Darn Debt Collectors - Gave them a mouthful today

Halo42101 wrote: Oh, yeah! They picked the wrong day to get on my case. I asked this man if he could call back after 4 and he said he would have to call from home then. I said Theron is not here at the time and that it is really not my problem because this happened long before I met him. Then he had the nerve to get on my case and almost started preaching by saying yes it is because we are one now and I a married him, therefor,e it is my business. He interrupted me too, so I kept talking while he did and I yelled at him (just as he was doing to me to speak over me) and told him I did not appreciate being harrassed like this and told him it was none of his business to speak to me the way he did and I told him to F---- off! And I hung up. I have never talked to anyone in my life like that before until now. That was it for me and he totally disrespectful to me when all I said was for him to call back after 4.

Kaitlin'smom replied: I am sorry but just cause you marry someone does NOT make 2 people 1.....what planet is he from? Sorry they annoyed you. Do you have caller ID? If not just tell them your the sister, babysitter or someone else and to call when he gets home. Sure takes guts to have they kind of job I could NEVER do it.

gr33n3y3z replied: He had no business talking to you like that
I would call back and ask for his supervisor and report him.
You did good Jessi

Halo42101 replied: I did ask him to call after 4 when he could reach Theron but he was being sarcastic about it right from the start and I knew then that he was a jerk. I saw Unknown Name/Unknown # come up on the caller I.D. but thought it might be my obgyn calling for some reason again, so I answered. I was prepared to give it back to him today and I sure did. And, you know what, I hate to admit it but felt pretty good to release my anger and speak my mind! Wait until I tell Theron later, he'll be blown away I took stand for myself like that.

mammag replied: You also might trying telling him that you are trying to work on paying things off but you can only do it one at a time and if he wishes to be any kind of priority on the list, he might want to speak to you a little more respectfully....you will only work with people who are willing to work with you and be respectful.

Sorry you have to put up with that. I had to get snappy with a lady from the phone company yesterday, she called about the payment which I knew was due today (I also got a call 2wks ago....not at all past due). So I asked her if it was past due and she said "you have a balance of $85 that was due...(checking file)...oh tomorrow" I said, yeah tomorrow so it's not past due and I would appreciate not getting a call on a Sunday evening about an account that is not even past due!". I have no idea why they had been calling like that but I most certainly did not like her tone.

I'm not sure why they think being mean to someone is going to motivate them to pay a bill even if it is past due or in collections. If you hadn't paid it now do they think that you'll pay just so they don't call again? How many times does that actually work.

You could always just not answer to unknown callers unless he is home.

Halo42101 replied: Thanks, Jeanie. That is good advice. I am sorry you had to deal with that lady when you didn't need to. I am glad you got it cleared up with her.

holley79 replied:

My2Beauties replied: I feel your pain. I recently just got finished paying off all the debts on mine and DH's credit reports, those people are such PITA's to deal with. Then I had a guy call me today out of the blue for something he said I did in 2004, borrowing money from a Mister Money store or something and Im like hey can you call me back after 5:00. He made sure to tell me that he would call back at a more convenient time but this was awful that I haven't taken care of this since it was "clear back in 2004" and I quote that is what he said. What is up with these buttholes today! I sympathize hon and good for you for taking a stand.

C&K*s Mommie replied:

Halo42101 replied:
Thanks, LeaAnn & I am sorry you had to deal with them too for a while & then today as well out of the clear blue like that. I hope you're able to get it resolved without any further problems. ITA that they are buttholes and I hated talking like that but he was just so rude and ignorant to me when I just tried being polite to begin with. I told Theron that when people get rude and ignorant with you like that, get rude & ignorant back. Then forget it. Oh, btw, Theron did call and talk to them last week and offered to pay $20 a month but they wouldn't accept it. They wanted either the whole thing or more than $20 a month and we told them we just couldn't swing it with the tight budget we have. That's why I got so mad too with this debt collector yesterday.

redchief replied: Jessi,
Your debt collector has violated federal law on two points. Know what your rights are. Go here:
http://www.ftc.gov/os/statutes/fdcpa/fdcpact.htm


1) Since the debt was incurred prior to your marriage to Theron, he may only discuss the debt with Theron. The only thing he is permitted to communicate with you is whether Theron indeed lives in your home. You do not co-incur debts Theron had prior to your marriage, though Theron is still responsible for dealing with them.

2) The debt collector may NOT hide his identity in the telephone system. At the very least the company from which he is calling should have come up on your caller ID.

He may also have violated the harrassment part of the act. I don't quite have enough information to determine that. If he cursed at you or threatened you either bodily or with extraneous actions they are not empowered to persue, he has also violated the act.

You may also have other rights which only apply to persons residing in your state.

Halo42101 replied: Wow! Thank you, Ed. I just still can't believe how rude & disrespectful he was to me yesterday. He didn't swear but he did yell at me and kept insisting and repeating that it is my problem too now since I am married to Theron. Unfortunately, I did not get his name and phone # before I hung up because I was so upset at the way he treated me, I just wanted to end the conversation but I told Theron that I would certainly remember his voice if he calls again and I will report him to the supervisor.

redchief replied:
When he calls back again (and he will), if either you or Theron answer, I suggest you do this before letting him launch into his speel.

1) Get his name, make him spell it. Get his company, make him spell it. Get a return telephone number and extension. If he will not give ANY one of these things up, he is violating the law. Hang up.

If he gives you those things,

2) Inform him you intend to report his and his company's violations (see above) to the FTC (and do it). Inform him also that you intend to report his actions to the company that hired him to act as their representative (regardless of the status of your debt).

Most companies are sensitive about bad PR they may get from debt collectors they hire. They're supposed to follow the rules to the letter and when they don't it makes everyone look bad.

Finally, debt collectors can not cause harm to your credit. That's a ruse they often use to coerce people into paying. If your DH already has an agreement with the company he has a debt with, and he's keeping up his end of the deal, the whole thing is illegal. This agreement can be verbal as well as written, though written agreements are better for both sides. Take care.

Halo42101 replied: Thanks again, Ed. I will remember this and take appropriate action in reporting the next time he calls.