13 Things a Debt Collector Won’t Tell You

Debt collectors and former debt collection agency employees offer up an inside look at what its like to collect your dues.

By Michelle Crouch from Reader's Digest magazine | October 2011

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1. They teach us that all debtors are compulsive liars,

and no matter what you tell us, we’re supposed to keep pushing. So we ask, Can you borrow the money from friends and family? Can you take money out of your 401k? Can you pay it with another credit card? All horrible ideas that would make a good financial planner cringe.

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2. Like us or not, we’re a vital part of keeping the cash flow going in this country.

In 2010, more than 10,000 collection agencies collected over $8 billion. Can you imagine the impact on the economy -- and on all the companies that were owed money -- if that $8 billion hadn’t been collected?

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3. We’ve heard every tale of woe.

We may listen and act sympathetic, but in our notes, all those excuses are summed up as HLS, for “hard-luck story.” You’re wasting our time, and time is money.

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4. The more money I get out of you, the bigger my bonus will be.

Every month, we watch top performers get bonus checks of $10,000 or more.

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5. We also have an astounding power to wipe out thousands of dollars of your debt.

Most accounts have a one-time settlement rate that’s preapproved (typically 15 to 35 percent on credit card debt).

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6. A lot of agencies buy debt for pennies on the dollar,

so always start your settlement offer low, maybe 25 cents on the dollar. Say something like “I have $200 that I can apply toward this debt. Will you accept that as payment in full?” If I say no, ask what I’m willing to accept as a settlement and negotiate from there.

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7. Sometimes when we’re negotiating, I’ll say I have to get a manager involved,

and then I’ll have another collector be the “bad cop.” The theory is that just having another voice on the line will open up your wallet.

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8. Always check whether the debt has passed the statute of limitations

in your state (see a list at creditcards.com). If it has, we can’t sue you or put it in your credit report. However, if you make any kind of payment or even acknowledge the debt, that usually starts the clock over.

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9. If you decide to settle, I am trained to “take your application.”

In a bored voice, I ask for your cell number, your spouse’s work phone, and so on, as if I’m filling out a form. But it’s just a way to get the information we need to find you in case the settlement falls through.

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10. We love calling you at work

because of the extra pressure it puts on you. If you specifically ask us not to, by law we have to stop, but we’re not going to tell you that.

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11. Don’t ask for a manager.

He or she will not help you. You’re better off just calling back and getting another collector on the line.

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12. Many times when we leave a message on your phone,

it’s just a recording of a made-up person. Our office uses the name Jim Taylor. When you call back and ask for him, we say he’s out to lunch and offer to help you instead.

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13. If I threaten to have you arrested, use profanity, or call before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m.,

report me to your state attorney general's office (naag.org) and the Federal Trade Commission (ftc.gov). Those are violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Sources: Fred Williams, who worked as a debt collector for three months to write Fight Back Against Unfair Debt Collection Practices (FT Press, $21.99),; Michelle Dunn, former owner of a debt-collection agency and author of The Guide to Getting Paid (Wiley, $24.95); and debt collectors in Florida, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.

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Your Comments

Good Guy Bill Collector

#14) We are people too. Our job is a honest one, just like any other. There are a few who give a bad name to the many, much like lawyers, cops, etc. The actions of those few get perpetuated by slanted media such as this, as well as “stories” passed on by the uneducated.

#15) (What we can’t say, but would love to.) You are not entitled to any reduction in the amount you owe. You are not entitled to having your debt eliminated. You have personal responsibility for the actions you take to pay back: the money you borrowed, the doctor that treated you, car you financed, the credit you charged. Accept your personal responsibility & do what you can to make it right. Change your priorities.
- Carol041872
  
  While I appreciate most of what you said, I must add that SOME doctors, have been paid a negotiated rate by the insurance company and have a sliding scale based on the type of insurance, or lack thereof, a person has. Come on, the same procedure should cost the same no matter what sort of health insurance they have. Don’t charge me sometimes twice as much because I have insurance and expect me to make up the difference for someone that doesn’t. And while we are at it, hospitals routinely charge for procedures and products no provided. Always ask for an itemized statement and go over it with a fine toothed comb. I was charged for a prostate cancer screening during my stay…..for childbirth….hmmmmmmmm.
  - http://www.facebook.com/alexandra.b.castle.7 Alexandra B Castle
    
    I might add that I have seen my own doctors and dentists over inflate invoices and bill me at a higher rate than the insurance companies so I am not too terribly sad if they have to write off some. I broke my back in 2005 and my house burned to the ground in Sept 2005. I was retired and my husband lost his job. Now you may call that HLS but there was no way I could make $1,000 payments and not have any principal reduction because the credit card company increased our interest rate from 0% to 29.6 %. Since I refused to pay that interest rate and at the informal suggestion of a bankruptcy, we decided to just let the balance go. Our insurance company told us to purchase what we needed on our credit cards and they would reimburse us. When the time came, one of the policies only covered 34% of the claim. We just pulled our credit reports last week because we are nearing the 7 year deadline and guess what, they sold them to each other and changed the origination date. Another 7 years? I think not. And I’ll be damned if I am going to get 3 calls a day for another 7 years either.
- http://www.schnittshow.com Schnitt
  
  While i admire what your trying to do, your industry is too tarnished and will be lucky if its not outlawed within the next 10 years.
  
