Collection agency scuminess

**DaddyMac** · 03-12-2009, 12:27 PM

Originally Posted by cyrocksmypants

I work for a company that a large part of our business is debt collection. First, I don't believe half of the stories being told here, as every person that I've encountered has either been nice, ignored me, or spit out insult after insult that didn't even come close to being an intelligent conversation.

Second, I think some of you need to look up what the laws for collection efforts are. You'd be amazed at what is legally allowed. While my company errs on the side of safety and takes privacy extremely important, I don't have the experience of some of the down and dirty collections, but most of it is legally allowed by law. I've gone to people's houses and workplaces to collect my money. Nothing illegal whatsoever about it, unless clearly stated at the workplace.

Fact of the matter is, you owe me money. If you pay it, or even contact me and set up a reasonable payment plan schedule (which almost all places will allow you to do), then you won't have the issue in the first place.

I don't think the larger companies with their own collection departments are often a problem. I work for mortgage company and sit 20 feet from out collections department. As you can imagine, they're pretty busy. And being able to overhear every conversation they have, they're dealing with a ton of losers and rather idiotic people.

However, alot of smaller companies don't have their own operations and outsource collections to these types of companies - like I talked about above. I think those are the more seedy operations.

On a similar note: Anyone else get that phone call with the recording that "we have tried to contact you about lowering your credit card rates. This is you final chance....." blah, blah, blah. If they'd only follow through with that "final chance" part. Also get one for extending the warranty on my car.

**Cyclonick182** · 03-12-2009, 12:32 PM

Originally Posted by DaddyMac

On a similar note: Anyone else get that phone call with the recording that "we have tried to contact you about lowering your credit card rates. This is you final chance....." blah, blah, blah. If they'd only follow through with that "final chance" part. Also get one for extending the warranty on my car.

Those are the easiest phone calls I deal with all day at work!

**Flag Guy** · 03-12-2009, 02:17 PM

Originally Posted by DaddyMac

On a similar note: Anyone else get that phone call with the recording that "we have tried to contact you about lowering your credit card rates. This is you final chance....." blah, blah, blah. If they'd only follow through with that "final chance" part. Also get one for extending the warranty on my car.

Get those extended warrenty ones at work all the freak'n time. I wonder how many "Final chances" I'll get...

**cyrocksmypants** · 03-12-2009, 02:31 PM

Let me clarify that what I meant by "stories" were people explaining some of the outlandish stories of what they did, not the stories themselves.

**DaddyMac** · 03-12-2009, 02:37 PM

Originally Posted by Flag Guy

Get those extended warrenty ones at work all the freak'n time. I wonder how many "Final chances" I'll get...

Luckily I haven't got them at work. At home about every other week between the warranty and the credit card thing. I wish they'd follow through not call me again

What's annoying is that their "opt out" doesn't work. And if you do talk to them and tell them to take you off their list, or ask them who they are, they hang up on you. And since the number is blocked, I have very little recourse.

**Cyclonick182** · 03-12-2009, 02:51 PM

Originally Posted by DaddyMac

Luckily I haven't got them at work. At home about every other week between the warranty and the credit card thing. I wish they'd follow through not call me again

What's annoying is that their "opt out" doesn't work. And if you do talk to them and tell them to take you off their list, or ask them who they are, they hang up on you. And since the number is blocked, I have very little recourse.

You could always just get rid of the land line all together! Our family is strictly cellphones now and I havent ever gotten one of those calls on my cell.

**Flag Guy** · 03-12-2009, 03:06 PM

Originally Posted by Cyclonick182

You could always just get rid of the land line all together! Our family is strictly cellphones now and I havent ever gotten one of those calls on my cell.

Yeeeeeeeah.... I did that for 2 years. Then I moved to the boonies and get crap for cell phone reception at home

Actually I'm pretty sure it's a combination of crap reception (caused in part by cell phone tower restrictions), trees, and the large varriety of radar and communications equipment on the navy base that I live next to, but either way I have **** for cell phone reception.

Radio stations are hit and miss... some days I catch stuff from 70 miles away, some days I'm doing good to get any stations at all

**Cyclonick182** · 03-12-2009, 03:15 PM

Originally Posted by Flag Guy

Yeeeeeeeah.... I did that for 2 years. Then I moved to the boonies and get crap for cell phone reception at home

Actually I'm pretty sure it's a combination of crap reception (caused in part by cell phone tower restrictions), trees, and the large varriety of radar and communications equipment on the navy base that I live next to, but either way I have **** for cell phone reception.

