Comments on: When The Bill Collector Calls

By: 40th Money Hacks Carnival :: Steadfast Finances

40th Money Hacks Carnival :: Steadfast Finances — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 05:21:47 +0000

[...] Estate Dispatch | BiggerPockets.com gives some excellent advice When The Bill Collector Calls and falsely accuses you of owing a debts you don’t owe. As well as advice on dealing with [...]

By: Jennifer Martin

Jennifer Martin — Wed, 19 Nov 2008 09:20:50 +0000

I actually had an even crazier situation happen. I am a realtor with a VERY common name and I was in my first month with my broker when he calls me into his office and hands me a letter and asks “what’s this”.

It was a student loan “Demand Letter” for like $48,000! I about fell off the chair … I stuttered and said, “It is NOT mine, I pay my student loan payment religiously every month”. I mean I was freaking out because this broker could be thinking I’m a real winner lol.

I took a copy of that letter home with me because I was intending to call and didn’t want any witnesses to the language that could come out of my mouth as mad as I was. I called the number (not toll free mind you) and in 5 minutes had the gal on the other end apologizing and that it must have been a case of mistaken identity.

But I was mad and I said, “Maybe you should have thought of that BEFORE sending a collection letter to the attention of my BROKER and by gosh I expect you to ALSO send him an apology letter that clears my NAME”.

I go into the office the next day and find out that my broker took that letter to his attorney and had him send a cease and desist order … I about cried. I was so grateful that he didn’t doubt my innocense. Well the company never sent him that apology letter but I’ve never heard from them again (knock on wood) and I knew I had one great broker!

By: Umbrella Liability Insurance

Umbrella Liability Insurance — Tue, 18 Nov 2008 02:54:49 +0000

This couldn’t have come at a better time. All I see is more and more people who can’t pay there bills and they are left with no choice but to use their credit. As their credit dries up the calls will begin. Collection agencies can be some of the most ruthless companies but consider what they deal with on a regular basis and you can almost understand why they are the way they are. Thanks for the great article.

By: Bankruptcy Lawyer

Bankruptcy Lawyer — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 22:33:23 +0000

Aggressive collection tactics will only increase over the next 6 months to a year. As more people are delinquent on their credit card payments, all the big players will step up their collection tactics and try to get as much money out of someone as they can before they declare bankruptcy. After bankruptcy most of that unsecured debt will be left off the repayment plan and the credit card companies are stuck holding the bill, so they’re going to try and get their money as quick as they can.

By: Joshua Dorkin

Joshua Dorkin — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 14:59:41 +0000

Hey Richard. I had a similar experience with a collection agency who thought I was someone else, and like in your situation, they were relentless. Like in your situation, I was eventually able to talk with someone reasonable to get them to see that I wansn’t the one they were looking for (not even the name was right). Those people are real pit-bulls! While I appreciate that they deal with deadbeats all day, the law still needs to catch up. These companies are harassing and extreme.

Thanks for sharing the right of the consumer in the Fair Debt Collection Act. I never knew that this existed, as I’m sure many others don’t either. Perhaps just getting word of it out there will be helpful to folks.

Thanks again.