Harassment??

[ElvenRangeress]

Ok so I was falling asleep when all of a sudden the phone rings! I answered it and the guy asked for my boyfriend ... I said if he wanted to contact him to call his cell, this is my personal phone and to please not call it, then I hung up. Five seconds later the same guy calls (was a creditor or something of some sort) and he's all like ... you are so rude, and then like threatening to garnish *my check* and I'm like ... uhmmm bye now! Then the same dude calls again the next day, I said call my boyfriend's number if he wants him so bad, he's all like .. I don't have the number! I said whatever and hung up, he calls AGAIN! And started his crap. Then I hung up and then I hear my b/f's cell phone ringing, (he forgot it here when he went to work) and the guy left a message on his voice mail saying, Good Luck if you don't contact me tonight ... is this considered harassment?? Who is he to correct my manners when I'm half a sleep? :?:

[peam]

Such is the way of creditors.

Tell your boyfriend to pay his bills.

[Betheny]

Do like a friend of mine told me to do.

UNPLUG THE PHONE WHEN SLEEPING.

I <3 it.

[Camri]

Originally posted by peam
Such is the way of creditors.

Tell your boyfriend to pay his bills.

I was thinking that, but I'm too nice to say it.

I don't think it's considered harassment. Those bill collector types have rules to follow about confidentiality, and what time of day they can all. I don't think there's any rules about what they can and can't say to you.

I know this from experience. I've had those people after me too.

[Betheny]

I hate waking up for the phone. Unless there's a soft-spoken guy w ith a southern drawl or something on the other end of the phone. Maybe a Brit would work.

[ElvenRangeress]

Originally posted by peam
Such is the way of creditors.

Tell your boyfriend to pay his bills.

As I said I don't know who the heck it was, could of been AT&T for all I know talking about a *deal* but regardless of that, that was rather disturbing.

[Camri]

Originally posted by ElvenRangeress

Originally posted by peam
Such is the way of creditors.

Tell your boyfriend to pay his bills.

As I said I don't know who the heck it was, could of been AT&T for all I know talking about a *deal* but regardless of that, that was rather disturbing.

Ok, wait a minute....

Why would AT&T threaten to garnish your check if they were offering some kind fo deal?

You're sinking yourself again, hon.

[Snapp]

Are you going for a record of making the most threads in one night or what?

[ElvenRangeress]

Originally posted by Camri

Originally posted by ElvenRangeress

Originally posted by peam
Such is the way of creditors.

Tell your boyfriend to pay his bills.

As I said I don't know who the heck it was, could of been AT&T for all I know talking about a *deal* but regardless of that, that was rather disturbing.

Ok, wait a minute....

Why would AT&T threaten to garnish your check if they were offering some kind fo deal?

You're sinking yourself again, hon.

It could of been a prank call for all I know see what I'm saying? I don't know who the heck it was, but it freaked me out! But no matter *who it was* why on earth would they threaten to garnish *my* check?? :?: I mean I don't have gold cards or anything!

[Edited on 10-10-2003 by ElvenRangeress]

[Betheny]

Tell them he died in a tragic car accident.

[ElvenRangeress]

Originally posted by Snapp
Are you going for a record of making the most threads in one night or what?

It would seem that way wouldn't it? No actually I just like knowing what other people think and feel, I don't know I'm just curious .. No more threads by me tonight, I promise. :P

[ElvenRangeress]

But anyhow, thanks for responding to my posts, good night to you all! ;o)

[Camri]

Originally posted by ElvenRangeress

Originally posted by Camri

Originally posted by ElvenRangeress

Originally posted by peam
Such is the way of creditors.

Tell your boyfriend to pay his bills.

As I said I don't know who the heck it was, could of been AT&T for all I know talking about a *deal* but regardless of that, that was rather disturbing.

Ok, wait a minute....

Why would AT&T threaten to garnish your check if they were offering some kind fo deal?

You're sinking yourself again, hon.

It could of been a prank call for all I know see what I'm saying? I don't know who the heck it was, but it freaked me out! But no matter *who it was* why on earth would they threaten to garnish *my* check?? :?: I mean I don't have gold cards or anything!

[Edited on 10-10-2003 by ElvenRangeress]

You don't have to have Gold cards to have unpaid bills.

If you don't pay your bills, they can garnish your check. That's how it works.

But I thought the call was for your boyfriend anyway?

I'm to tired to deal with something this confusing.

Edited to express my confusion.