Radio stations are hit and miss... some days I catch stuff from 70 miles away, some days I'm doing good to get any stations at all

Obviously not for everyone, but if you already have a cell and the reception is good at home, I dont really see a reason for a land line.

**DaddyMac** · 03-12-2009, 03:19 PM

Originally Posted by Cyclonick182

Obviously not for everyone, but if you already have a cell and the reception is good at home, I dont really see a reason for a land line.

I'm thinking about it. But my cell phone reception has historically been pretty bad around the house. Can't say I've had problems lately - perhaps they've improved something. But there used to be a time if I wanted to talk on my cell (free long distance), I'd have to walk to the end of my driveway.

Clearly that Verizon guy never walked down my street.

**TarHeelHawk** · 03-12-2009, 10:07 PM

Originally Posted by DaddyMac

I'm thinking about it. But my cell phone reception has historically been pretty bad around the house. Can't say I've had problems lately - perhaps they've improved something. But there used to be a time if I wanted to talk on my cell (free long distance), I'd have to walk to the end of my driveway.

Clearly that Verizon guy never walked down my street.

The same thing happened to us with AT&T/Cingular. We got maybe 2 bars in the house, and had to go out into the driveway to keep the call from dropping. Getting out of that contract was hell.

**CarolinaCy** · 03-12-2009, 10:23 PM

Originally Posted by Cyclonick182

You could always just get rid of the land line all together! Our family is strictly cellphones now and I havent ever gotten one of those calls on my cell.

Add me to this list. No calls from telemarketers, no calls at election time, built-in caller ID. Haven't had a home phone for about 4 years now, and we don't miss it one iota.

**CRcyclone6** · 03-12-2009, 10:24 PM

i have been getting calls lately for a guy with the same name as me. the first 4 of his ss# are the same as the last 4 of mine. talk about a mix up.

**Phaedrus** · 03-12-2009, 10:47 PM

Originally Posted by DaddyMac

I don't think the larger companies with their own collection departments are often a problem. I work for mortgage company and sit 20 feet from out collections department. As you can imagine, they're pretty busy. And being able to overhear every conversation they have, they're dealing with a ton of losers and rather idiotic people.

However, alot of smaller companies don't have their own operations and outsource collections to these types of companies - like I talked about above. I think those are the more seedy operations.

On a similar note: Anyone else get that phone call with the recording that "we have tried to contact you about lowering your credit card rates. This is you final chance....." blah, blah, blah. If they'd only follow through with that "final chance" part. Also get one for extending the warranty on my car.

Just as a counter point, both Wal-Mart and American Express routinely and knowingly engage in illegal collection practices. Wal-Mart sold our fraud account SEVEN TIMES during MrsPhaedrus and my battle against the credit agencies. And each time Wal-Mart sold "our" account, it was AFTER it was established as a fraudulent account.

**Phaedrus** · 03-12-2009, 10:57 PM

Originally Posted by CRcyclone6

i have been getting calls lately for a guy with the same name as me. the first 4 of his ss# are the same as the last 4 of mine. talk about a mix up.

I would be willing to bet this is no mix up. This is a form of collections "carpet bombing" where you attempt to collect on people who fear their credit report getting messed up.

It's "possible" their database is that bad, but I bet you a dollar they don't care if they collect on the correct person, as long as they collect. Don't be surprised if they collect more than once on the same debt.

Don't get me wrong, I was repo man and skip tracer man for a local Ames attorney, and have dealt with the criminal scum on the other end.

**dosry5** · 03-13-2009, 07:06 AM

Originally Posted by Phaedrus

I would be willing to bet this is no mix up. This is a form of collections "carpet bombing" where you attempt to collect on people who fear their credit report getting messed up.

It's "possible" their database is that bad, but I bet you a dollar they don't care if they collect on the correct person, as long as they collect. Don't be surprised if they collect more than once on the same debt.

Don't get me wrong, I was repo man and skip tracer man for a local Ames attorney, and have dealt with the criminal scum on the other end.

Mr. Gump is speaking the truth. When I worked for a collection agency we were taught to think this way. We were careful about how we worded things, but as a 3rd party agency we had a certain degree of deniability. We didn't care who paid, as long as someone paid. Not your debt? My file says it is and it's your credit report this is going on, so pay up or deal with it being on your credit report. Majority of the people we dealt with just didn't care--a $700 Cap One credit card bill wasn't going to hurt their credit any worse than it already was---but now and then you'd get an ex-spouse or family member or just anybody who the debt got attached to in some way. Lots of times they paid up outta fear for their credit.