Ever get calls from collection agencies?

[Navy Chief]

Well, I never had, until my father in law (J.D.) moved in next door to us.

Here's the story. My father in law's son died last year. At some point, his son had run up charges on a credit card that my father in law did not know about; but his name was also on the account.
Anyway, the credit card company somehow managed to get J.D.'s new mailing address, which is also MY address, since he lives in a building on our property.

Every day, including Sundays, we get a phone call from a company called "Palisades", wanting to get in touch with J.D. It is an automated call, asking for us to call back, with information on how to get in touch with J.D.

J.D. also receives similar calls from the same people.

This has been going on for months now. Most of the time, I just ignore the ringing, taking notice of the caller ID. But yesterday, the bozos called twice, and it just got on my nerves. I made the mistake of calling them this morning, and getting into a heated conversation with a female collection agent. The call ended with me shouting and hanging up on the "unmentionable" person.

I have a feeling that short of PAYING for Caller Blocking to be added to my phone service, there isn't much I can do. I told J.D. I wish he would do something about this situation. I did not incur the debt, and the constant phone calls are annoying.

Anyone have experiences like this?

Thanks.

Pete

 

[Fibber]

Chief;
Consider making a report with the local PD for aggravated harrasement and send a letter informing the agency that you are not the object of their collection attempts. DO NOT include any personal info on the letter. In addition do not reveal that you have a house, a renter, whatever .
I was once the subject of these assine people until I informed them that the loan was paid off and that their continuing calls would result in legal action. They stopped!

 

[Snuffy]

I have an answering machine on my phone. The ringer is turned off. The only way I know I get a phone call is if the messages light is blinking. I also screen calls via this method as well. If you're someone I want to talk with and you're leaving a message on my machine, I'll pick up, if you're not, you get to finish your message and then I just hit the delete message button.

With the automated calls, if their machine can not detect a human voice on the receiving end, their calls usually hang up. (this is done by humans repeating Hello two or three times, that activates their machine to proceed with the call.) I have not modified my answering machine's voice message since I got the thing several years ago, the voice that is used is a digitally generated, and it only answers once, it doesn't sound human, so automated calls usually hang up.

I figure if you're trying to get a hold of me and you don't leave a message for me to return your call, it usually isn't important enough to have called in the first place.



However, on the bill collection side of things, I have never paid a collection agency. If I get a call or letter from one, they usually state the creditor on the statement, if its a legitimate notice, I will send the money to the people I owe the money to.

 

[Navy Chief]

If it was a debt I had incurred, then ok. But it isn't. I have never had a collection agency call me. Even though this doesn't concern me directly, the calls are still quite annoying.

Pete

 

[Chacha]

from an ex-collection agency representative - point of view!!!

I have an answering machine on my phone as well, and a caller ID on my TV and phone... If I don't know who is calling, I (normally) don't answer... my seven year old sometimes pick up the phone and she knows how to handle my calls (she's trained - not to lie, but to handle the call) If it is an important phone call, they will leave a message, or people know how to reach me-on my cellphone!!

I get annoying collector's call from my ex's account every now and then... the answering machine handles that!

I used to work in a collection agency in Cali; on my younger years; the caller (collection agency) should know better; the call should be proffesionally delivered (no harrassment, threat, or any personal yelling or hitting below the belt!)... The caller should have known better: File a complaint... they won't bother you again! :amen:

Eli

 

[GT182]

Yes I have NC. From my ex running up bill at Sears on a Sears card she took out over the phone, in my name after we were separated. I still get calls and letters for some dumb a*ssed collection agency to pay it. At the proper time my lawyer says he will file suit and we will own Sears. I'm not holding my breathe. LOL

Have him get a lawyer. That's the only way it will be resolved unless he pays the bill.... in full. A lawyer might be able to cut the bill in half or have it expunged.

 

[Navy Chief]

Hi Gary,

My father in law doesn't have the cash to pay the credit company. I worry about the day when he passes, because I know he has several credit cards. I am not looking forward to the increased amount of harrassment from those companies. And, since it is my wife's father, the tensions mount when I even approach the subject............