  Should people pay their debts, yes no question.
  But in this new society that is emerging, people will not pay their debts and our financial markets will collapse, after 30 or so years of suffering maybe we will get back to fiscal responsibility
  - JSteadham
    
    If the debt collection is outlawed, the free market will cease to exist.
    - L M Drew
      
      Ridiculous!
    - Russel
      
      You are just an IDIOT. The 2nd bullet indicated the total debt collected per year was some “$8 billion.”
      This is LESS than is spent on TOOTHPASTE in this country (no joke), and its absence would do NOTHING to the economy. NOTHING.
      The one method to dealing with this? Outlaw the BONUSES for the most abusive collectors – i.e. those who threaten arrest; abuse their authority; call and speak with CHILDREN to get them to disgorge information, and ever so much more.
      DIE SCUMBAGS!
      - jareth
        
        Debt collectors buy debt then try and collect. so no money would be lost. It’s paid upfront in most cases.
    - jareth
      
      They also forgot to mention that the company that was owed, sold the debt getting paid in advance. So if they don’t collect the debt collector does not make money.
- Sandra
  
  Ok, fine. But everyone that called my friend, his daughters, his daughters’ husbands’ families, acted like he was a criminal for not paying dept a judge said was not his to pay(it was his x-wives)
  
  These were not the “few” who gave a bad name to people, this was everyone that called.
  - Anonymous
    
    debt collectors believe it or not, do not obey divorce declarations, that happened to me, but, I won in the end.
    - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100003581337793 Warren Lavode
      
      To Sammie_Jo: Debt collection agencies are not required to obey divorce declarations. If you incurred a debt at a time you were married, then both parties in the marriage are responsible for the debt. If you have a divorce decree that states your ex-spouse is responsible for paying accounts placed in collections, that does not eliminate your responsibility, you are still responsible and owing of the debt. What the decree DOES do is provides you with legal backing to require that your ex-spouse named in the decree HAS to pay, RATHER than you. But to the collection agency, according to law, you are still responsible. The decree would give you the opportunity to enforce payment on your ex-spouse, but that is your responsibility, you are still owing of the amounts.
      - Anonymous
        
        Not when the card was in his name only.
        I didn’t pay it, haven’t paid it to this day, will never pay it, and the collection agency settled with me for a nice sum.
        Even if it was my card, that doesn’t give them the right to call me every hour on the hour for months on end, and that is according to the law.
      - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100003581337793 Warren Lavode
        
        Even if the spouse’s name is on the card, and not your own, under Family Expense law in most states, any debt incurred during a marriage is the responsibility of both parties by default, unless specifically outlined by a signed contract with the creditor.
        
        But it is true that harassment should not happen, and most agencies have policies in place to prevent overbearing or overshadowing contact. Not all agencies are as professional or do as good a job of paying attention to the FDCPA, and those companies project a negative image for the rest of us who strive for good customer service and credit resolution.
      - Anonymous
        
        Even though Texas is a community property state, the one who’s name is on the debt is responsible, not the spouse, especially if the card was in their name BEFORE the marriage.
        No one can make me pay for a debt I didn’t incur, and obviously that’s true because here it is 9 years later and I still haven’t paid it.
        Texas has a 4 year rule, after that, you can’t be sued for the debt, so all you collectors can do is harrass someone or scare them into paying.
        Doesn’t work with me, I know, that you can’t attach wages in Texas, you can’t attach bank accounts or anything else, all you can do is blow hot air, especially after the 4 years.
        Most states have a 3 or 4 year rule, people need to look into that.
        I’m not advocating not paying a bill that a person legitimately owes, but, when they don’t, they should find out all the rules.
        I didn’t run up the bill, and I wasn’t paying it.
        In the end, NCO paid me.
      - Bart Hawkins
        
        Well, Warren, you just misstated divorce & debt collection law in ALL FIFTY STATES of the Union.
        Good job.
        In fact, your collection agency is ABSOLUTELY required to “obey,” the dicta of a divorce decree (and go after the responsible party, under that decree) once you are made aware of it! Further, you are required to cease & desist against the non-responsible ex-spouse, and clear your records of (its) name.
        You are in effect functioning as officers of the court in attempting to collect a bad debt, especially if a judgement exists (as you are a party acting on behalf of another). What a liar you are!
        Shame on you for promulgating yet another “collection,” of lies ever-so-favored by your industry.
      - Hugs and Kisses
        
        Bart, you’re dumb. Get over it. This was my favorite….”You are in effect functioning as officers of the court in attempting to collect a bad debt, especially if a judgement exists (as you are a party acting on behalf of another). What a liar you are!…”
      - Bill the Collector
        
