Is there a way to stop harassing phone calls from collection agencies. .?

Question

Friend recently fell into unexpected medical debt that she is having a very difficult time keeping up. She has been turn over to collection agencies that are making her life even more difficult. Phone calls at home and work.

Answer 1

They can't call her at work if she tells them her employer doesn't allow her to take their calls there.

She needs to send a letter to them, certified mail with return receipt. First, demand validation of the debt. Second, demand that they only communicate with her by mail. If she doesn't spend the $2.00 at the post office to do it certified mail, it won't stop.

Both are her rights under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Look it up.

Answer 2

There are two options to get these people off your back:

1. Pay your debts. I'm not saying this condescendingly, and I don't mind telling you that I am on on a first-name basis with the women at DCS (Debt Collection Service). Try to explain to them what is going on and see if they will work out a reasonable payment schedule (this is hard if you have 26 different collection services calling you, because you could still end up shelling out "reasonable payments" to every one of them), or contact a debt counselor. They can help by making it so you owe only one service instead of 20 different places. Then they work it out so you have one reasonable payment and everybody's getting paid off. It can take time, but it'll save your credit, and it will keep all the different creditors and debt collection services off her back, so she can go about her business of getting better.

2. File bankruptcy. This is not a sure thing, since there have been laws passed in certain states (or it may be on the federal level) that limit what can be included in bankruptcy, and I'm thinking medical bills don't qualify anymore. Either way, bankruptcy is a surefire way to make sure you've completely screwed your credit up, so this should be considered only as a very very very last option.

I would go with the credit counselor idea first (gather all the medical bills that you have when you talk to someone). If that doesn't seem like something you can do, try paying off one bill at a time, starting with the smallest, and just tough out the phone calls. If nothing else works, and you have no other option, THEN look into filing bankruptcy.

I feel for your friend, I've been there. I hope this has helped some.

Answer 3

If possible make a credit payment arrangement. They will try to get a higher amount than you can pay but stick to your guns and give them an amount you can pay. Stick to your payment amt (even if it's $15.00) and they will leave you alone., Another option is to offer a settlement. I did this this year and settled about $8,000 for $4,000 with a cashiers check in the agreed amount. Call and ask for a settlement and they will usually take 50%. It oges on your credit report as a settlement but not as harmful as skipping town. and last but not least Caller ID, gets easy to not answer the phone after awhile. If the bills are outlandish (I had over $40,000) remember they go off your credit report after 7 years. If you already have a house, no big deal, but it willaffect the inteest rate on any credit pruhase. Most leanders are reasonable about medical bills.

Answer 4

Phone calls at work is harassment - file a complaint against them.

Phone calls at home - simple - either unplug the phone, or change the number. Use Caller ID to screen.

Add the phone number to the do-not-call registry (as this is a commercial phone call - they try to earn money by collecting debts)

Also, try to get a bank loan to pay the debt, and ask the bank for a payment plan.

Answer 5

at work she just need to tell them that she cannot receive calls at work and then hang up they need to note that and if the calls continue she can sue the company that is trying to collect.