Mean collection ppl
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Mean collection ppl
| Fri, 04-01-2005 - 12:51pm |
I have a couple past accounts that have been forwarded to collection agencies. I get notices from them all the time but i'm too scared to call them. They can be really nasty.(from my experiences)
I know it will only help if I call and when i call.
Does anyone feel the same or am I just being a punk?
Anyone have any tips to help me have some courage on calling these mean ppl?
I know it will only help if I call and when i call.
Does anyone feel the same or am I just being a punk?
Anyone have any tips to help me have some courage on calling these mean ppl?

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I have had to deal with this before, sorry to say. I agree with the poster who said you do not have to call them or accept calls from them. There is no reason why you should not conduct all communication with them in writing through the mail. First of all, you are in control then. Secondly, you have written records of what you said, where you sent it, and proof that you sent it (assuming you make copies before mailing it and send it certified mail - which you should). This will come in handy if they do take you to court over the debt. A judge would be very impressed.
I have literally sat on the phone with a collections agent for almost an hour going over all my income and expenses in detail and worked out a long-term repayment plan with them. The very next day, I received a call from another agent at that company asking the ubiquitous "when are you sending payment?". He said there was nothing in my file there about any payment plan. I had nothing but a made up name to give him (collections agents use psuedonyms). I had wasted my time.
Write to them requesting that they cease all telephone communication with you in accordance with the Fair Debt Collections Act and send it certified mail. Start a file on this account and keep copies of everything. Figure out how much you can honestly pay them on a regular basis and write them a letter saying "I will pay you $X a month until the balance is paid in full". Keep that promise. Every time you send payment, restate your promise in the letter.
I honestly believe that speaking to collections agencies over the phone is only beneficial for mashochists.
And if the company does violate the Fair Debt Collection Act, you can call them on it, but if you actually have to sue, good luck. It's unlikely you will find an attorney who will accept the case on a contingency basis and paying a lawyer to go to court will most certainly be more expensive than the debt you owe. That's unfortunatly how it goes for most consumer protection laws.
Susan
I think calling with a good attitude does help. Treat it like the business transaction that it is........and do not allow emotion to rule the conversation. Remind yourself over and over that it is a business transaction. PERIOD. Yes, it may be your "fault" you are in this position, but get past that.
They will press for payment in full. If you offer payment arrangements and they say that it isn't enough. Don't argue. Simply ask "If I send in some money, will it be applied to my account?" If so, then consistantly send in payment to that account.
Also, when you call, be prepared with exact figures and exact dates you will pay. If you give them a date, they won't call until right before that date to "remind you". They realize it would be a waste of their time.
Honestly, I wouldn't even deal with the collection people if possible.
It's true - you can send your payment *directly* to the original creditor. I've done this and the calls stopped. I've been told that the CA doesn't get commission if you pay the creditor directly, though I'm not sure that's true. If it is, it's a good way to stick it to the B*stards.
The CA's have a whole arsenal of scare tactics that they will try to use against you. Most of them they learned from watching Jerry Springer. DO NOT BE INTIMIDATED. Just treat it like the business transaction that it is, and act calmly and professionally. (Although I like the idea of the other poster - I've often fantasized about getting bikers or Mafia Goodfellas to go and intimidate them!)
By the way, it costs them a lot of money to sue you, so if you are paying something, it seems to me the chances are less that they'll pursue the "legal action" that they are always threatening.
I totally agree. Once time I had a sh$tload of medical bills that
were not paid according to them.
1. they are happy to get anything.
2. if they are aggressive with you, you have to be aggressive with them.
a. I said, this is all i can send you. if its not enogh, you machingun my house. but if i dont die, expect me to visit you.
**i did say this***
They took my payment. They left me alone.
b. explain, this is all i got, i am doing my best, here it is. If you want to sue me, fine.
They do not want to sue you.
A lot of businesses will try to get an account back from a CA if payments are made directly to them, but that usually doesn't work, is unethical and in most cases contrary to the terms of the contract.
You're not always *sticking it to* the CA. You are making more work for them and the original creditor. And sometimes delaying the postin of your payment as some businesses simply forward (by snail mail) your payment to the CA.
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