        You are wrong Bart. The agency I work at is under no obligation to honor divorce decrees.
    - Hugs and Kisses
      
      Your creditors are not parties to your divorce. You did not divorce your creditors…though I’m sure you would try.
  - Anonymous
    
    debt collectors believe it or not, do not obey divorce declarations, that happened to me, but, I won in the end.
  - http://profiles.yahoo.com/u/EMIHCYMGMTSL3Q7MU2JD2AJ3I4 M
    
    That is illegal. Collectors are NOT allowed to discuss your debt with anyone else or leave a message concerning your debt on aanswering machine others may hear.
    - Bill the Collector
      
      This is not true. If it is a medical bill, the spouse is equally responsible no matter who got the service and I certainly can discuss the bill with either. Even if they get a divorce. If you get a divorce and there are still medical bills both are responsible for, neither the original creditor nor the collection agency are party to any divorce agreement, i.e. BOTH are still liable for the debt in both of our eyes. You are correct that we may not leave a message an an a/m discussing the debt.
- Guest
  
  You forget to say that you in effect are paid by commission on what you collect. So you don’t give a sh*t about the people you harrass. Your job could be an honest one, but none of you are honest in your dealings.
  - Bill the Collector
    
    Total BS. There is a little thing called the FDCPA that lays out guidelines for our dealings. IF you have been abused by a collector, it is only your ignorance of the law that allows it to continue. How honest is receiving goods or services and then not paying for them?
- Harmenthatshell
  
  re: #15. I have no more idea about your integrity, ideals and honesty any more than you do of mine. When I got called, I reminded the mercilessmercinaries of this. If you truly believe that every single person you “Good Guy” abused was COMPLETELY in the WRONG and you know EVERYTHING about EVERYONE, you should first demand those banks give back EVERY PENNY of TAXPAYERS’ BAILOUT money, and then go shoot yourself in the head for thinking you’re GOD
- Rick9
  
  best news……..send a letter under the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act (certfied-Return Receipt requested) and they can’t contact you again!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
  - http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100003581337793 Warren Lavode
    
    To Rick9: but beware; the letter prevents the collection agency from being able, legally, to contact you, but such a refusal can be taken by the agency as a lack of cooperation to resolve debts and refusal to communicate, which can be grounds for entering legal action as a judgment against you.
    - Bart Hawkins1
      
      They already have the grounds to enter legal action, Warren, you farking TOOL, in the form of the bad debt.
      What a cacksicking LIAR you are! “Cooperation,” indeed!!!!!!
      The relationship between the two parties – supposed debtor (and many times, the CA’s records are just plain WRONG,) and the agency – is ADVERSARIAL.
      No “lack of cooperation,” is grounds for judgement in a law suit!
      What are you, a paralegal from Puerto Rico?
  - Bill the Collector
    
    Also the best way to ensure the collection agency takes you to court if they deem you worth the time. If we can’t at least discuss it with you, there really is no other option.
- Paloasma
  
  Good guy, I may not be entitled to a reduction, however, I also did not expect my husband to die and leave me with two children, have a car accident and be unable to work the rest of my life. To pay something to the creditor seems like it would be better than trying to file bankruptcy and not paying them anything. It is a matter of priorites, however, don’t be so judgemental if you haven’t been in someone’s shoes.
  - Anonymous
    
    The creditor sold your account to the debt collector, you no longer owe the creditor, I wouldn’t pay a debt collector a dime if my life depended on it.
    Many people don’t know, that states have a statute of limitations law, Texas is 4 years, they can still try to collect the debt but they can’t take you to court for it.
    A lot of people also don’t know you can sue these debt collectors if they are abusive, there are many attys who specialize in this and take cases on contingency. I have used Dean Malone in Dallas twice for debts that belonged to my ex husband, and were years out of date, not even appearing on my credit report. We were successful in both lawsuits, I got just under $40,000 combined.
    There is no debtors prison, find out your state laws, some states allow wage garnishment others don’t.
    Document every call from an abusive collector, have a tape recorder handy, they cannot threaten you in any way, nor can they impersonate an atty or an officer of the court, which is what one did to me.
    Just because a person owes money, does not mean they can be abused or threatened.
    Best advice is, don’t use credit cards, and don’t borrow more than you could afford to pay back if you lost your job.
    I haven’t used any credit cards in almost 10 years, I couldn’t be happier.
  - Anonymous
    
    The creditor sold your account to the debt collector, you no longer owe the creditor, I wouldn’t pay a debt collector a dime if my life depended on it.
    Many people don’t know, that states have a statute of limitations law, Texas is 4 years, they can still try to collect the debt but they can’t take you to court for it.
    A lot of people also don’t know you can sue these debt collectors if they are abusive, there are many attys who specialize in this and take cases on contingency. I have used Dean Malone in Dallas twice for debts that belonged to my ex husband, and were years out of date, not even appearing on my credit report. We were successful in both lawsuits, I got just under $40,000 combined.
    There is no debtors prison, find out your state laws, some states allow wage garnishment others don’t.
    Document every call from an abusive collector, have a tape recorder handy, they cannot threaten you in any way, nor can they impersonate an atty or an officer of the court, which is what one did to me.
    Just because a person owes money, does not mean they can be abused or threatened.
    Best advice is, don’t use credit cards, and don’t borrow more than you could afford to pay back if you lost your job.
    I haven’t used any credit cards in almost 10 years, I couldn’t be happier.
- http://www.facebook.com/jecoil Jeff Coil
  
