that have not been paid. He was yelling at me on the phone and said he is comning for me and he will knock down the door if he had to. I told him I was sick and at the ER on Monday and he yelled "Jesus Christ woman, you owe hospital bills too?". THen he reminded me that he would come for me in twelve hours. I was a nervous wreck and a police woman came out to talk to me. This man knew my name and knew I love in a motel. Can you help me?
2007-10-31 23:28:48 · 19 answers · asked by juttie Dee 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Law & Ethics
Police officers do not collect bills for credit cards. This was a phony call by some sorry excuse for a bill collector. He knew your name because he is collecting money for some company you own money to. He knew where you lived because you probably paid your motel rent with a credit card or check and he traced it. With the Internet, such traces are pretty easy.
What he did was impersonate a police officer. That is a criminal act. Nor are bill collectors allowed to call you after 9PM, another illegal act.
Creeps like this make a commission off how much money they can squeeze out of people they can frighten.
You did the right thing in calling the local police. Keep them informed of any calls or threats you get. If the police find this creep, he could be facing criminal charges, be sure to sign the complaint and jail his sorry butt.
2007-10-31 23:40:49 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
This was a prank call. But if it was actually a collector for a credit card, what he did was illegal. The Fair Debt Collection Act makes it illegal to call anyone about a debt after 8 or 9 in the evening and before 7 or 8 in the morning. It is also illegal for them to be abusive or threatening on the phone. If they should call you again, get mean and demand the name of their company and supervisor and the name of the company they are collecting for. If they are legitimate they have to tell you this. Then you call the Better Business Bureau and ask them for help and advice on what to do. If they can't help you, call legal aid in your city or county and they will help you for sure. It doesn't matter how much you owe, creditors must stick to the law and this kind of harrassment is definitely illegal.
2007-10-31 23:50:44 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
If you really owe people money, that 'detective' would not even care to call. He'd just come and arrest you right away.
Extortionist. That's what that man is. He is using a scare tactic to make you offer money but even if you pay, the amount gets bigger and bigger with demands scarier than the previous.
Just make sure the police know your story. Then clear out of that motel & find a place to stay where he can't come to get you.
Hope you will be okay.
2007-10-31 23:44:32 · answer #3 · answered by Blonde from D islands 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
This may be a prank, or not. I saw on the news where a man was actually doing this to collect debts. He was very abusive and threatening. I don't know what the laws in your area are about solicitors calling (especially in the middle of the night) but if you find out it isn't a prank, the next time he calls, get as much information out of him as you can and call the police.
You know you owe bills, and if you are sick you don't need to be harassed this way. If someone calls me in the middle of the night I start asking them questions, and don't answer any of theirs. Tell them nothing about yourself. It is also illegal to impersonate a police officer and they wouldn't be involved in this anyway-unless they're some sleazy self-educated private investigator.
2007-10-31 23:38:05 · answer #4 · answered by marty47 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
OK--call the credit people, talk to a real representative--get the name and date and time you called--arrange for small money repayments on a monthly basis--the law states that ANY attempt to pay is better than no pay---so 5 or 10 dollars is fine if that's all you can send--a judge can't do anything unless you send NOTHING. Cops don't have anything to do with your credit issues--it is not a crime--you were just fooled by the caller---next time just hang up. relax--the callers use stupid tactics like this all the time--they get paid to do this stuff---so call the credit people today !! start trying to help yourself and be strong. millions have problems---you are not alone !! Relax, smile and good luck.
2007-10-31 23:36:13 · answer #5 · answered by fire_inur_eyes 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Well to be honest it sounds like a sick joke from someone who knows you. No detective would ever speak to you like that or call you at that time in the morning or even warn you they were coming so don't worry about it, you did the right thing and called the police, make sure you get an incident number from them and you can quote that then if any further things happen. Ask the motel manager not to put calls through to your room at that time in the morning unless its a member of your family. Make sure he knows your families names so he can act accordingly
2007-10-31 23:34:25 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I don't think the call was from any legitimate person. Someone is playing a joke on you. No one whose job it is to collect bills would call at 3 in the morning and then yell at you. If you feel threatened, I would let the police know, if only to have the call on record.
2007-10-31 23:38:34 · answer #7 · answered by paic 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like a really really sleazy bill collector, but most of them are mentally ill and working off their mental ward bills, so that is no surprise.
If you are really having all kinds of credit card problems then you need to consider bankruptcy. Also, of course what this guy was doing was illegal, but remember that bill collectors are usually sick in the head, like process servers and repo-men. Lower than worm sh-it.
Call a lawyer, or the local bar association for a referral. Of course, NEVER answer your door for these weirdos, this guy might just be a freak. AND, who do you think gave him your number? Of course, you might have given it a business or something, and they may have sold your info....or somebody sold you out! SEE A LAWYER, GO BANKRUPT, END THIS **** IN YOUR LIFE!
2007-10-31 23:34:21 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like a prank, maybe someone that lives in the area that got a hold on your info, maybe mail. if they call back then i would step up the threat alert and call for assistance. Be Carefull
2007-10-31 23:34:07 · answer #9 · answered by Larvae 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Dont stress.. it was a prank call. Just make sure youre safe by locking the doors & letting people where you are
2007-10-31 23:33:05 · answer #10 · answered by Claude 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