Pete

 

[JoeW]

I am on the "National Do Not Call" list and still get harressing calls. One from an "Acme" .... who ever that is. I just ignore them. After about 6 calls I answer and politely tell them not to call any more and that they are breaking the law.
The "Acme" calls are prerecorded and I file a complaint with the "Do Not Call" agency and it usually stops.
I have no credit bills that are unpaid.

 

[Snuffy]

Yep those calls are considered harrassment. Write a letter to them and have a notory seal it. (be sure to make copies for your files.)

State in the letter that you are not their target and do not give them any more information as was stated earlier, they have 30 days to get their act together before you take them to court for harrassment.

 

[Pepere]

I have a phone gadget - when I pick up the phone to answer an incoming call it make the same tones as a disconnected number. If it is a machine/automated call it hangs up because it thinks my phone has been disconnected. It also makes the tones when the answering machine picks up so they can't even leave a message. It also takes my number out of their numbers to call because the automated system deletes my number from it's list. It's called a TeleZapper. Works for me! Got it at Staples a few years ago. The only down side is if it is a real person calling they will still get you. But they do hear the tone also. Friends and family just get use to it.

David

Ebay: http://shop.ebay.com/items/_W0QQ_nkwZtelezapperQQ_armrsZ1QQ_fromZQQ_mdoZQQ_sopZ12

Amozon: http://www.amazon.com/Privacy-Technologies-TZ-900-TeleZapper-900/dp/B00006881R

 

[Willy]

We get calls every now and then from agencies looking for my ex. We also get 'em looking for Mrs Willy's ex as well. We usually try to give the best set of directions to their respective houses we can. Actually we usually don't have a clue where my ex is at now other than she tends to stay in the Texarkana area when she's not in law trouble.

Both exes for some reason want to use our names for references and if called we'll give 'em one all right. A bad one. :d

 

[CG_1976]

I have a can of Fog horn air. I just blow that in there ear if I get ticked. Otherwise I dont worry about them as credit collections hate Wisconsin due to our anti collection agency laws and states no call list.

 

[Ickie]

my id was stolen from FSU in Oct.
from thanksgiving till last week I got 20 calls a day, with every first name and Larson you have ever heard of, none were for Ron, lol
I even had them call me a liar, all hours of the day and night, well I got even, and had the phone turned off and now use only my magicjack and cell number. I now save $50 bucks a month.

 

[Dangerousdave26]

my id was stolen from FSU in Oct.
from thanksgiving till last week I got 20 calls a day, with every first name and Larson you have ever heard of, none were for Ron, lol
I even had them call me a liar, all hours of the day and night, well I got even, and had the phone turned off and now use only my magicjack and cell number. I now save $50 bucks a month.

Top shelve Ron

The ringers on all my phones are turned off. Some times I check the CID log ot see who called but ultimatly I don't care.

My true friends and work know how to reach me.

At one time I got calls all the time for my sister and my Mom. Those days are over they still have bill problems but I don't have to hear it.

 

[Daveroo]

wait..im confused? the person who ran up the bill is dead?..i read that right?..if you can prove that..call the local PD or DA's office file a harrassment complaint and next time..give them the number to the cemitary he is buried at..and have them see if they can collect from HIM

 

[jmig]

We do what Snuffy does. Every call is screened by the answer machine with my wife sweet voice. If we know you, we pick up.

Amazing how many just hang up when the recording comes on. "You have reached..,"dial tone."

 

[Navy Chief]

My wife's dad is on the credit card account that his son ran up the debt on; so he is also responsible. I also have Magic Jack ( just got it ), but the phone number they are calling is my land line. I would gladly have THAT disconnected, but my wife would pitch a fit.

NC

 

[waco]

When we moved here just a little over 3 years ago, we started getting calls from collection agencies asking for Janet. That just happens to be my wife's name. But they didn't want a Janet with our last name. I finally found out from an acquaintance at the bank what this other Janet's last name was. It seems her ex got tired of getting dunned for her bills, so he gave them a made up telephone number. Unfortunately, it was the same telephone number we got from the local telephone company. This went on for months and months with us explaining. It took a while but we seldom get harrassing phone calls any more.

 

[Pauke! Pauke!]

