I just can't believe this happen!

[InLimbo]

thanks so much fragglerock and everyone for your advice and support! We're gonna need u all, we just got started and afraid its gonna be a long road.
So glad I found this forum

[tomas4226]

They've called my neighbors, my family in a difft. state to.

I think it was two years ago that the state of Minnesota passed a bill letting collector's call your neighbor's. I've had a few operation's on my spinal cord to remove some tumors and these surgeries have made it difficult for me to pay my bills. The collector's have started calling the guy I rent from. Even my family gets phone calls in Wisconsin.

My mother who lives in a retirement home has been hounded by collector's. Her neighbor's in the retirement home have received phone calls from these jerks. Some of them even telling her to pay her bill.

It does happen. I suggest you find out what the laws are in your state.

[miss puff]

the state of Minnesota passed a bill letting collector's call your neighbor's.

I wonder if it's safe to assume that if you LIVE in Minnesota, they might start that practice a bit earlier than other states? I filed last week but we are still getting calls I am still not answering. I am starting to hear my phone ringing in my sleep!

[GoingDown]

I think it was two years ago that the state of Minnesota passed a bill letting collector's call your neighbor's. I've had a few operation's on my spinal cord to remove some tumors and these surgeries have made it difficult for me to pay my bills. The collector's have started calling the guy I rent from. Even my family gets phone calls in Wisconsin.

My mother who lives in a retirement home has been hounded by collector's. Her neighbor's in the retirement home have received phone calls from these jerks. Some of them even telling her to pay her bill.

It does happen. I suggest you find out what the laws are in your state.

What they are doing to you and your family and your neighbors is strictly illegal and a violation of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, but unfortunately, with a debt collector this aggressive, your only real way to get them to stop is to file a lawsuit against them for violating the FDCPA. That will give them a financial incentive to stop calling. You should also file complaints against them with your state's attorney general and with the FTC. I will will PM you some info about how to do this.

[CindyLou]

it is completely legal for them to call as long as they don't discuss details. they can say where they are calling from and that all. until you actually file you can't stop it EXCEPT if you send a letter saying that they can only make contact with you in writing.

[Bobby'sGirl]

Some of their messages are a thin line from illegal

Had a collector call my old number at school. I am changing offices and will have a new number, so picked up old messages from original number. One agency said:
This is the legal department at so-and-so. This message is for Bobby'sGirl. If you are not BG hang up. If you continue to listen to this message I will assume you are BG. You need to contact....at so-and-so collections and discuss a pending business matter! We can not let this go beyond 4 pm today...

Since "collections" is part of their business name they give my personal business to whoever listens and is not BG but someone who gets my old phone number!!!!

I passed the agency's number to my lawyer and he informed them all calls go to him until I file next month.

Just can't wait until I get to go head to head with them on clearing up my credit reports, sigh...

[CindyLou]

think about it..when they call and get a live person they just ask if its you, they don't verify before divulging info. all they have to do is ask, which is really sad.

[nessa30]

I hate to say this but I used to work in collections for about 7 years and they can do anything they need to do to contact you to pay your bill or make some kind of arrangments. (they call it skiptracing). American Express anyway would probably do just about anything to get their money back. (like get a judgment against you that stays in your public records for 7 yrs.) Hurry up and file bk if you haven't!!!!!!!!1

[tradewiz50]

Heres a simple clue that may help you understand how they may have done this.

The collector could not reach you by normal means of mail or a valid phone number. Collector then pulls your credit and looks at all your previous addresses. Then the collector does a reverse address search on those addresses looking for published phone numbers. Usually they will see a match of your last name and get a public phone number. Then they call that relative and ask for them to have you contact the collection agency.

oh my gosh, oh my gosh! Today I get a call from my sister-in-law that some man was looking for me and left his number to call me. Then my dad calls and says some guy from American Express called him looking for me and wanted my number. I called the guy back as soon as I got the message and sure enough he was some collection guy calling my family regarding my American Express account. 1st thing I asked was how in the heck did u get my families numbers?? He said "theres a great thing called the internet" I was so so furious! I told him not to ever call my family again and gave him my attorney name and number. Here's the thing....I checked my voicemail here at home and he called here around 10:30 this morning (we were at work) then mins. later called my dad, then mins. later called my older brother. If I haven't had found out, he would have called my whole family! THIS HAS GOT TO BE WRONG RIGHT??? My attorney said this was a lowlife collector that went to extremes to get ahold of us. Well he didn't even give us enuff time to get back with him! We have not yet filed bk but had already paid our fee to our attorney several weeks ago. Now im so afraid that our other cc collectors will go the same route as he did. Has anyone ever had this to happen before? Doesn't this seem wrong??

[uwishtoo]

I find it so hard to believe this is legal, but then again, nothing really surprises me anymore We won't be filing for about another month....crossing fingers that he was the last of the scrums that would go that far. No wonder identity's are stolen if you can get everything you want to know on someone with just one click of a key!

It isnt legal, but after it happens, what are you going to do ? Not much you can do. Heck, I even had one bill collector call all of my NEIGHBORS - who, in spite of me living in my house for 12 years, I dont even know all that well. THe one neighbor I do know well told me and then I checked and sure enough all of my neighbors had been called. None of them admitted to even knowing me - and I still dont know which collector it was during my time of filing bankruptcy but there isnt much I could have done about it anyway.

[JusticeForAll]

Actually, it is legal for a collector to call ANYONE they want to locate you.

What is NOT legal is the collector discussing the reason why they are calling. They can't say I'm looking for Mr. Smith because he's behind on his payments, past due, etc. etc.

They can call your family and neighbors to look for you and or leave messages for you to contact them.

[CATCHMEIFYOUCAN]

Long Time Ago

I had a collector call me back in the early 90's when I had filed for chapter7, darn bill collectors told my sister that i owed money and she sent them $25 bucks! even my dentist called my dad, because he continues to go to them and my dad paid off my dental bill $300 .. that was than this is now, now you have better "protection," just need to find out the right way to go about things!

Good Luck !

Catchmeifyoucan

[uwishtoo]

I had a collector call me back in the early 90's when I had filed for chapter7, darn bill collectors told my sister that i owed money and she sent them $25 bucks! even my dentist called my dad, because he continues to go to them and my dad paid off my dental bill $300 .. that was than this is now, now you have better "protection," just need to find out the right way to go about things!

Good Luck !

Catchmeifyoucan

While it was nice of your sister to send some money on your behalf that isnt a wise idea - I know back when I was living with a guy that owed big time bill collectors, they would call our house and want payment. I had perfect credit at the time so they told ME to pay it - and I said yeah I dont THINK so ! I told them he would be dropping off a payment in cash in a next few days and they told me to write them a check instead and have him give me the money for it - I laughed and said yeah right, nice try - not gonna happen - I had recently read something that once a non interested party makes a payment then they could be held laible for the debt. Not sure if that is still true or not but I wouldnt mix my finances with his or anyone elses for that matter