  Tell that to the bill collector that called my mother a “bitch” while trying to collect a debt from me that was not even mine. All bill collectors are criminals and should be shot.
- Nugent45
  
  #15- Keep blaming the VICTIMS, who is the consumer. COsts are out of control, the economy is unstable. So if I lose my job, cant pay for the surgery I needed, I need to ‘accept personal responsibility and change my priorities?” Piss off
- http://profile.yahoo.com/7YGJ4IL7SHD5K2BKWDV4HDED4Y charles
  
  I love how blessed people with a family member who can help them with shortcomings with money tell the not so blessed to take personal responsibility. Hopefully, you are never put in same the position as the people you are calling.
- Paulbrenpb1
  
  u suck
- http://profiles.yahoo.com/u/EMIHCYMGMTSL3Q7MU2JD2AJ3I4 M
  
  No one is attacking the messenger. While debtors are not “entitled” to a reduction, they certainly can ask for one.
  
  You act like because you have a job everyone has a job. a lot of people are now unemployed and while they don’t skate on their bills, they can’t pay what you want because unemployment pays jack! So do part time jobs and with gas prices and grocery prices much more than they had been, it is tight for them too.
  
  So if you don’t want to be lumped with other collectors, don’t lump all debtors together. Otherwise you are just like them.
- FuriousOne
  
  lol, no.
  
  I am responsible for the debt I owe, not the debt you decide to add to it. I owe them NOT you. I may owe my doctor a $100 bill, but I’m not paying you $700 because that’s what you decided to add to it. I also have every right to appeal whatever bill I’m given and I also have a right to to not be harassed by you until that is settled.
  
  I also do not have to put up with bullying tactics or you ignoring the law in the hopes that I don’t know better nor do I have to put up with your insinuations on who I am as a person based on a bill you have no knowledge of the situation of because it wasn’t even yours to begin with.
- Crose149
  
  Both Doctors and Hospitals reduce the amount if paid in full that is why we use the credit card to pay. I understand the government bailed out most banks and if they paid it back they got a reduced rate also. Taxpayer money (mine) was the money used to bail out the banks. The government is in trouble and can not pay their debt, that is why it keeps increasing. You want me to change my priorities when the government and banks haven’t changed theirs. I’m having trouble because of the government if you didn’t have this job what would you do? Please put the “shoe on the other foot” and think about the people behind the debt.
- Jabennett2
  
  Wrong on both accounts.
- Guest-o
  
  What about those of us who were sent to collectors just because the “creditor” didn’t want to deal with us anymore. My husband and I were charged nearly $1K after moving out of an apartment after I had already been told everything was ok and received my security deposit back. 3 months later, out of the blue, they turn around and try to pin a bunch of standard repairs on us. Of course I’m going to fight that and not just cough up a grand. It only took 2 weeks till they turned us over to collections too. That should be illegal. I agree that you should pay back any debts that you signed, agreed to, etc, but in this situation this “creditor” tried to take advantage of us knowing we were powerless unless we hired an attorney.
- Delia
  
  You, ‘Sir’, are a liar. Prior to you vultures coming on the scene, the so-called Creditors have already charged off the debt, gotten tax breaks and been compensated due to insurance. Then they fraudulently and feloniously sell the debt that no longer exists, to vultures of your ilk, for pennies on the dollar. You parasites have zero right of subrogation, and if you wanted to pay pennies on the dollar for a debt that no longer exists, you did it as a volunteer and a volunteer ONLY. You cannot interlope or be a 3rd party trespasser onto ANY contract where you were not an original party. PERIOD. The only power you think you have, is perceived.
  - ExCollector
    
    hmm that’s funny, when we took the debtors who absolutely refused to pay to court to have their wages garnished, the judge always found in our favor. Funny he forgot to mention anything about the fraud or felonies we were committing in doing so. Of course, if it got to that point, the debtor already had many opportunities to, at the very least, make some sort of arrangement to pay the debt they owe.
- PhoenixM
  
  As Carol pointed out, medical billing is INCREDIBLY arbitrary. In many cases, hospitals overcharge for procedures by 10x or more, simply to force a negotiation to what will still be an inflated fee. You can easily Google countless examples of this sort of thing happening.
Inachu Ikimasho

Some sports fitness clubs entice you to join. Sign up and the member who referred you gets a free extra month! My friend never got her free extra month so that voided the contract. But they kept calling anyway. Lucky me I saved the video of the commercial as legal proof they did not keep their end of teh bargain and they tried to collect for over 5 years. Pure evil shysters who are not honest should be fired asap!
No Name Ex-Collector

