She chooses to ignore them and has me send them to her voice mail - I've told her to write them a letter and tell them to stop harrassing her, but I have to route these calls. I guess it shouldn't bother me because its not my problem, but I have to answer all these calls with inquiries to when she'll be at work, does she work there at all, etc. Plus its tying up my phone line! Help. Thanks.
2007-07-31 11:45:49 · 18 answers · asked by GMD 1 in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
If you are the one that answers the phone, when someone asks for so and so, simply patch them through. You have then done your job and nobody can get mad at you for that. You should not have to inform your co-workers who it is first, unless it is your boss you are talking about. Just transfer the phone call and let your co-worker handle it from there. If she does not take care of it, discuss it with your boss. Ask him/her how you should be handling this.
2007-07-31 15:45:45 · answer #1 · answered by pj 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The first answerer got it nearly correct....
Creditors are not allowed to call the debtor's place of business/employment. According to that "fair debt collection" website:
"Communication with a debtor at their place of employment after the collection agency has reason to believe that such calls are not permitted."
Therefore, what you do is ask for the name/company (address/phone) of the collection agency, WRITE IT DOWN in a log book, and then tell the caller that they are not allowed to call this person's place of employment. Furthermore, now that you have their name and company information, that you have logged this call, and that if they call even ONE MORE TIME, you are going to personally sue them for harassment, which is your right to do.
BOY will that stop those calls from coming! Unfortunately, I have had collectors call me at work, and I have told them, without a break in my breath, that they are NOT allowed to call me at my place of work, and if they ever do so again, they will be sued. VOILA... silence.
I'm sorry to make such a statement, but this is how I feel... debt collectors are the scum of the earth. They will bother and bother and bother and bother. They will go after you for $20 as well as $20,000. They are bottom feeders, and I have lost all respect for them.
2007-07-31 19:42:17 · answer #2 · answered by wyomugs 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Tell them to quit calling, that this is a place of business and she can't take personal calls, to call her at home, that you can't give out her schedual information, that they need to speak with HR/Supervisor to confirm work status (Your boss or HR will put a stop to the phone calls, but it might be a bit uncomfortable for her), Pick one.
They aren't your bill collectors, they aren't your problem. At the least give them her direct extension so that you don't have to deal with them anymore.
2007-07-31 19:34:26 · answer #3 · answered by Morgansmom 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
it's not just annoying, it's also illegal according to federal law. According to the Fair Debt Collection Act, a creditor CANNOT call a person's place of employment if they are told they cannot receive call at work.
Tell her she has rights as a debtor in this way, and that she should write them a cease and desist letter telling the creditors to not to call on the job. By law they have to comply.
2007-07-31 20:05:53 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
As soon as you can tell its a collection call, just tell them she's permanently unavailable and hang up. You don't have to explain anything to them. The less you tell them the better. And any question they have about her employment and working hours is absolutely none of their business. You shouldn't give out that information anyway, because what if they are attempting identity theft by using collections as a cover to gather information on her? At any rate, they are the masters of phone harassment and don't deserve a polite response.
2007-07-31 18:55:22 · answer #5 · answered by hypno_toad1 7 · 2⤊ 1⤋
you can simply not answer the phone if the call isn't yours.
or if you have to, you can say "i don't know what you're talking about" or "sorry but this is personal stuff and i don't interfer with my coworkers"
but this will not solve the problem. what she is doing is wronge.
you can simply hang up the phone. because this is exactly what she is doing to them. as soon as you know that the caller is a biller you can hang up. even if he calls again.
this way she is ignoring them without passing through you. and the good news is that they will know that themselves.
this is not rude.
however why don't you tell the billers that they are anoying to you.
2007-07-31 19:12:11 · answer #6 · answered by yaz20100 4 · 0⤊ 1⤋
If these bill collectors are calling your coworkers looking for you they have a right to file a harassement charge, and so to you. Calling you once a day can be enough to remind you of your dues.
2007-07-31 18:57:32 · answer #7 · answered by Belgariad 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Stop answering their questions and routing her calls, they are breaking the law.
The Fair Debt Collections Practices Act == They can't leave messages on voice mail and they most definitely can't talk to you about her debts.
http://www.legalhelpers.com/bankruptcy-articles/brc-articles-fair-debt-collection.html
2007-07-31 19:01:04 · answer #8 · answered by b k 3 · 5⤊ 0⤋
Ask them for their fax number and have your boss write a letter telling them to stop calling.
2007-07-31 18:48:15 · answer #9 · answered by sweetsum691 5 · 2⤊ 1⤋
Since it's happening that frequently, and distracting you consistently from your work, I would think it is ok to tell her to take care of her personal problems elsewhere than work. She might say she can't help it. In that case I would tell her that maybe she should think about getting a financial adviser if shes getting in over her head. That way it is helpful advice, and it takes care of your problem.
2007-07-31 18:53:00 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 2⤋