Harassing Phone Calls - Take the Phone off the Hook
It's a very peaceful Sunday afternoon and I'm enjoying the sun and summer like temperatures.
What a great day to just unwind and prepare mentally for the coming work week! However in the midst of this Zen like moment the phone is ringing off the hook! Who could that be? It's a bill collector calling my home on a Sunday afternoon! Is nothing sacred I think to myself! It was a cordial lady on the line wanting to work with me on paying off an old medical related bill that I had most likely overlooked.
I told her I was not prepared to discuss the bill until I had received some sort of validation of debt via snail mail and asked her to kindly stop calling me about this matter.
I promised I would respond once I researched the situation myself and had contacted my health insurance provider to see if there was some sort of error.
Bottom line my Zen moment was killed with that darn phone ringing and me answering it! To put my mind back into to the previous peaceful state I decided to write about my experience and share with everyone who reads my blog.
If you are one of the millions of Americans with debt collectors calling you on a regular basis then you need to know how to deal with them.
I write this with the caveat that you do deal with the original creditor in most cases rather than the collection agency and that you do resolve the matter.
(Unless the darn original amount owed is way way past the statute of limitations and in that case re-starting payment on such an old debt leads to prolonged issues with your credit files) To that end please make good on your promises and then learn to never get into that situation again.
Agreed?...
Good! What should you do if a debt collector calls you on the phone at home or work?
Just remember you have the upper hand.
You have the rules on your side! Essentially you are dealing with a person whose only interest is getting you to fork over some money.
The debt collection phone rep is paid a salary and commission and the commission/bonus is based on converting old past debts into current revenue and profit.
So don't let a phone queue rep just doing their job ruin your Zen moment! Whew, now that we have mastered how to deal with the collections sharks, let's get back to making some ice tea and enjoying the backyard patio! The birds are in singing and having babies! The flowers are in full bloom! Butterflies are fluttering about! My friends, life's too short to let a phone call ruin your day! Live life richly today!
What a great day to just unwind and prepare mentally for the coming work week! However in the midst of this Zen like moment the phone is ringing off the hook! Who could that be? It's a bill collector calling my home on a Sunday afternoon! Is nothing sacred I think to myself! It was a cordial lady on the line wanting to work with me on paying off an old medical related bill that I had most likely overlooked.
I told her I was not prepared to discuss the bill until I had received some sort of validation of debt via snail mail and asked her to kindly stop calling me about this matter.
I promised I would respond once I researched the situation myself and had contacted my health insurance provider to see if there was some sort of error.
Bottom line my Zen moment was killed with that darn phone ringing and me answering it! To put my mind back into to the previous peaceful state I decided to write about my experience and share with everyone who reads my blog.
If you are one of the millions of Americans with debt collectors calling you on a regular basis then you need to know how to deal with them.
I write this with the caveat that you do deal with the original creditor in most cases rather than the collection agency and that you do resolve the matter.
(Unless the darn original amount owed is way way past the statute of limitations and in that case re-starting payment on such an old debt leads to prolonged issues with your credit files) To that end please make good on your promises and then learn to never get into that situation again.
Agreed?...
Good! What should you do if a debt collector calls you on the phone at home or work?
- Answer the phone with utter calm and a powerful smile.
- Ask the caller to identify themselves and let them know you are logging/recording the call.
At this point also ask for their mailing address and case file number for this attempt of collection.
( Cease_Desist_Letter ) - In a clear and pleasant voice state you are not willing to do business over the phone at this point disputing the validity of the debt.
(They must cease contacting you on this notice) - Ask the caller to identify the original creditor and request written documentation be sent to your home mailing address.
- Do not let them threaten or harass you! They can't do that under your rights.
If they do this tell them once again you are not in a position to agree to anything and that you will certainly not do any business over the phone. - Finally please calmly reinforce your demand to have the caller's company cease and desist all collection activities on this matter as you are disputing this debt until it's fully validated under your rights given by the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act.
Smile even more! - Hang up and log the date and time of the call.
If you get a future call from them log it once again and repeat steps 1-6 again.
If they continue to ignore your cease and desist demands you may file a complaint against them and or sue for damages.
Just remember you have the upper hand.
You have the rules on your side! Essentially you are dealing with a person whose only interest is getting you to fork over some money.
The debt collection phone rep is paid a salary and commission and the commission/bonus is based on converting old past debts into current revenue and profit.
So don't let a phone queue rep just doing their job ruin your Zen moment! Whew, now that we have mastered how to deal with the collections sharks, let's get back to making some ice tea and enjoying the backyard patio! The birds are in singing and having babies! The flowers are in full bloom! Butterflies are fluttering about! My friends, life's too short to let a phone call ruin your day! Live life richly today!
