The creditors have started calling...

[wellnowwhat]

So far I've been ignoring most of the calls. I did talk to someone at Honda about my past due lease and she wasn't very nice. She told me flat-out that they are going to continue to call me multiple times a day even though I've given them my attorney's contact info (which I understand they have the right to do). She then insisted that I try to sell the car back to the dealership to cover the payoff amount, even though the car is clearly worth far less than the payoff amount. I handled it the best that I could and reiterated my desire for her to contact my attorney, thanked her for getting in touch with me, and said goodbye.

Thank you all for your suggestions and advice. I'm not too far past due at this point so luckily the calls haven't been too bad. Once they start to get worse I will start doing some of the things that you all have suggested.

[Forthebirds]

When we decided to file, I called every credit card and told them we were filing ch 7 and provided my atty's name & number. We had just started to miss payments. No one was mean or rude about it. One lady at Discover sounded sorry for me. Everyone was pretty nice about it and didn't give me a hard time at all. After that, no one bothered us until Citi sent us to collections (for a $2k balance...we had another card with $20k which was never sent to collections!). Collection agency was annoying to deal with but they eventually gave up. We filed 7 months after we stopped paying. I couldn't handle the non-stop phone calls...if you have retained an atty, that person can field the calls for you. You're filing soon, no need to hide and ignore the calls. It's easy to make them stop.

[tobee43]

i know it's hard when you in that in between stage of filing.

truth is unfortunately until you actually have a docket number they are entitled to attempt to collect that debt. even C & D letters will not work and really are just hot air until you actually file. however, D & C's are effective in instruction for the creditor. example do not call my work place etc. unfortunately, even creditors have rights.

[Diesel73L]

I stopped paying in January and we filed in November. I held them off with Google Voice and hardly spoke to anyone. One did call my office once but I just informed them that I couldn't take personal calls and that they should call my cell phone. In October (10 months after defaulting) they finally started looking at old phone numbers and called my parents. I told them they couldn't call that number either and they complied, and we filed a month later. Also, I wouldn't even go as far as saying "I can't pay." When they would call and I did answer, they'd go through the whole schtick of verifying my identity, informing me that the call was being recorded, anything I said would be used against me to collect the debt, etc... When they finished I'd say "I'm sorry but I don't discuss financial matters over the phone, you may write me at the address you have on file." and then politely ended the call. Don't give them any information-you have nothing to lose by NOT telling them anything.

[keepmine]

They'll call any contact number that they have.

[baker21]

I just got our first call. I didn't answer I set up a Google Voice number a couple weeks ago, but missed changing our number with Discover. My husband's work number was also on the account when I accessed it just now. I changed the home number to GV and removed his work number. I really hope they don't have these old numbers on file somewhere now that we're past due. Would they immediately start calling his office too?

[keepsmiling]

Your phone will ring incessantly soon.
It can drive you crazy and if you have visitors, could be embarrassing. I was ready to jump out a window.
Think about forwarding them to GV.

[wellnowwhat]

Google Voice will save your sanity.

Oh, I hadn't even though about using my Google Voice number.

Fortunately I screen my calls, anyway, so it hopefully won't become too much of an issue. If it does, I'll refer them to my attorney.

[dgifta]

Give them your attorney's name and phone # and tell them you're filing. When I did that most of my creditors were polite and accepting and stopped calling almost immediately.
In addition you can write (or fax or call them) with a Cease And Desist letter. You can find copies of these on line. Google: 'examples of cease and desist letters'.

[keepsmiling]

Google Voice will save your sanity.

[df04527]

Some of the best advice I've seen also is to access your accounts online and change as many phone numbers as possible before you file. This has helped cut down the calls but i do agree they are relentless.

[LadyInTheRed]

If you don't ever answer your phone, eventually they'll start calling your family members and neighbors and ask for you. That could get embarrassing.

I didn't answer my phone every time but every so often, I'd answer and tell them that I couldn't pay right now because of financial problems and would not give any more information. I wouldn't explain my financial problems or update information in their database (like "do you still have a job", "are you still paying your mortgage", "is this a cell phone or land line"). Absolutely nothing other than I can't pay now and I'm not sure when I'll be able to pay. Some would get pretty ugly but I stonewalled them and they gave up. Others would just say thank you and hang up. Either way, it keeps them from calling your family and neighbors.

I did not tell any of them I was going to file bankruptcy. I only told them after I filed AND had a case number. I don't see the benefit of telling them you're planning to file.

Since you just stopped paying, the calls probably aren't that bad yet. Give it some time. I would turn my phone to mute and take a nap. I'd wake up a few hours later and have a dozen missed calls. They are relentless.

Hope that helps.

My advice, exactly.

[murph996]

In my experience, the cc companies never called family or neighbors..before they sold off the debt. The car company may call others rather quickly.

[TXskyblue]

If you don't ever answer your phone, eventually they'll start calling your family members and neighbors and ask for you. That could get embarrassing.

I didn't answer my phone every time but every so often, I'd answer and tell them that I couldn't pay right now because of financial problems and would not give any more information. I wouldn't explain my financial problems or update information in their database (like "do you still have a job", "are you still paying your mortgage", "is this a cell phone or land line"). Absolutely nothing other than I can't pay now and I'm not sure when I'll be able to pay. Some would get pretty ugly but I stonewalled them and they gave up. Others would just say thank you and hang up. Either way, it keeps them from calling your family and neighbors.

I did not tell any of them I was going to file bankruptcy. I only told them after I filed AND had a case number. I don't see the benefit of telling them you're planning to file.

Since you just stopped paying, the calls probably aren't that bad yet. Give it some time. I would turn my phone to mute and take a nap. I'd wake up a few hours later and have a dozen missed calls. They are relentless.

Hope that helps.

[murph996]

OK. It makes sense not to make those payments then if you can live without the car sooner rather than later. How late is the payment at this point? I know when I was late on car payments in the past they'd call pretty quickly--even within the grace period in some instances.

I would just let the credit card calls go to your voicemail. You won't get sued between now and when you file. Once you file then I would start answering any calls to stop the annoyance.