I’ll add to #11 – Don’t ask for a manager, because you won’t get an actual manager – what you’ll get is another collector (or customer service rep, ALL phone centers are famous for this tactic) pretending to be a “manager,” who hopes that hearing the same crap the first person told you from a “manager” spoken in an authoritative tone will satisfy you.
Anonymous

I loathe debt collectors!
http://www.facebook.com/RetiredMilitaryExRepublican John Barrett

I used to be proud of the police and went the extra mile to block our satanistic Governor in Ohio. He wanted to cut police saleries and stop their ability to arbitrate for pay raises and health care. Governor of Ohio is a brain double of Walker. He loves payolla thats why the Koch brothers give him his deverved bribery check to cover prison labor force Koch brothers. Honest cops will they shoot hollow point bullets a/ into protsters. Hmmm yep I believe they will.
- Anonymous
  
  and this has what to do with debt collection?
http://www.facebook.com/RetiredMilitaryExRepublican John Barrett

What do you think of ohio Police will they shoot lawful protesters when told.
http://www.facebook.com/RetiredMilitaryExRepublican John Barrett

Is 17 % a fair rate for a student loan. Should all student loans be federal loans with no interaction with local or federal banks. YES for once do it right. Student loans should be covered by truth in lending. All loans should be covered by truth and lending. Sears used to increase loan rates even if you had a reciept showing you made the payment on time at Sears, It took several days to process the payment and if that made the payment late your tough crap. Years ago when my wife was in intensive care for a couple weeks a payment was late I was called day and night by Mrs. Washington. Well trust me she pissed me off telling my obligation to pay that loan had best come first. Well if ever there was a chance for me to steer a customer away from this loan institution I did it. My occupation at the time was new home sales so I did all I could to keep home loans out of their hands. Yes I’m vindictive to the death or last breath take your pick.
http://www.facebook.com/RetiredMilitaryExRepublican John Barrett

Is 17 % a fair rate for a student loan. Should all student loans be federal loans with no interaction with local or federal banks. YES for once do it right. Student loans should be covered by truth in lending. All loans should be covered by truth and lending. Sears used to increase loan rates even if you had a reciept showing you made the payment on time at Sears, It took several days to process the payment and if that made the payment late your tough crap. Years ago when my wife was in intensive care for a couple weeks a payment was late I was called day and night by Mrs. Washington. Well trust me she pissed me off telling my obligation to pay that loan had best come first. Well if ever there was a chance for me to steer a customer away from this loan institution I did it. My occupation at the time was new home sales so I did all I could to keep home loans out of their hands. Yes I’m vindictive to the death or last breath take your pick.
http://www.facebook.com/RetiredMilitaryExRepublican John Barrett

Is 17 % a fair rate for a student loan. Should all student loans be federal loans with no interaction with local or federal banks. YES for once do it right. Student loans should be covered by truth in lending. All loans should be covered by truth and lending. Sears used to increase loan rates even if you had a reciept showing you made the payment on time at Sears, It took several days to process the payment and if that made the payment late your tough crap. Years ago when my wife was in intensive care for a couple weeks a payment was late I was called day and night by Mrs. Washington. Well trust me she pissed me off telling my obligation to pay that loan had best come first. Well if ever there was a chance for me to steer a customer away from this loan institution I did it. My occupation at the time was new home sales so I did all I could to keep home loans out of their hands. Yes I’m vindictive to the death or last breath take your pick.
http://thedebtsreliefreviews.com/ Debt Relief

The Fair Debt Collections Practices Act was set up by the government to make certain that all citizens are protected under the fair debt act with regards to debt collections abuse. Collection agencies tend to be very abusive when they are trying to get money. There have been a few that even threaten and call up to a hundred times a day. The FDCPA was created in 1978, but the new millennium has required changes to the act. With the mortgage crisis the act was examined to determine what changes could make debt collection better. Now debt collectors are restricted to calling during working hours, calling the home number not the work number, and they may only call once a day to remind the debtor of their outstanding sum.
http://profiles.google.com/tketcher Tommy Ketcher

I would hate to think I had nothing else to offer society than to become one of these lying Thieves.
- http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=596368525 Bo Houff
  
  If people would pay what they owe the debt collectors would be out of work.
Barbarascy385

I don’t think that companies should be allowed to sell people’s accounts to anybody. Why can’t these companies deal with the delinquent accounts themselves? You mean to tell me that a multi-million dollar corporation can’t set up it’s own in-house collection department with all the same abilities? Bull! They can and they should. When these companies sell people’s personal information they run the risk of selling the information to identity theives. Plus why should consumers get on a phone and talk to somebody they have never heard of and don’t know? Who with sense would do that? At least if these corporations had their own collection departments there would not be all this passing of people’s information. The person knows who they are talking to and why. Most people that I know would go for that. But all of this passing information through all these different hands is bad policy and putting millions of Americans at risk for identity theft.
- http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=596368525 Bo Houff
  
  If you borrow money to buy a house, can you sell the house? Why shouldn’t you be required to stay in it until it is paid for? Because it is YOUR property and you can sell it to whoever you want. And by the same token a loan is the lender’s property and they can sell it to whoever THEY want to.
Anonymous

”In 2010, more than 10,000 collection agencies collected over $8 billion.
Can you imagine the impact on the economy — and on all the companies
that were owed money — if that $8 billion hadn’t been collected?”

