Harassing calls from a debt collector? Here is what you need to know

I've received calls for 18 months now for a debts my ex-husband owes. We've been divorced for over 8 years,he's been remarried for 4 now. I asked how they got this number and was told this is the only working number they had on record. I've had several of these agencies understand and remove my number BUT!!! The debt is sold to different agencies over time and it starts all over.I had thought about changing phone numbers but figured I'd probably get dealt the same problem. I just don't answer usually. Occassionally I like to mess with them and tell them they'll need to get in line behind me after I get back child support and several other debt collectors get their money, 2-3 different ones call at a time. That's how I got here, checking out another number.

You are exactly right, Jeff.  They are in the business of trapping people into endless payments with their penalties and fees.  They hate people who pay off their cards each month.  They make the most money off the people who can least afford it so I don't feel the least bit sorry when they get ripped off.

BTW hope that one of your credit cards doesn't increase your credit line, this gives your other creditors the right to increase the interest rate on you existing card accounts. B of A is famous for this.  So then the interest they charge causes the bill amount to exceed the limit then they charge over the limit fee, and basically, you start to feel like a hamster on a wheel. Never ending. My plan it to go back to cash.  Only have a cc through a credit union, and pay it off every month.  The worst part of all is that the government allows the banks to continue to do this. They must not be making enough money, they have to increase the interest to 32.9%. After all they need to build new million dollar bank buildings so there is 5-6 on every block where you live.  BTW, doesn't this have spell check?

Sheri, if you continue to deny the debt, and the collection agency purchased the debt so many pennies on the dollar, there is a statute of limitations in each state.  If the Creditor has written it off...just keep denying the debt. They have to prove it. Do some research on statue of limitations regarding debt.  It will shock you!

One of these jerks contacted my girlfriend and gave her all my information and told her that she needed to pay 100 dollars that day in order to stop them from sending me a summons. she got scared and did it. is there anything she can do?

Man are you rude and mean.  You don't even know the full situation.  Why are you on this site, just be add more pain to other peoples lives?  I think you need to leave these people alone.  One day you might be in a bad situation or get hurt and have a pile of medical expenses.  Life happens like that sometimes.

Oh my gosh, I am so sorry to hear about your illness.  I remember what my Mom and sister went through when they had cancer. You need to focus on your healing and not letting these selfish ones get to you.  It is funny how some people just don't get it until they or a family member gets ill.  

The important thing is you take care of you. I know there is a TON of help out there to give you help, financially etc.  I have been doing major web searches and am blown away by the help availble.  I hope that you get well soon.  I will pray for your complete healing.

I pray the Lord will be close to you and your family during this time in your lives.

I found out about an information concerning a cie: Wells Fargo and Visa. I waz harassed by this cie at my job. I would like to know if anybody has any feedback concerning a way to protect yourself from those collectors. Are collectors aloud to come and harass you at your job even after a bankruptcy with the proof that I had my identity stolen. Please give me more details if you can because theyve been doing this for more then 3 years without any respect of the canadians laws.They organize a contest inside the cie where I waz working offering there employees bonuses and remuneration for there help. I think that this is going to far and that this is criminial wath they did.

You nailed it exactly.  US banking does that too.  I don't understand why Congress doesn't put a stop to it.

Right dead on! I had this happen when I was admitted to the hospital for emergency surgery and nearly died; it didn't do one thing for my ability to pay bills. The fees and penalties on cards that were never late previously became astronomical; it's nothing but predatory. CitiBank, would even switch the due dates, making it earlier and totally blow my budget because it would fall before my sick-pay check would come (till that ran out, too). It has taken years for me to dig myself out of the financial quagmire and I wasn't in debt that far! I just (today!!) paid the last payment on the last bill. I just plain don't trust financial institutions any longer. I won't even put money into a savings account in a bank; there are other ways to safely keep it where I know it is available when/if I need access.

