Creditors calling my home about my son's bills?

Question

Creditors have been calling my home about my son's bills that he owes. (Mainly hospital bills) These are not my responsibility and I am tired of receiving these calls and the last straw for me was them calling my home on a Sunday evening. Do they have the right to call my personal number and then on a Sunday evening at that?

Answer 1

Probably the best solution is to have you son provide them with his contact information and for him to start a dialouge with them. Do not "cover" for him, he will be OK with getting the calls. Now if he does not speak with them they will continue to call you. They know the rules and know at what times they can call. And they know your son is not there, they are just trying to get some action on the account.

If that does not work.
Document each call that comes in. Be real nice when they call and get the person's name, company name, address, and phone number, 800 and non toll free number if possible.
Then write a short letter addressed to the comliance office, get their name if possible, stating you do not have any business with XYZ company, you have asked multiple times for them to stop calling phone #, you are requesting they stop calling phone #.

You might also send note to the hospital customer billing dept noting that the collecion agencies they are using are calling you after you have requested they stop.

I know it seems like a pain, but it should take 5 minutes per collection agency.

Answer 2

Yes they do record their calls in many cases and just as many do not. Strong armed collectors have a very low threshold of returns. Generally the best way to get money from a debtor is working with them not insulting them. The easiest way to handle this is to obtain an attorney to help you with this. By law once an attorney is involved all correspondence both verbal and written would flow to them first. The cost isn't going to be all that high. Even if you could get the recording who is going to care. The company the agent works for knows what it's people do already and aren't going to care. The people you owe the money to are contracted with the CA and simply want their money. Work with an attorney to set up an amount that WILL be paid over time and stick to it. Make sure it's an amount that is easily do able every month. Don't over reach and have to short pay or miss altogether.

Answer 3

Obviously your son used your name and number as "responsible party" when he went to the hospital. If he is an adult without health insurance the hosptial would come to you for payment of his bill. If he was/is a minor then you are in deed resposnbile for this bill, whether he lives with you or not. As long as your son puts your name and number on any contract he signs as a guarantor they have every right to call you on any day at anytime to collect what is owed to them...it's in the contract he signed. Your issue is not with the creditors but with your son.

Answer 4

They can call any night of the week the law only states they can not call after a certain time. I assume your son does not live with you. You are being called because you are the contact provided. The next time the creditors call give them valid contact info for your son. Good luck.

Answer 5

This website is much more helpful as to the one posted above:

"How may a debt collector contact you?
A collector may contact you in person, by mail, telephone, telegram, or fax. However, a debt collector may not contact you at inconvenient times or places, such as before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m., unless you agree. A debt collector also may not contact you at work if the collector knows that your employer disapproves of such contacts."

Can you stop a debt collector from contacting you?
You can stop a debt collector from contacting you by writing a letter to the collector telling them to stop. Once the collector receives your letter, they may not contact you again except to say there will be no further contact or to notify you that the debt collector or the creditor intends to take some specific action. Please note, however, that sending such a letter to a collector does not make the debt go away if you actually owe it. You could still be sued by the debt collector or your original creditor."

If you would like more information about this please go to this site:
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/credit/fdc.htm

Be careful to what you say to the creditors. They will always let you know that the conversation is being recorded and anything you say can be used in order to collect the debt.

You need to request for them to send you an address in order to send this letter out. You need to get these letters typed out and sent off to them ASAP in order to get them to stop calling your house.

Good Luck.

Answer 6

http://www.ftc.gov/os/statutes/fdcpa/fdcpact.htm

this will tell you all the rules and laws as they apply to your situation. You can get them to stop immediately by writing them a letter telling them to make no further attempt to collect until they can send you copies of the bills. You can further instruct them that they are to never call your home and only are able to conduct business with you, and or your Son in a written format only.

Answer 7

Ask a lawyer. I have seen in the newspapers classifieds where a person will simply state "I, (your name) am hereby not responsible for any debts owed or (can't think of the word, accrued??) by so and so." againg ask a lawyer. That newspaper posting is legally binding I have heard.

Answer 8

Give them your son's phone number. That should end it.

Answer 9

if he lives in your home yes if not tell them he doesn't live there and if they still will not stop speak to supervisor