Of course, the flip side to that is can you imagine the devastation that paying what amounts to the difference between having a roof over you and your family’s head and homelessness had on someone? And the relevance that miniscule debt was to, say, a multi billion dollar company such as citibank?
Paulbreenpb1

ffuck m
- money power greed
  
  this is the best answer yet!
http://profile.yahoo.com/NOWA3E42LRZ6VRAFALDFUL4IWM Foot

in these hard times i’m surprised that any of these people would expose a few flaws in their armor. i have a cheap throw away phone i use for business transactions that i just do not answer. tah dah done deal. i’ve had 15 or 20 messages on it that i just ignore. never give out your primary number or call them from your main phone. screw them. you’ll pay if and when you could but without the extra BS. also note they didn’t make you take on the debt you greedy/keeping up with the “Jones” mentality did. live within your means. tah dah.
Anonymous

There is no such thing as a good guy bill collector. At 50, I was laid off in the height of the recession. Our situation was horrible, and the collectors would lie, call neighbors, yell, …just awful. The stress of the calls one day was almost unbearable. We eventually had to file bankruptcy. One caller was trying to be empathetic, but then I caught him in a lie. Once I called him on it, he went postal on me. Trash! Every one of you. I don’t know how you sleep at night.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Jeffrey-Slipher/1187223994 Jeffrey Slipher

Some of these items that would a Financial Planner cringe are actually much better options then having a bad debt posted on your credit record lower you credit score and jacking up your interest rates and your insurance rates. No proper agency tells their employees all debtors are liars, just the ones that lie about a check in the mail or not having any money when they are still using a phone watching cable TV and getting their hair and nails done every week. That does not mean everyone does that but if I had a dollar for everyone I see riding a bus crying about being broke with there painted nails with insert and 3 hour hair dos I would come to the office.
St. Meinrad

What Good Guy Bill Collector doesn’t say is, “I have no idea why you have not paid. Could it be becasue the medical profession is charging you for services it never performed? Did you get a lemon? False charges to your CC? If you take your complaints to them you get the uusal run around. Next you get a lawyer ($$$$) and you win that way….only now you are out $$$$ w/o anyway of getting it back. So you do the next best thing. You deny them payment. And becasue they know it cost them time and $$$ to come and get what is unlawfully theirs they hire the vulgers. Bill collectors are by far the lowest form of life on this planet. Just plain scum. “You know what you call 10 bill collectors at the bottom of a river? A good start”! By the way, go on the internet. There is is some very good legal advice that will make these perverts cringe and crawl back into cess pool. The laws and procedures are there and the pukes definatly don’t want you to know how get at it. They rely on your ignorance. It is very simple for anyone to represent themselves, even in court. All you need to know is how to read. The tooth fairy, Santa, Clause, Easter Bunny, Good Guy Bill Collector (oximoron) do not exist.
Anonymous

Read Matt’s story in the Rolling Stone magazine about the true story of Romney and Bain Capital and tell us again how that small amount you mention in this story ad being collected relative to the looting those guys did helps america. Most folks who are in debt and can’t pay lost their jobs due to Romney’s looting and taking his capital overseas. Write a story about THAT if you dare.
Anonymous

I recently got a new cell number. Apparently the individual before me was a real deadbeat. I am constantly receiving calls from dead collectors. The debt collectors are rude and abusive. When I tell them that I am not the individual, they demand proof, or demand to know where the individual is. They call me names and are abusive. I told them I would call the police and they told me to”Go Ahead”.

So I am an individual that pays his bills and is harassed by debt collectors. The people who do this job are just proof that finishing third grade is important. These people sound like uneducated human garbage.
- 1GrayGal
  
  OMG….I had that problem on the new land line when I moved into a foreclosed home I purchased. It was AWFUL. The phone rang non-stop looking for the previous owner. Some guy even came to the house one day. Is he crazy? I have no idea who the previous homeowner is but even if I did, what business would I have passing his/her info along to some supposed debt collector? I was completely shocked to see him knock on several neighbors doors to look for the old owner. I can’t believe that sort of behavior is legal. It surely isn’t ethical, professional, or savory!
memenono