We owe a debt to our jeweler.  We used to have wonderful credit, but we own a small company and with the economy things have not been so good to us.  We are having a tough time paying our bills, and we recently had to sell our beach house that was left to us when my father passed away so we can pay off debt.  I received a letter from my jeweler saying they haven't heard from me and they are assuming I was not going to pay the debt.  I called to explain I had no money and our cloing is May 2nd and we will be paying them in full at that point.  They said they could accept $50 by 4/26/08 and I could post date the check over the phone and that way they wouldn't report me to the credit bureau, but I said I was not comfortable doing that just incase at that time I didn't have money in my account, and that I would send them $50 by 4/26 and if not possible understood they had to report me.  They said the collection calls would continue, I said that was fine.  They then increased the amount of times they were calling from 2-3 times a day to 8-10 times a day!!  THEN, they called my mother yesterday.  I am almost 30, haven't lived at home since I was 18 and have been married for 5 years!!  I had to put a friend or relative that didn't live in my house down as a reference when applying for the card.  They called my mom and asked for me yesterday (obviously I don't live there they asked for a relative that DID NOT live with me!!!!)  Is this legal what they are doing?  They have gotten 10 times worse AFTER I let them know my plan to resolve the matter.  Makes you not want to contact them at all!!  What is wrong with these people.....

did not recognize number and did not answer.  Other information on other sites, quote them as being rude and other unprofessional conduct.  

Here's the scoop, so to speak.  They've found a loophole for telemarketers, by sometimes saying they are a research survey company.  This keeps the donotcall.gov and possibly FTC.gov off their backs.  I say file complaints on them anyway.  

Another place to file a complaint is with the Federal Communications Commission.  The rules they govern are stricter.  I believe it is complaint # 1008, or something like that.  It's been a few days since I filed a complaint on another number.

FCC doesn't mess with complaints; and my complaints in the past have always been investigated!!!  

FTC and donotcall, place complaints on a list, and will investigate, file charges if they see a pattern.  So everyone needs to file complaints, so that there will be a definite pattern!.

Anyone have problems with Collection Agencies calling?  There are laws to protect Consumers from these jerks.  #1, they technically do not have any authority.  They usually purchase charged off bills, from other creditors for pennies on the dollar.  #2, because the bill is with an original creditor, you are NOT obligated to these jerks.  They will try to convince you that you are.  #3 the only way you become obligated to these agencies, is if you make payment arrangements with them; thereby creating a contract/agreement, where none exist, when they first contact you!!!

If you answer the phone,  simply say:"I do not discuss financial matters by phone - send me a statement in writing and I will respond to it."  Then Hang up!!!  Otherwise, they will have you completely shaken!!!  The longer they keep you on the line, the more chance they have, to get money from you including payment arrangements – or payment agreement/contract!!!  You are NOT legally obligated to talk to them!!!

Collection agencies are ruthless jerks!!!  They will tell you they are the original creditor when they are not - even though it is illegal, for them to do it, per Federal Consumer Protection Laws.  You can legally sue them for $1,000.00 per violation.

When you do get a statement - google "FAIR DEBT COLLECTION PRACTICES ACT" One or more online Attorney websites will be shown.  These websites will have valuable information, including a Cease & Desist sample letter; or a Cease Communication letter.  Once received, it is a violation of the Federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, to contact you further.

You can also educate yourself by reading Consumer Protection Laws at www.ftc.gov;  a lot of valuable information.  Don’t have time,  download and read later.  You will be glad you did!!!

I am not an Attorney - just an Educated Consumer, in Consumer Protection Laws.  I have spent hours studying these laws and becoming familiar with them.  They have helped us and friends/family as well; and hopefully it will help someone, who reads this.

And for those self-righteous criticizers, who say, just pay your bills on time; things happen to people with Credit Card debt, medical bills etc., often beyond their control such as job loss, divorce, death, illness etc. and you find your self in a bind.  We've been there, we know.  You do not plan to pay late, or not make payments; but if the income quits - there's not a whole lot one can do!  You then are forced to prioritize, Mortgage, Utilities, Car payment then food, if you can!  Other things have to be let go!  

I hope this information will be helpful to somebody who reads it!!!  Also another site to check out is www.ccdnlaw.com, good information.  And they can help you!!!  If you fill out the contact us, put down your referral by tlcpetmommy – in the comments section;  they will know who I am!!!
Caller ID: unknown name
Caller: unknown
Caller Type: Telemarketer

For one you should contact the authorities as what he did was embezzelment (sic).  Your divorce attorney should also deal with it during the divorce and he should be made responsible for what he did.  Have your divorce attorney file a discovery to find out what he did with the money you gave him.

Alert them that you will be sending their number and their refusal to the Attorney General's office.

They don't have to both agree, they both have to be notified.