Collection Call Frequency

[pikaroth]

Discover has been out of control today. Like I said before, they have been calling, but today they began to call about every 30 minutes. Oddly, Bank of America only called twice so far (odd for them!). I, too, have ATTEMPTED to answer, but literally every time I do, there is no one there. I'm surprised, though, that Chase and American Express have yet to call or send a letter at all.

[bk2009]

Well, sure they can call everyone and anyone around you. If you live in a city, where you're not really part of a community, you don't really have to worry about it. We live in an urban area, with a very popular last name.

And we do answer occasionally, so they know that they're getting in touch with us. That's why DH answers them occasionally. Besides, our family and friends will not think less of us, we just went through an 18 month layoff. We're not the only one with a layoff of our friends and family, most are completely sympathetic. Even the ones who aren't in that position, are very thankful for their jobs and realize that it could have just as easily been them. And most realize that there's no way in hell they would have made it 18 months either. If some don't, and want to judge. Judge away.

Re Discover and how long until they file, I think it depends on how much you owe. They also didn't start calling right away. But when they did, they were relentless for those 60-90 days and then they filed.

[tobee43]

mimindebt - have you actually filed yet or is it upcoming? I have attempted to answer calls from two different numbers, but there is NEVER anyone there, and, again, I am not going to sit around for minutes waiting for a person to pick up.

My calls begin around 8:30am and stop around 8:00pm or so, give or take. Usually every hour or two, but this is up from a few a day. I WANT to give them my attorney info, but, again, no one is ever there. Sigh.

pika...these people don't listen to anyone.

we had a wonderful atty...the firm took my creditors list and sent EACH one of them a cease and desist letter, included the firms contact information and that any further communication was to be directly to them.

no help...they didn't care at all...they just keep calling and sending letters. when i called our atty, we were told, that i'm not alone, that these creditors listen to NO one.

pika..i would either attempt to put a call block on the numbers and or just don't answer or turn the phone off.

hope it all works out!

[pikaroth]

mimindebt - have you actually filed yet or is it upcoming? I have attempted to answer calls from two different numbers, but there is NEVER anyone there, and, again, I am not going to sit around for minutes waiting for a person to pick up.

My calls begin around 8:30am and stop around 8:00pm or so, give or take. Usually every hour or two, but this is up from a few a day. I WANT to give them my attorney info, but, again, no one is ever there. Sigh.

[momindebt]

The phone calls were relentless-from 8:01 in the AM till 8:59 in the PM 7 days a week. Somedays we'd come home to 45 plus hang ups on our answering machine. We just stopped paying most accounts in October-most are 2 months behind, and only a few are 3.
They were also calling my husband's work and my work (luckily our lines are private) all day, every day. It was only a short manner of time before our neighbors and family members got called.

We just retained an attorney, and every phone call (other than automated ones that call you but there is no one at the other end of the line) have graciously taken my attorney's name and number, and have not called back. The silence is so refreshing.... We were going to wait to file but am glad we did not. The peace of mind is worth it!

[tobee43]

You bring up something that, oddly, I thought about early on but it has not crossed my mind until I read your post. How often do they file suit? Discover just started calling me approximately five days ago. The only way I know that it is them is due to putting their number in Google. I HAVE actually tried to answer twice, but they are not there when I do, and I refuse to wait for them to come to the phone. Thinking about it, having something filed against me is almost the scarriest thing to think about. I won't be able to file until the end of January, so if they, on average, go two months, that does not sound good for me.

Nerves acting up again. Not good.

pika...worse senario, i believe would be...this.....it's hitting thanksgiving time...honestly, the courts calenders are most likely really FULL about this time of year...additionally, they recess frequently due to the holidays...so FIRST you have to get served and given time to respond...SECOND...a court date is set up...ok, now i THINK we might be close to hitting FEB....by now...

i think you are in the clear..even if you were served tomorrow...you could even GO to court and stall it somewhat. at least until you file in jan.

[pikaroth]

Make sure you have caller ID and ignore them. My husband likes to play with them a bit and tell them that it's their lucky day because he only takes one call a week from a collector. Of course, this gets them excited thinking he's going to give them some money. Then he tells them that no, there's still no money to give to anyone. When they threaten suit, he tells them to go ahead, they'll be behind some others.

Discover does not call for long. Maybe 60 days or so, they filed suit quickly. DH wasn't working at the time, so we just let it go, knowing that we'll eventually file and will be able to take care of them at that point.

You bring up something that, oddly, I thought about early on but it has not crossed my mind until I read your post. How often do they file suit? Discover just started calling me approximately five days ago. The only way I know that it is them is due to putting their number in Google. I HAVE actually tried to answer twice, but they are not there when I do, and I refuse to wait for them to come to the phone. Thinking about it, having something filed against me is almost the scarriest thing to think about. I won't be able to file until the end of January, so if they, on average, go two months, that does not sound good for me.

Nerves acting up again. Not good.