Navycheif: I would suggest writing a "cease and desist" letter to the agency and send it certified return receipt. Here is a sample bellow of a letter from this website. The site is o.k. but they want to sell you service or at least the sponsors do. You and your father in law can act own your on and probably get the same results.

http://www.ihatedebt.com

Have your father in law do the same. Because you are not the target of the collection effort, you might want to tweak the letter to reflect that you are not the debtor. Also warn the collection agency that they could be making a 3rd party disclosure of the indebtedness and your father in law might want to collect damages from this disclosure. The agency can not discuss the account with anyone other than the debtor and the debtor must be identified, usually with the last 4 digits of his SSN before any discussion can begin. The agency can move towards a civil action if the credit card companies have the resolve to expend court cost on a possible un-collectable judgement. If your father in law has any bank accounts or wages that could be garnished or real property that could have a lien placed on it he might want to consider working with the credit card companies directly. He could offer a discounted lump sum settlement for the balance if he has the capacity. The agency and collector only gets paid if they collect money. If it looks like it’s an un-collectable debt it is usually shelved or it could be placed with another collection agency after a few months and you will need to send the letters again to the new agency with copies of the old letters.

I don’t want to get too far into your father in law’s relationship to this debt ran up by his son but was the card taken from him by his son without his permission or knowledge? This could be a stolen card / fraud situation and your father in law would need to sign an affidavit to this fact. Sometimes there is a time limit on claiming the case for a stolen card or fraud. These are just some thoughts for you to kick around. But what ever you do decide to write, send it certified return receipt and also send a copy via regular mail. Have your father in law do the same.


Your Name
Your Address
City, State, Zip


(Sent via CERTIFIED RETURN MAIL with RETURN RECEIPT)

Date:
XYZ Collection Agency/Law Firm
1234 Main Street, #100
Any town, USA 10021


Re: File #0000000 - ABC Bank - #4445566778899000 -For: $5555.55

Dear Debt Collector /Debt Collector Attorney:

This will serve as your legal notice under provisions of federal law, the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA), to cease all communication with me in regard to the debt referenced above. If you fail to heed this notice, I will file a formal complaint against you with the Federal Trade Commission who is responsible for enforcement, the States Attorney General office and/or the American Collectors Association or local State Bar Association.

I/We have decided that we do not desire to work with a collection agency under any circumstances. I/We will contact the original creditor to resolve this matter directly, as circumstances warrant.

You are also notified that should any adverse information be placed against my/our credit reports as a result of this notice that appropriate actions will be taken. Give this very important matter the attention it deserves.

Sincerely,
Your Name

Fair Debt Collections Practices act Section 805. http://www.ftc.gov/os/statutes/fdcpa/commentary.htm#805

 

[deathfromafar]

NC, being that your father-in-law's son ran up that credit card bill prior to his death the matter should have been settled during the probate period at the time his son's estate was closed. 99% of the time the credit card company has already charged off an outstanding debt and in this case probably sold the debt to a junk debt collection agency( I had to deal with this in a couple of estate closings after deaths in my family) The collection agency bought the bad debt from the original credit card issuer(which I learned they do for pennies on the dollar) and will normally follow the standard practice of bombarding you and your family with constant calls and mails in an attempt to forcibly coerce a settlement normally not less than a single lump sum payment. In some cases, the collection agencies will file a lawsuit to recover the debt they own. The key to this is that the person who made the original card charges is deceased and their estate closed so by law(in most states) they are out of luck and could actually be in violation of state and federal laws. The best way to handle the matter in the short term is to find out who the agency is and what their address is and send them a registered letter asking them to cease and desist all phone calls to your number and at the same time inform them of the circumstances regarding the death and estate closure of the son. By federal law under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, they must follow the cease and desist request and comply with any requests for proof of the outstanding debt as well as itemization of said debts. If they falsify information or mislead you or any state court officials it is a serious Felony. Also to note, your father-in-law being a co-signer on the original account his credit has been damaged by the charged off debt so it is advisable to look further into this matter for his sake as well. Also of note it to check what the statute of limitations for civil actions on bad debts are in your state as well as the limits of liability to a co-signer after the primary debt holder is deceased/estate closure.

Laws vary from state to state but in general you have rights to deal with this kind of thing as I have in the past. It is a pain no doubt. Good luck chief!

(I added this post without seeing the above post first but throwing mine in the mix in addition to the above post)