[Edited on 10-10-2003 by Camri]

[ElvenRangeress]

I'll explain it tomorrow, so lets put this thread on hold (Sorry I'm falling asleep *laugh*)

-Athie

(Yeah the call was for my boyfriend, so I don't know what their problem is, why on earth would they garnish my check because of him? So it must be a prank, or probably the telemarketer guy was ticked at me and tried to scare me? I don't know)

(I'm confused myself)

[Edited on 10-10-2003 by ElvenRangeress]

[HarmNone]

Simplicity itself. If it is not your bill, they cannot garnish your paycheck. If you signed for the loan (or whatever it is), all bets are off.

If it is not your indebtedness, and you have signed for nothing, just find out who the jackass is and who he works for, then tell him you are not *insert boyfriend's name here*, give him the boyfriend's cell phone number, and tell him not to call your home again.

HarmNone figures the boyfriend needs to pay his damned bills

[CrystalTears]

If he doesn't already have the cell number (which it seems he already does) don't be offering any information, including other contact numbers.

From my dealings with creditors, they don't keep calling back and being rude because they can be reported and they know they can. Next time he calls (if he calls), ask for his name, company name, phone number and his manager's name. If he doesn't give you any information, it's a prankster.

Although some creditors are known for never leaving any information to make return calls because they'd rather call you at their own convenience, giving them the advantage. They know that catching you off guard will cause you to be more willing to agree to their terms just to make them go away. With people like that you have to be firm and insist on their information. Once they see that you're not some wishy-washy customer, they'll call less.

[ElvenRangeress]

I wish I knew what to do when they called the first time, I was kinda freaked out! But yeah thanks for the advice, (directed towards harmnone- as i said i still don't know who the heck it was, but i hope i find out soon, this happened alot actually from the same guy)

[HarmNone]

Originally posted by ElvenRangeress
I wish I knew what to do when they called the first time, I was kinda freaked out! But yeah thanks for the advice, (directed towards harmnone- as i said i still don't know who the heck it was, but i hope i find out soon, this happened alot actually from the same guy)

Whoever it is has no business threatening you. If some jackass calls me trying to collect a debt owed by someone else and threatens ME with garnishment, or anything else, I want to know his name, his company's name, his boss's name and his mama's name! He will be told once to get the hell off my phone and stay off!:flamed:

HarmNone can get mightily pissed when the situation calls for it

[Ravenstorm]

The Fair Debt Collection Act

http://www.ftc.gov/os/statutes/fdcpa/fdcpact.htm

Specifically check out 805-809.

Raven

[Edited on 10-10-2003 by Ravenstorm]

[Adhara]

I worked in the collection department of Rogers AT&T for a while and I can tell you that I almost met and surpassed my quotas (amount collected / hour worked) without threatening or yelling at my customers. I was the honey type while most go for vinegar. But yes I guess I was the exception. In fact, we are *encouraged* to be aggressive by our supervisors. Needless to say we all get numerous complaints. The conversation with supervisors usually goes like this:

cutomer: evil employee was mean to me blah blah
supervisor: yes sir I understand sir... yes... oh yes totally unacceptable... so..... how much would you be able to pay every month?..... yes? how about <target amount here>? Would that be alright? Rest assured that proper disciplinary action will be taken regarding so-and-so...
customer: Yes I can pay that. Thank you for being professional and keeping your employees in line.
*******

That's how it works. Agent is aggressive, Sup is mellow and sweet. It's a well-practiced team work game. When the customer hears the employee will be punished, he feels very smug and is almost always willing to come to an agreement with the supervisor to "teach the employee a lesson." The lesson the customer wants to teach is "see? if you had been nice I would have paid you! nyah nyah!"

Bottom line is, company gets the money, employee owes the supervisor a beer. This is reality.

Of course there's always cases where the employee did go too far. But our training specifically includes "legal scare tactics" so to speak. We are trained to know what we can say without the company being at risk should a customer decide to sue.

[StrayRogue]

Originally posted by Maimara
I hate waking up for the phone. Unless there's a soft-spoken guy w ith a southern drawl or something on the other end of the phone. Maybe a Brit would work.


Is that a hint my dear?

[AnticorRifling]

So wait first it's a creditor, then it's AT&T, then you're not sure, then the guy says he doesn't know your BF's cell, then the cell rings and the creditor/AT&T/mystery person leaves a voicemail on the cell which he doesn't have the number too.

Wow.

[draconis nematoda]

After the third call I would have blown a whistle into the reciever and punctured the idiot's eardrum.

