Grrrr... Bill collectors

[gabemcg]

I'll admit it... financially, I could be classified as a scumbag... but geez.

I have no income at the moment, and I'm living at home. How do they expect to get their money??

Is legal action against me going to solve anything for them?

I tried to explain to this guy that I wasn't able to dodge that I'd love to pay them, and if I had the money I would, but he really diddn't seem to understand.

I would have liked to end the call on at least a neutral note, but because of his aggressive, immature, and rude statements, I ended up telling him off.

My credit is obviously shot, but I'd like to fix it.

 

[Eli]

Yes, it is apart of the job description.

 

[MercenaryForHire]

Yes it is, scumbag. Pay your bills.

- M4H

 

[Patt]

Take a look at who they regularly have to deal with ... and they're just performing to that same level ...

 

[FleshLight]

When it comes to business, you'll find little compassion.

 

[akubi]

in some countries they'd chop off one of your fingers or take your daughter everytime you don't pay.

so be happy.

 

[Pastore]

Expect to get no compassion for not paying your bills on this forum. If you maybe told us a good reason for being unemployed and you are unable to find employment, maybe there would be some sympathy. Until then, you're a scumbag.

 

[jpeyton]

Get Caller ID.

Oh wait, you're poor.

 

[chambersc]

let me introduce you to http://creditboards.com/forums/index.php

 

[MisterJackson]

Originally posted by: jpeyton
Get Caller ID.

Oh wait, you're poor.

ROFL

 

[eyecandy86]

Originally posted by: jpeyton
Get Caller ID.

Oh wait, you're poor.

:laugh:

 

[sonz70]

business is business, pay your bills or screw off. You should not have overextended yourself to the point you have something in a credit bureau

 

[markgm]

Originally posted by: eyecandy86

Originally posted by: jpeyton
Get Caller ID.

Oh wait, you're poor.

:laugh:

Which means he probably has it

 

[Adica]

It's not their job to be rude, but it sure does make it for an extra pleasant experience.
Consider it a benefit, and.......ah umm...get a job and pay your bills!

 

[KC5AV]

They hear all kinds of lame excuses (not saying yours are lame) from people who have no intention of paying their bills. I keep getting calls because of the person who USED to have my phone number. I've had this number for 2 years now, and suddenly I have started getting calls for some cheapskate who doesn't realize that just because there are checks left doesn't mean she still has money. The bill collectors don't seem to understand that I've never met her, and don't care to. They are just doing their job. Maybe they're hiring.

 

[cKGunslinger]

I get a few of those calls on occassion. Most of the people that I've spoken with are so immature, it's not worth my time to even try and deal with them.

I received a bill from DHL for some $5 they think I owe them. I called them up and explained that I've never even used them and certainly didn't have an account with them with a balance due. They responded that they already sent it off to collection and I would have to deal with them.

Fast forward to last week when I'm out of town for a few (3) days. I come back to find some collection agency has called 75+ times (my phone only holds the last 75 called from any particular caller) and left not ONE SINGLE MESSAGE on my machine. I called it back and found out it was for that $5 I don't owe anyone. They pay someone minimum wage to call over 25x a day for a $5 collection? WTF?

 

[Injury]

Originally posted by: gabemcg
I tried to explain to this guy that I wasn't able to dodge that I'd love to pay them, and if I had the money I would, but he really diddn't seem to understand.

So uhh... you tried to explain that while you commited to paying someone back in exchange for their goods and services, you aren't going to do it because you don't have money that is already spent?

Not to fuel the fire, but maybe if you can't pay the bills you should go get a job flipping burgers, waiting tables... or something to create some income. Yeah, it's insulting, but if you aren't working, what else are you doing with your time? Better to be busting your ass there and being able to pay SOMETHING than to be sitting on your ass and having to field these phone calls all day.

I mean, it's not like you have to explain to these people that you can't pay the bills... otherwise they wouldn't be calling you. For every hour you should be working, you should be out trying to find a job. There's no excuse for not doing that unless you are phyiscally unable to, in which case you should be getting on disability or unemployment of sorts.

A creditor doesn't give a crap who you are or what your situation is, they care about the money that you owe, because that's their job... not to listen to your stories.

All in all, if you don't want to talk to them, tell them to not call you back and to hang up. As long as it isn't the original person you owe money to, they can't call you back.

 

[montanafan]

Originally posted by: KC5AV
They hear all kinds of lame excuses (not saying yours are lame) from people who have no intention of paying their bills. I keep getting calls because of the person who USED to have my phone number. I've had this number for 2 years now, and suddenly I have started getting calls for some cheapskate who doesn't realize that just because there are checks left doesn't mean she still has money. The bill collectors don't seem to understand that I've never met her, and don't care to. They are just doing their job. Maybe they're hiring.

