Consumer Blog
Debt collection calls should get worse
As we have discussed at length on this blog, you have rights under federal law when dealing with debt collectors. And that's important, because the debt collection industry has become more and more aggressive, getting busted by the feds occasionally for overly aggressive and harassing tactics. In some cases, the harassment is committed against the wrong people: either they already paid off their debt, or they never owed it in the first place.
Well, we can expect this problem to get worse. You may have heard there is a credit crunch around the country. That's because there are a lot of people not making their loan payments. In other words, consumers are going to have even more debt than they already do.
Remember, you can file complaints with our office about debt collectors. We can not only help you fight the ones who are breaking the law, but sometimes our involvement will encourage the good debt collectors to negotiate your payment down.
Technorati Tags: debt collector, fair debt collection practices act, fdcpa, finance, shopping and spending, debt collection, moagoconsumer, consumer protection
Posted by on November 10, 2008 5:15 pm :: Comments (18) :: Permalink
18 Responses to "Debt collection calls should get worse"
says:
November 11, 2008 3:18 pm
Travis: Are infrared quartz heaters legitimate and will they save you up to 50 percent on heating costs and not catch on fire? A couple of common brands I have seen advertised in legitimate newspapers and magazines are "Comfort Zone" and EdenPURE."
says:
November 14, 2008 3:50 pm
"We can not only help you fight the ones who are breaking the law, but sometimes our involvement will encourage the good debt collectors to negotiate your payment down." This is a very disconcerting statement. Are you saying that the AG's office will inject itself into debtor-creditor situations on behalf of a debtor, even where it believes that no law has been broken? How exactly would the AG's office "encourage" a law abiding debt collector to negotiate down a payment? An example would be nice.
says:
November 14, 2008 4:39 pm
To Ryan:
Our office returned nearly $10 million to consumers in 2007 through out-of-court mediation such as this.
says:
November 17, 2008 5:19 pm
Is a debt collector allowed to call me daily when I did not give them my phone number? They are trying to reach my daughter.
says:
November 18, 2008 4:08 pm
To Wilma:
You can instruct the debt collector not to call again. If they continue to do so, you can file a complaint with our office. See the link above.
says:
November 20, 2008 11:23 am
Can a debt collector (through settlement discussions) make an settlement offer to the original creditor, if I didn't agree or authorize it?
says:
November 21, 2008 9:51 am
To Louise:
There may be more to the story than I know, but in general individuals are not obligated to pay for anything they haven't agreed to.
says:
November 24, 2008 4:28 pm
My girlfriend has a debt with a company that keeps calling her daily i have talk to them and told them that the number. they are calling her at is not in her name it is in mine and, I don't want you to call it anymore. I told them that they can contact her through the mail but not on this phone. but yet they continue to call the number. I ahve told them sevral time. I told them they are harassing me. they then said they can call the number because she gave it to them at first. is this correct.
says:
November 25, 2008 9:35 am
Travis: Why would the AG's office get involved if no law has been violated? It seems like this would do nothing but scare law abiding collectors that are doing nothing wrong. I'm sorry, but while I'm sure the practice is good intentioned and may bring about a good "end" in many instances, I disagree with this practice. There is a substantial risk that, through fear (unintentionally, but nonetheless) instilled by the involvement of the enforcement arm of the state government, a law abiding party doing absolutely nothing wrong may take an action or enter into an agreement the party would not have otherwise entered into but for the involvement of the enforcement arm. This kind of governmental pressure (even though unintentional) is not a justified "means" in my view.
says:
November 25, 2008 11:41 am
To James:
The best thing would be for your girlfriend to instruct the debt collectors not to contact her again. She could then file a complaint with our office if they violate her instructions.
says:
November 28, 2008 11:56 pm
JP Morgan Chase is as of Jan. 1st, 2009, charging a $10 a month fee...just to own their credit card! This is millions of dollars in their pocket a year. Beware all CHASE credit card customers! Even if you have a ZERO balance, you will be charged this...and the only way to not be charged...is to close the account as they state in their documentation of "notice of change to agreement". This means that everyone pays $10 month now. I have excellent credit and have a balance due to a car repair, otherwise pay off every month, but now will be charged $10 just to own it? This has been verified by Customer Service and I have filed a complaint with the AG office.
says:
December 22, 2008 12:33 pm
i contracted with a oil company for a 100 gallons of heating oil, which i pre paid with credit card. later i got a statement for (i thing it was for 200 gallons)i called company and told them that i had alrady paid them they told me yes but the put more in then i ordered, i only wanted 100 gallons as i had a gas furnance being put in. do i have to pay for this as i did not order it. now the company turned it over to a collection co.and has been put on my credit report with out them even contacting me bill
says:
December 22, 2008 4:17 pm
To Bill: It sounds like a misunderstanding. Your best bet might be to file a consumer complaint with our office and let us try to straighten it for you.
says:
December 22, 2008 4:18 pm
To Bill:
It sounds like a misunderstanding. Your best bet might be to file a consumer complaint with our office and let us try to straighten it for you.
says:
January 9, 2009 12:24 pm
How long does a creditor (credit card company) have to collect on an old debt? I closed all my credit card accounts with a balance due in July, 2002 and went through a company to try to settle with all of them for a reduced amount. A settlement was never reached with a credit card company and have I now received a letter from a lawyers office demanding payment of the balance and an additional $1,500 for interest and penalities.
says:
January 13, 2009 4:11 pm
To Cindy:
Under Missouri law, credit card debt generally has a five-year statute of limitation.
says:
January 29, 2009 10:05 am
I took out a payday loan 2 weeks ago with a 15.00 interest fee and when I went to pay the interest fee at the end of the 2 weeks I was told the fee had been changed to $25.00 I don't remember being told that when I received the loan or if I forgot but in any event I had the $15.00 to pay but they did not accept it so I told the I'll try to borrow the other $10.00 but I have been unable to and they have been calling my work and home several times a day and I keep telling them I still only have the $15.00 they are in their word saying we need you to come in today and make the full payment and also questioned me on what did I do with my paycheck when I got paid and they should have been the first one I paid and they continue to tell me we expect you to be in today aat a specific time and that's when I got irrate with them questioning me on my fianaces and demanding me to be in they're office at a specific time and they continue to call my job and we have the same conversation. Is there anything I can do to stop the harassing call at my place of employment. FYI I still have the $15.00.
says:
February 2, 2009 2:26 pm
To Chandra:
You can file a consumer complaint with our office - see link the original blog post. Please provide any loan documents that show your original fee as $15.
