I know I have a debt with a creditor and they have turned it over to a collection agency. The first time I talked to a collector I told them what my circumstances were: I had just lost my job, I was 7 1/2 months pregnant, I have no insurance, I have 3 toddlers I have to support, and I'm about to undergo two major surgeries. There is just no way I can pay anything right now. They keep calling me daily and I keep telling them the same thing. They told me to borrow the money from someone but there is no one. They want my credit card # so they can charge it at a later date...I don't think so. Recently they called my house when I wasn't home. My sister-in-law, who was babysitting, told them I wasn't home and they called her a liar and said that they knew it was me. Then she said they called back 10 minutes later. Everytime I talk to someone they get really snooty and impossible to be nice to.
Is there anyway to get them to stop calling me???
2007-05-03 12:44:18 · 8 answers · asked by Anonymous in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
I have not received anything in the mail from them so I have no address to contact them with. Any time I talk to them on the phone the end up telling me that they're going to report it to the credit bureaus and then they hang up.
2007-05-03 12:58:35 · update #1
This is not a credit card debt! Ret Sgt...I am not denying that the debt is my fault. All I am saying is that there is absolutely no way I can pay right now, like I've told the collectors. I have no problem paying when I find another job but that is unlikely right now. My children's father is currently working two jobs to pay for everyday expenses. I am currently 23 days away from delivery this baby and undergoing surgery. I can not take the stress of arguing with these people everyday and telling them the same thing over and over and then have them yell at me because I lost my job and don't have an extra $500 to just drop in their lap and I won't give them my debit card info even though they promise to hold it until a later date.
2007-05-03 18:45:06 · update #2
write them a letter and tell them that you are enacting your rights as a debtor to have all contact made with you via mail. That you are stating there are not to call you anymore. They have to stop calling they can still persue the collection. If the situation is more than you can handle try contacting a consumer credit counseling center for help.
There is a law that if you put it in writing a bill collector has to stop calling you. This is a federal law and it can be found in any book on bankruptcy or debt protection. I have done this and creditors have to acknowlege this. I can get you the law number tommorrow if you want to include it in your letter
2007-05-03 12:52:58 · answer #1 · answered by thelmashirley 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
I am not trying to be mean here but there are 5 reasons listed why you cant pay and that you still have a credit card. I know not all circumstances are an individuals fault, but having 3 children and another on the way sounds like you made a decision on them. Surgery probably not . Insurance- many people don't have it but I know you can get free emergency care.
Where is the father to the children? He should be there too. I don't know why you are out of work but I am sure you are looking and that's great.
Keep in mind, you can get them to stop calling you but most of us have made choices in the past that were bad. Dump the credit card, go after the children's father for support. You are allowing yourself to be a total victim by denying you may be responsible for some of this yourself.
If I sound harsh, I am sorry, but you have to take control of this yourself. Handouts and credit wont do the job. It's time for a total change.
2007-05-03 15:22:16 · answer #2 · answered by Ret. Sgt. 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, 15 USC 1692 et seq, governs the practices that can be used by collection companies. It sounds like this company is violating a number of the provisions of the act.
1) A collection company may not, if it speaks with you, make more than one call per day. That is harassment. If you do not take the call, they can call back. (generally)
2) If you write to them and tell them to cease all communication with you, they must do so. However, they may write or call you to inform you that they are instituting suit, or that they are complying with your demand.
3) If they speak with you, they MUST write to you within 7 days and provide you with an address at which you can write them.
I suggest, under the circumstances you have described, that you consult an attorney. If you retain an attorney, and then you tell them that you have retained an attorney, they may not contact you unless they are unsuccessful in contacting the attorney. Your attorney can also advise you on specific rights in your state.
If you can't afford an attorney, investigate legal aid. For a referral, contact your local or state bar association.
2007-05-04 05:11:50 · answer #3 · answered by Phil R 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
The person above me is wrong. Send them a letter to stop calling you, certified so you have proof. They legally have to stop calling.
Check out some websites, there is some really good advice on how to deal with creditors and some tricks to get them off your back.
2007-05-03 12:58:20 · answer #4 · answered by Kenneth C 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
first ingredient you should do is pull all 3 of your comments to verify what has popped up. in case you haven't any longer pulled your comments in a jointly as something might have surfaced. If no longer something has then I woul google them and locate their mailing addresse and deliver them a "stop and Desist" letter. This letter is a criminal treatment it relatively is afforded to you for the time of the FDCPA (honest Debt series Practices Act). merely tell them which you somewhat choose them to stop any and all verbal replace with you as provided by skill of the FDCPA. be helpful to deliver it qualified, return Receipt asked as evidence they recieved it. in the event that they proceed to touch then you definately you somewhat sue them in Small Claims under the FDCPA. desire this facilitates. e mail me in case you pick extra help.
2016-10-04 08:35:49 · answer #5 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Unfortunately, no there is no way you can make them stop calling you short of paying the bills they are calling about. The law does not permit the option of asking/demanding they stop calling you, as an earlier responder suggested. Bill collectors are exempt from this. Also, you cannot block their calls using your usual methods of call block; they're exempt from that, too. What I've done and I suggest you do, is get caller ID and, once you recognize the numbers from which they're calling, simply don't answer the phone. Let your answering machine take care of it, then simply erase the messages. This won't stop them calling, but you don't have to be harrassed by them. Of course, when you get the money, pay the bill, but until then, you needn't add to your stress by answering the phone every time it rings. It's YOUR phone. You are NOT obligated to answer it just because it rings. Also, beware of calls beginning with 800, like a toll-free number, because those are bill collectors, too. Just DON'T answer them!
2007-05-03 12:56:20 · answer #6 · answered by andromedasview@sbcglobal.net 5 · 0⤊ 6⤋
ANDROMED - Your are very very incorrect in your above statements - Send them a Certified Letter telling them to stop all phone communications with you. Once they recieve the letter all phone contact has to stop. This is called harassment ant it is illegal.
2007-05-05 05:13:16 · answer #7 · answered by kgperry70 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
by law, when they call you say please dont call me anymore, and they must stop. if they call again you can sue them in small claims court, and they never show up, so you win
2007-05-03 12:51:48 · answer #8 · answered by skcs11 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