Same here. I got this phone number over 2 years ago when I moved to a new apartment and started getting calls from day one for this one particular individual who must owe everyone in the country, and I'm still getting them! I've explained the situation to the caller when there's a real person on the line, I've called the numbers provided when it's a message, and I've even left a message on my answering machine that if they are calling for J**** J****** to please leave the name and number of the company that they are collecting for so that I can tell them to get a new collection agency because this one is a waste of their money.

Everytime I've talked to someone from one of the agencies they say they will take the number off their list, but I still keep getting calls. The people I've talked to at these places have been pretty nice except for one extremely rude guy named Ken who I would like to slap with a wet slimey trout.

I've talked to the phone company about it but they say all I can do is change my number and I've been reluctant to do that since I've had it for so long now and it's one of those that's really easy for people to remember.

The number of calls I get daily has eased up some over time, but I still get the occasional voice message wanting J**** J****** to call them at the number provided. Since I've called that number before and explained things to them and they say they'll take the number off the list, but obviously never do, I just don't bother with it anymore.

Rant over.

 

[silverpig]

Originally posted by: sonz70
business is business, pay your bills or screw off. You should not have overextended yourself to the point you have something in a credit bureau

Or he could just sell his ass on the street!

My dad knew a guy who was in bad credit trouble. Multiple credit cards, all maxed out, every department store card he could get maxed out, etc etc. He said the guy just plain didn't care either. He was over at this guy's house when he got a call from a bill collector:

"Hello?"
<long silence while other party talks, yelling can be heard over the phone, guy breaks into a huge grin>
"Well now you just weren't very nice. You just got yourself put to the bottom of the list."
*click*

 

[Mo0o]

How about you declare bankruptcy.

How did you get into debt? Poor financial responsibility or unforseen expenses(Medical bills etc)

 

[Sphexi]

I work at a retail store, and sometimes customers like using our phone number with cellular providers as their own personal number. I don't know why, maybe the cell is their only other number, but whatever.

I know what a collection agency call sounds like, and I've gotten them enough in the past at work to recognize them. I got one and knew instantly what it was, and instead of hanging up I figured I'd be nice and wait for the person to get on to tell them they had the wrong number.

The woman answered and I said hello, she asked for a Tom or something, I said "No, this is a XXXXX store, I'm sorry but nobody is here or works here by that name". She asked why I didn't answer as a XXXXX store at first, I said I had when I first picked up, then realized what kind of call it was and waited for an operator to inform them of the mistake.

She told me flat out that she didn't believe me, that I was trying to dodge my bills, that I must be this Tom guy, and that she was going to keep calling back until I paid them, and she'd be calling my friends and family to tell them what a deadbeat I was. At this point a real customer came in, I greeted them, and I think she figured it out because she suddenly needed to do something else and got off the phone.


But yeah, they're usually pretty rude, because the people they're dealing with are so far beyond standard tactics that it's not funny. Companies bend over backwards to setup payment plans if you just ask them, and there are credit services that will help you with payments and get collectors off your back if you need them.

 

[Jassi]

Wow, does everyone have a number that belonged to someone who skipped on the paying back credit cards part? I used to have this 1 doofus call me up 2-3x a day by blocking his number and ask for someone named Tony. I explained to him once or twice politely but no effect. On the 20th odd call I threatened to call the FBI on his ass, he called my bluff and said that they don't handle that kind of stuff; my response was "Wanna try me mother f***a?". No calls since.

EDIT - If I get a call and the machine says "please hold on the line" - is that usually a collector? I get those often but I hang up because they are so thickheaded.

 

[sonz70]

Originally posted by: silverpig

Originally posted by: sonz70
business is business, pay your bills or screw off. You should not have overextended yourself to the point you have something in a credit bureau

Or he could just sell his ass on the street!

My dad knew a guy who was in bad credit trouble. Multiple credit cards, all maxed out, every department store card he could get maxed out, etc etc. He said the guy just plain didn't care either. He was over at this guy's house when he got a call from a bill collector:

"Hello?"
<long silence while other party talks, yelling can be heard over the phone, guy breaks into a huge grin>
"Well now you just weren't very nice. You just got yourself put to the bottom of the list."
*click*

I still payed my bills

 

[notfred]

Change your phone number and move, they'll stop bugging you when they can no longer find you.

 

[mb]

Stop posting 8.74 times a day on here and earn some income?