How do you respond to creditors who harass you by phone.?

Question

This company calls quiet often even though I have told them to stop because I never had an credit account with this company and if I did it is way past the statute of limitation. They want me to prove I don't owe money instead of them proving I do. I ask for evidence and get nothing. I think they are tryin to rip off elferly because they think we are stupid

Answer 1

I agree that this company is trying to rip you off because I know that they are the ones that must prove that you owe funds.
Next time they call get all of the information from them that you can concerning where they are located and then file a complaint with the Better Business Bureau.
If you can go to an attorney that might be better because they are breaking laws that are supposed to prohibit them from calling once you have told them to stop.

Answer 2

The next time someone calls, ask for them to send you the information in writing. Tell them you need to verify all the information, and also get their address. Write them a letter, with a signature required, just asking them to send you a letter with all the information.
While you have them on the phone, get all the information- the name of the credit account, the number, the address associated with it, how much owed, and the payoff amount. Get the name of the person you are talking to, and insist on a last name and extension.
Then get in touch with the company on the credit account. Verify all the information. Get the name of the person you talk to.
This happened to me and it was an account for someone with the same name. I was able to get the company to stop calling and clear their records. Having all the information was very important, as well as this technique. Do not answer any more of their questions until they answer yours. Just keep asking your question calmly. You can explain, again, calmly, that you want answers and will wait until they give them. If you stay calm, persistant, and polite you will get results.
Do not give out your social security number. They can verify with only the last 4 digits.
Keep copies of everything, noting the time and date when you call or are called.
You might want to inform the credit bureaus.
If the calls continue, you can make a report to the police. Also your state representative (look in the phone book) can help. Your vote is valuable to them and they will assist or point you in a helpful direction.
Hope this helps

Answer 3

Your question has pretty much been answered already but I do have a couple of things to add. DaMan is right, you must send a certified letter demanding they cease and desist from any further phone calls. That way you have dated, legal evidence of your request which is important because by federal law collection calls must stop upon your demand. If they persist beyond that you then have recourse to take legal action if you choose to take it that far, believe me THEY will not want to take it that far. They know they are breaking the law and can be sued.

Collection companies operate on harrassment. They purchase old debts from previous collectors or creditors for pennies on the dollar and then attempt to collect the full amount from you, that's how they make their money. Even if the debt is not yours they will attempt to harrass and intimidate you until you give in. Don't let them push you around, you have the law on your side. The other good answer you received here is the letter you should send. Send it, via certified mail, along with a demand to cease collection calls, and then wait. They have 30 days to verify the debt and inform you via mail. If they do not any further collection activities on their part beyond 30 days are legally actionable, and they know that. They just hope YOU don't know that.

Do those two things and the problem will go away.

Answer 4

If you never had an account with this company, how would they know about you? Is there a statue of limitation on money owed? If you need evidence then they should give you something to prove you owe them money. You would think they wouldn't have a problem with that considering it might get them their money faster. Do some investigating on the company, check with the BBB. Next time they call ask to speak to the manager. Get some legal advise. Maybe this is a scam.

Answer 5

You are right!

The FDCPA requires written proof. Get their name, who they represent and the address. I had this problem and used my Pre-Paid Legal membership to have an attorney write a letter. This got their attention and put an end to the harassment. You can get the membership for $26 / mo at www.wfwppl.com. If you think there may be an issue with Identity Theft - add the Identity Theft Shield for $9.95 / mo. It monitors my credit 5 times a day and if something pops up that's not mine, they fix it, I don't have to deal with it.

P.S. I did much of what the previous responder suggests. The written letter coming from an attorney put an end to 6 months of harassment while my expertise with the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act and demanding my rights got me no where. Yes, they were in complete violation of my rights but until I got the attorney in the mix, they didn't know I had the you know what to come after them.

Answer 6

Follow my advice and I guarantee you will get these guys off your back.

1) Read the Fair Debt Collections Act (see link below)
2) Send these guys a letter (see below). Demand the following:
-Validate the debt by supplying copies of contracts, bills, receipts, and everything they claim you owe.
-Cease and desist all communications with you.
3) Go to http://www.annualcreditreports.com and see if they placed a negative report to your credit history. If so, dispute it with them.

If you do all of this, and they continue to harass you, they are now in violation of the law and you can sue them in small claims court very easily...and you WILL win. You do not need a lawyer, and it won't cost a lot. Well worth the trouble because you will win $1000.

Contact me if you need more advice. I'm not a lawyer or credit counselor, just someone who helps people with collection agent issues.

Answer 7

Send them a certified letter denying it is your debt. This happens frequently because collection agencies buy old, expired debts for a penny on the dollar so whatever they collect is gravy.

If you are married or divorced, the debt could be from the spouse or ex.

If the agency continues to harass you, write a complaint to the attorney general in the state where the collection agency is located.

Answer 8

File a complaint against them with the FTC. Report them to Better Business Bureau and write about them on Planet Feedback.

Send them a certified letter demanding that they cease communication with you.

If all else fails file an FDCPA lawsuit against them.

Post the name of the collection agency here.

And see if you can find them on budhibbs.com (Agencies to Avoid).

Answer 9

most of the people who call , know nothing of the laws.. there are simple people who make phone calls hoping to intimidate those who r weak.. they get paid on commission.. if you do owe them money and its a collections account, u r acctually in control.. you can get things settled for pennies on the dollar if you are perssitant enough. in the end those company know the wont get the full amount owed to them.. i have gotten my freind to settle for an account he owed 1400 on for only 350.00.. just dont let them strong arm you..

Answer 10

There are regulations to keep on with,what a collection agencies can and can't do. in case you deliver the series corporation teaching them to deal in common words together with your criminal professional-the series corporation is meant to keep on with those practise and under no circumstances contact you again. I were given those data from Rights of a Debtor.