[Bell30656]

Ah the head in the sand approach. Just get Caller ID and ignore them. That's a great plan if you really don't care who knows your in financial difficulty. See, many collection agents especially JDB's will call you 10, 15, 20 times a day when you are not answering. Then you think you are getting over ignoring their calls. Next the collection agent starts calling your work, your neighbors, your friends, you relatives, etc. These are called attempt to locate calls and are legal.

Think that the collector can't get all that info about you? Go to www.411.com and type in addresses on your street. There's your neighbor's phone numbers. Type in your last name and the town you live in... There's some relatives. Live in a small town? Call a few churches and leave a message for telling John Smith to call ABC Debt Collections at 1-888-555-1286 or whatever. Keep in mind these collectors want one thing, their money. They will take any steps they can to get their money. If that means embarrassing you in the process? So be it.

I never ducked collection calls after the first collector called about 15 extensions at my work leaving messages for me to call them. Then they apparently called people with the same last name as me in the town I live in because my ex-wife got called. I've even received a few calls for neighbors of mine.

[tobee43]

Make sure you have caller ID and ignore them. My husband likes to play with them a bit and tell them that it's their lucky day because he only takes one call a week from a collector. Of course, this gets them excited thinking he's going to give them some money. Then he tells them that no, there's still no money to give to anyone. When they threaten suit, he tells them to go ahead, they'll be behind some others.

Discover does not call for long. Maybe 60 days or so, they filed suit quickly. DH wasn't working at the time, so we just let it go, knowing that we'll eventually file and will be able to take care of them at that point.

bk 2009...what is it with these MEN....LOL!! my husband actually MISSED their calls...he was so bad..a few times he actually got them to cry he had them so upset. but he was "good" at interrogation and did it for over 40 years so they didn't have a chance in heck to get the last word in. and he's the "silent" soft spoken deadly type!

but personally, i'm glad they have now stopped!

[bk2009]

Make sure you have caller ID and ignore them. My husband likes to play with them a bit and tell them that it's their lucky day because he only takes one call a week from a collector. Of course, this gets them excited thinking he's going to give them some money. Then he tells them that no, there's still no money to give to anyone. When they threaten suit, he tells them to go ahead, they'll be behind some others.

Discover does not call for long. Maybe 60 days or so, they filed suit quickly. DH wasn't working at the time, so we just let it go, knowing that we'll eventually file and will be able to take care of them at that point.

[Bell30656]

First, take control of the conversation. As soon as you verify who you are stop them. Demand that they clearly state the name of the company and address for service. Right after they give you this information tell them: "In this recorded conversation, I am informing you that I am represented by the law firm of Dewey, Cheatum and Howe to represent me in this civil matter. My state law 16-18-103b clearly states that once I've informed you that I am represented by an attorney any further communications MUST be with said attorney."

Even after my attorney filed, I never told the JDB, CA or OCs that I'd filed. I simply told them I was represented on this matter. When a couple demanded to know if I'd filed, what chapter, etc., I simply stated that I was represented by an attorney and they could have thier attorney contact mine. *Note* The law quoted above is made up but the collection agent won't know that.

[tobee43]

My attorney actually told me to give their name and number. Now, the attorneys office has advised me to get the caller's info and the attorney's office will call the creditors. This is not really my main concern right now. I can handle this.

When do creditors start calling random people with the same last name in the phone book? If I answer speak to the creditors, will they stop calling others looking for me? My only real concern right now is them calling people who are related to me and harassing them. I don't want others knowing my business.

we had relatives "listed" in the book and they began hitting them up about 4 months out.

[Uncle]

The creditors will not be interested in atty info unless it includes a BK case #.

My attorney actually told me to give their name and number. Now, the attorneys office has advised me to get the caller's info and the attorney's office will call the creditors. This is not really my main concern right now. I can handle this.

When do creditors start calling random people with the same last name in the phone book? If I answer speak to the creditors, will they stop calling others looking for me? My only real concern right now is them calling people who are related to me and harassing them. I don't want others knowing my business.

[tobee43]

talk about irony...well we did get some creditors calling before we moved out of state, that would call, beginning at 8:30 in the morning until 8:45 at night...some 4 times a day....finally we moved out of state and got an unlisted number.....wow...cool we thought NO MORE CALLS to deal with......

right...that "new" number just happenstance belonged to a person who owned everyone and their mother and THEIR mother's mothers!!!! OH!!! night and day and day and night...boa, chase, citi, discovery........although we did answer and told them they had the wrong party and the number is "new" actually, not connected, were told by the telephone company...(no one had the number for over a year)....well...as soon as it was re-connected these creditors went for the throat!!

we could have changed phone numbers...but after over 33 years with the same number i was JUST beginning to remember this one by heart...and my other half was concerned as we had issued this "new" number to all important persons and would have to contact everyone to change everything...so we rode thru these other persons calls...the telephone company..."blocked" all the numbers and those that continued to call i filed complaint with the FTC....and have now thankfully stopped hearing from them.

i would just turn the phone off....and if not...simply do not SPEAK with them..don't answer the phone....and it will stop after you file.. so that's something to look forward to.

[Freddy03]

I got all the fax numbers to the collection departments for all creditors & faxed them a letter telling them to contact my attorney retained for filing my BK.

My phone has not rung once since doing this