Actually calling people at work IS ILLEGAL.
JSteadham

As someone who manages a collection agency and who has been in this industry for over 10 years, please allow me to address the slides:
#1) Completely false. What we do teach, however, is that in many cases people may not realize all of the options they have for getting the money together. If the account is not on their credit yet, perhaps borrowing money WOULD make good sense.
#2) I agree. We are vitally important to the economy as a whole.
#3) Unfortunately we have heard most stories. Just because we have heard them before does not mean we are not, and cannot, be both sympathetic and empathetic.
#4) This is tantamount to saying that “company presidents routinely make $20+ million per year.” Sure, a very few amount of CEOs make that kind of cash. 99% make MUCH less. You give the impression here that we are all rolling in the dough. Typically, salaries + bonuses put collectors in the lower end of the middle class.
#5) Yes, we are sometimes given settlement authority. Rarely is it the percentages you mention. Most of my clients will allow a 20% discount if the person is paying the full balance in 1 installment.
#6) Most agencies DO NOT purchase debt at all. Debt buyers make a very small percentage of the total industry. I’ll refer you back to my CEO example in point #4.
#7) I would fire anyone on the spot for impersonating a manager. Lying is not tolerated in any manner here. I doubt that lying is tolerated in any other office or business either.
#8) While you may not be legally obligated to pay older debts, I would hope everyone would feel morally obligated to pay them.
#9) Updating information is vital for all parties involved. You give the example of someone trying to settle an account. Suppose the credit card number was taken down incorrectly or the receipt you needed was returned by the US Postal Service? Wouldn’t you want us to be able to reach you?
#10) The only reason my agency ever calls you at work is if we have been unable to reach you otherwise. If people would return our calls &messages or respond to our letters we would have no need to call them at work.
#11) As a manager, why wouldn’t I help? That is part of my job. With that being said, some people think that “help” means to agree with them. That is not always the case. Also, people are sometimes confused and take the restaurant approach of “the customer is always right.” Debtors are not our customers. Our customers are those people whom the debtors owe.
#12) We do not use fake names on answering machines. As in point #7, dishonesty is not tolerated.
#13) Please report abusive practices! The more of the “bad guys” you can shut down, the more business is out there for us “good guys.” We strive hard each day to reflect our company, our clients, and our industry in a positive light. A few idiots shouldn’t cast us all in the same shame.
Ljv9

When the State of Ca. raided my checking acct. the bank fees kicked in and in s short time I was in debt for $1000.00 in overdraft fees, with no way to pay (hard luck story)! I had added my daughter to my checking account for the purposes of depositing my spousal support payments, when they appeared.

My daughter applied for a bank loan to buy an auto and was denied because her name was on my checking, even though she did not use the account accept on my behalf. The debt collector talked her into paying for my debt in order to clear her credit rating which was affected by my debt.

I had asked her to let me handle the situation but being young and inexperienced, she put up her last money.

I did not intend to pay the fees as the balance of my account was taken with out my knowledge and my checks had been written and cashed before the withdrawal date of my entire account. I also wanted to explain to the state that I was not receiving my income for an indefinite time period.

It seems to me that my daughters credit rating should not have been tied to mine given the circumstances. I have to wonder how she was dealt with by the collection agency. She did not want to talk about the experience and very understandably, was very upset with me.

In former days when I worked in the new accounts departments of a bank, we would encourage our customers to add a family member to the account for reasons other than as a joint account, as in my situation where I needed someone to be able to deposit to my account or to pay a bill, when I was not able to do my own banking transactions. Present laws make it impossible for someone to make a deposit for you unless their name is on the account.

I am wondering what kind of recourse we could have in this situation where I believe my daughter was probably strong-armed into paying the entire amount of my balance due!
- cin
  
  Actually it is very easy for anyone to make a deposit for you. You sign the check, give them a deposit slip, & they take it to the bank after hours and put it in the night deposit. It is processed when they empty it out at 7:00 am the next day.
Dandy

Baloney on that ‘one time offer’ to accept a lower amount as a payoff. They will make that one time offer many times. Almost all credit cards will give almost anyone credit–then up your interest the minute you use it. The more you owe the higher the interest. Also NEVER pay off just one card, if you do – DO NOT close that account–the interest rate will go up on the remaining cards. When I was young any one charging 30% interest would have been put in prison–now it’s common. Interest in the 60′s and 70′s was 3%
- 1GrayGal
  
  True indeed. Your credit worthiness is also made up of your debt to income ratio. Even if you have a $0 balance, keep old credit cards open. Closing them negatively impacts your debt to income ratio and thus drives down your credit score. All this said, it’s best to not get any/too many credit cards to begin with. I have one for emergencies only. So far, I’ve only used it a couple of times. :)
I care!!