[Tendarian]

I woulda just stopped answering the phone. I never answer the phone when i have unpaid bills cause i dont want to have to talk to them til i actually can pay it. Ive never been taken to court either and believe me my credit stinks :)

[Weedmage Princess]

Give them the number to Domino's.

[Bestatte]

I'll refrain from commenting on how this Princess seems to revel in being a victim, and attack the actual topic of bill-collector harrassment instead.

First of all, you don't owe the bill collector anything, even if you are responsible for the debts. The debt is to the company that provided the service or item, not to a bill collection agency.

I had issues with a hospital, a private practice MD, and a veterinarian over the past 25 years, one issue with each.

In each case, I refused to pay the bill. I wasn't negligent, I just plain refused to pay it, because of the issues surrounding the so-called "care" either I or the animal I brought in received.

In each case, I was called by a bill collector. In each case, I told them to please get their asses in gear and take me to court. Immediately. I told them I was not going to discuss my debts with a third party, unless I was court-ordered to do so, so get the fuck off my case and begone before I drive over to their office, stand on the sidewalk outside, and tell everyone who walks buy what assholes they are.

And then I hung up.

They never called me after the first try. Not in any of the three cases. Remember - if they think you're crazier than they are, they'll leave you alone.

[Weedmage Princess]

Originally posted by Bestatte
I'll refrain from commenting on how this Princess seems to revel in being a victim,

I am the only Princess here, and I am NOT sharing my throne with anyone else...ESPECIALLY Atheana! http://hometown.aol.com/fungimagi/images/mad.gif

[ElvenRangeress]

Originally posted by AnticorRifling
So wait first it's a creditor, then it's AT&T, then you're not sure, then the guy says he doesn't know your BF's cell, then the cell rings and the creditor/AT&T/mystery person leaves a voicemail on the cell which he doesn't have the number too.

Wow.

I told you in the first post on this thread, I was guessing it was a creditor.. so I don't know what your talking about.

[Vesi]

Originally posted by ElvenRangeress

Originally posted by AnticorRifling
So wait first it's a creditor, then it's AT&T, then you're not sure, then the guy says he doesn't know your BF's cell, then the cell rings and the creditor/AT&T/mystery person leaves a voicemail on the cell which he doesn't have the number too.

Wow.

I told you in the first post on this thread, I was guessing it was a creditor.. so I don't know what your talking about.

:?:

Maybe one of you had won a contest or something! Is it that hard to find out who you're speaking with?

Vesi

[StrayRogue]

Originally posted by Scarface
All I have to say... Is that if it is a creditor, consider yourself lucky it's only phone calls. The way we handle things where I am from, is if you don't pay your bills we break your knees. You don't pay your bills after we break your knees, and we cut you into little pieces and turn you into worm food.

Scary. No really I just shit myself. Talk about barbaric.

[Skirmisher]

Originally posted by Scarface
All I have to say... Is that if it is a creditor, consider yourself lucky it's only phone calls. The way we handle things where I am from, is if you don't pay your bills we break your knees. You don't pay your bills after we break your knees, and we cut you into little pieces and turn you into worm food.

Ho hum. :rolleyes:

Return the Scarface video to Blockbuster already.

[StrayRogue]

Say ello to my lil friend....

[Parkbandit]

Caller ID/Call Intercept can be your friend.

[GS4Gurl]

Originally posted by Lady Daina
Another simple tip I've found is answering the phone kind of like this:

"Hello?"
"Hello, may I speak with so-and-so?"
"Who's calling, please?"

Before I say *anything* else, I ask them who they are. If they won't tell me, I hang up. I don't tolerate people calling me at MY home and being rude to me. And refusing to tell me who they are and what they want is rude.

Sometimes, though, they get pissy and say "Are they there or not?!" Then I can laugh at them and express my disgust for their severe lack of common courtesy. Shame works well in such situations. ;)

I do that too. I say something, "Why would I tell a complete stranger who wont identify themselves if someone is here at my house or not, doesn't sound like a very smart or safe thing to do." and then hang up on them.

[Artha]

DNCL = super. Haven't gotten one call at all this month.

I don't know why we have a phone when we don't call anyone and nobody calls us.

[Ben]

Originally posted by Scarface
All I have to say... Is that if it is a creditor, consider yourself lucky it's only phone calls. The way we handle things where I am from, is if you don't pay your bills we break your knees. You don't pay your bills after we break your knees, and we cut you into little pieces and turn you into worm food.

Fantasy Land?