't know you from Adam, and will never meet you. After awhile, I found it funny instead of intimidating.

Thanks Ryan, I'm hoping to get to the point where it's funny.
The more aggressive of the two reps, threatened collection and report being 150 days late on my credit report. At this point what's another 30 days when I'm already late? I am pretty collection proof because I'm self employed. I have to tell you it gets scary and my big fear is that I'll get a summons then a judgment. Will a judgment be discharged after I file BK and it's completed. Basically, what can they do to me before I file as far as collecting.

[ryan]

FReeAtLast98: Discover has been extremely aggressive like that when I was talking to them. The details they wanted to know were surprising....

Questions exactly like you got asked. Same 'double teaming' approach with one rept handing off to a more quote senior rep, who was only more aggressive than the first. Their main goal was to get a bank acct number. They would almost accept any partial payment just to get that number.

Btw, they are all ACTING, its a performance, to make you feel bad. Remember, they don't know you from Adam, and will never meet you. After awhile, I found it funny instead of intimidating.

[freeatlast98]

Just received a call from "Discover". They say they are trying to work with me however, the only way they'll do that is if i give them my account number so they can draw the payment every month. The first lady I spoke to was very nice then she put me on the phone with a real aggressive woman. She started out by saying she wants to help me. Then she started asking me what I was going to do to get caught up, I'm now 130 days late. After this she asked how I was going to pay, can I get help from family, friends etc. She also asked what I have to sell to pay them. She asked who lives with me and what they do. All sorts of stuff. Bottom line I plan to file in the next couple of months so I just spoke to her to see where her company was at. I didn't mention BK, should I have?
I think that the whole point of her speaking to me was to make me feel like a big loser and dead-beat. Trying to pick myself back up now after the conversation.

[funcritter]

Had a GOOD call with a collector yesterday: Bill Me Later.

I explained to the guy what as going on on, why we were behind, he was polite (gasp) and said they had some options but he'd need to verify some things (I'm thinking here we go) and all they're asking for is a verification from the doctor (a note) about the medical events that put us behind and our attorney's number to verify he's being retained. The man apologized for calling, said he put us on the 'no call' list, and he hoped things worked out for us.

I was actually shocked.

Bill Me Later has always been pretty decent. A few months after I quit paying that bill, a woman would email me saying they were interested in hearing why I could not pay and that they would work with me any way they could. I ignored the emails. They could only email me because I had changed my cell when I quit paying my bills.

Interestingly, I went to my 341 on Tuesday. Got home and in the mail was a bill from the CA the Bill Me Later has. I called them and informed them that I had filed BK and gave them my lawyers name and number though they were quit aware of that already. They were just hoping to maybe get some cash from me anyways in one last attempt.

[funcritter]

When I knew I was going to stop paying all my cards and car payment, I changed my cell phone number and went online to all the accounts and changed my work # to a fake one. That was back in September 08.

Only one company kept calling and that was at my job. My boss was real understanding as he knew I was going to file eventually. I finally filed back in March and my 341 was Tuesday. I think the calls stopped a few weeks ago at my job. I never had to deal with those at all. They called in the day time and I work nights.

A long time ago I had a debt collector calling my cell. I ended up forwarding the cell number back to the debt collector. I kept the # forwarding for several months so they were calling themselves every time they called me.

[flyinbroke]

Collectors chasing collectors,... what a picture.:-)

Would love to be a fly on the wall for THOSE conversations....

[ryan]

There was an article that said many collectors are in the very same boat...unable to pay bills and hounded by collectors. I suspect many are more understanding than are able to let on.

There was an article quoted on some other forum, I forget which, that was supposedly by a former collector. He said at his place at least a third of the employees were being chased by creditors.

It was so bad the receptionist couldn't get anything done as she was constantly answering the phone calls from other collectors!

Collectors chasing collectors,... what a picture.:-)

[BrokeIn2010]

Had a GOOD call with a collector yesterday: Bill Me Later.

I explained to the guy what as going on on, why we were behind, he was polite (gasp) and said they had some options but he'd need to verify some things (I'm thinking here we go) and all they're asking for is a verification from the doctor (a note) about the medical events that put us behind and our attorney's number to verify he's being retained. The man apologized for calling, said he put us on the 'no call' list, and he hoped things worked out for us.

I was actually shocked.

[flyinbroke]

There was an article that said many collectors are in the very same boat...unable to pay bills and hounded by collectors. I suspect many are more understanding than are able to let on.

This does not apply to the crack addicts that man the phones at the fly-by-nights and even some of the big CAs...or that jerk at GE Money. They are just mad because they have to resort to street corner hook-ups to get their next fix instead of your big payday.

(For those who do not have recorders, but have smart phones, try them. My BlackBerry has a very nice recorder that worked well when some guy from a CA was screaming about me running up my BoA bill, when he could not even produce an account number.)

[ish412]

I had lady from HSBC call me about my account and when I told her that I was filing for BK she said "I am so sorry to hear that, I know how hard that is as it was for me last year when I filed for BK myself" I couldnt believe how nice and understanding she was. She hung up by saying "good luck" .

I thought these calls were monitored and recorded, dont thing her supervisors would approve of such conversation.

They were exactly the same way with me. Very understanding and polite to a fault once I explained things to them.

[HOMEBODY]

I had lady from HSBC call me about my account and when I told her that I was filing for BK she said "I am so sorry to hear that, I know how hard that is as it was for me last year when I filed for BK myself" I couldnt believe how nice and understanding she was. She hung up by saying "good luck" .

I thought these calls were monitored and recorded, dont thing her supervisors would approve of such conversation.

[BrokeIn2010]

Why not turn off the ringer? You will be healthier that way. There is no reason to talk to them. You will end of giving them enough info about yourself and not know about it.

Advice of our attorney. Until we're paying him for the actual BK, he wants us to look like we're at least attempting to stay in communications and work things out. He said otherwise if they do beat us to court before we file, that might make it look like we were trying to skip out on the debt.