This is complete BS. I’ve been in collections for over 7 years and I listen to and consider every single hard luck story I hear. Also, I refuse to work on commission or for a department that pays bonuses. That sort of insentive can create hostle tention between employees and it interferes with the sense of a “team”.
Gkmarsden

Seriously, where do your alleged facts come from ? I have over 25 years in the industry and own a Commercial Agency. Point of fact, known by every Bill Collector out there… we are hated by everyone we call. Please note, we do not call for any act initiated by us. The debt was not made by us. We have a huge contribution to putting money back into the economy. In excess of 11 Billion a year. All double Taxed Money.Our clients are usually small businesses that cannot afford attornies to sue.
Yes, there are lowlifes in our industry, as there are in any industry. May the critics ask if they wish to be painted with the same brush as thier industry bottomfeeders. Lawyers, Judges, Watchdogs etc.. Answer, oh heck no.. that is not representative of my company and our corporate philosophy. So back it up Folks.
Do you want to hear the simple truth about Bill Collectors ? Speak the Truth. Say I will never pay this bill, it makes our job simple. Mr Client …. they refuse to pay. Drop or sue them. Simple. Do not make repeated promises with no INTENTION of following through, just say no.
The most common complaint about collectors continously calling, is because debtors promise to pay just to placate the collector and then do not. Tell them NO. Easy enough… off my desk and onto the next step. There is NO lack of new business for the collector.
And insofar as an allegation of an automatic settlement being “a given” why should the creditor lose 50% or more of their money when they have to pay 33.33 percent of recovered money just to get paid. Few industries operate on more than a 20 percent mark up, any recovered monies is simply a stop bleed solution.
Do not judge the industry by the 10 percent of dirtbags in our industry and we shall try our best not to do the same.
Texan_78748

3. We’ve heard every tale of woe.

We may listen and act sympathetic, but in our notes, all those excuses are summed up as HLS, for “hard-luck story.” You’re wasting our time, and time is money.

So quit wasting time and hang up!
Ron Stley

They all suck
Don

Some of you guys are real scum. You pick the same name out of the phone book as the person you can’t find , call him and demand money from that person like he owes money. This happend to me on two different times. THe collectors kept after me for a couple of months until I took control. I contacted the hospital that i suppostedly owed money to. I told them that the collection agency working for them was harrassing me for money not owed. The phone calls stopped.

Another time i told them i was going to personally come to the collectors office and pay them a visit, meaning showing proof of who i was. Bottom line. If these creeps bug you and your not the one they really want, don’t take it or they will never leave you alone.
Oddsbodkins

Shiit on all you sleazebags…
jutty

I can’t thank you enough for all that you have done for me. About a year ago I and my partner split up, we had both made BIG mistakes in our relationship. He ended up moving away from me to pursue a new life. I knew in my heart that he would be the only
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Summer 2013.
PhoenixM

“Can you imagine the impact on the economy — and on all the companies that were owed money — if that $8 billion hadn’t been collected?”

In most cases, your debt collection company paid the original creditor only pennies on the dollar. Most of the $8 billion that was collected went into collection companies’ pockets.
- http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=596368525 Bo Houff
  
  If you borrowed the money or bought an item on credit, you owe the money and should pay for it.
Russel

You are absolute SCUM. Calling in the middle of the night; threatening my children; screaming; shouting; and all the rest.
The state AG does nothing about this, but then you cacksickers already KNOW that, don’t you?
SCUM. Your job is NOT an honest one. You are thieves and should be ashamed of yourselves.
- Bill the Collector
  
  Russel, up yours. As a collector, should I go ahead and lump you in with the rest of the deadbeats who simply don’t want to pay?
http://twitter.com/EmSchwan Em Schwan

if a company sells your debt…they no longer have the right to collect on it. if a collection agency buys your debt…you are not obligated to pay them because you have no contract with them. if a collection agency doesn’t buy the debt but refuses to provide details of the debt (date, time, originating company, amount owed and services rendered) denotes fraud. all of these are grounds to have the debt removed from your credit rating. remember…after so many years..the debt is dropped off your credit ratting anyway, if you make just one payment on a debt your suspicious of…the clock starts all over again. be pro active, stay on top of what you actually owe and don’t just fall for what the collection agency claims
- http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=596368525 Bo Houff
  
  Debt can be sold, and the buyer can enforce the obligation.
Marcus

Worthless Checks Division @ 913-210-4618 are harrassing me at work and I have told them not to . wanting me to verify my Social.. Piss off . I have already Paid ACE Cash advance their 500$ and those bastards wanted to still wanted to take out 500 Automaticly so I stopped pay ment with my Bank. Dirty bastards.
Marcus

We know your Tricks and Dept collectores are a bunch of Lyers. My Gf works for a Dept Collector and They Insist on you being Ugly , Rude, Persistant, Belittle, Harrass Family members. … You can deny all you want
Marcus

Go ahead And moderate / Deny my last post for the Sensitive peeps out there….. I just Vented thats all I needed to do :) And IF you do Delete this message or ban it …..there goes Freedom of speech. Technically I did not cuss but what ever.
FLIP THE SCRIPT

PUT THE WORSE AGENCIES OUT OF BUSINESS. I HAD A COMPANY HARASSING ME FOR A STUDENT LOAN I HAD ALREADY PAID. I SENT THEM EVIDENCE OF THE SETTLEMENT WITH ANOTHER COMPANY. I SENT THE SETTLEMENT LETTER, THE CANCELLED CHECK AND THE LETTER ACKNOWLEDGING THE SETTLEMENT AND THAT THE ACCOUNT WAS PAID IN FULL. THEY CONTINUED TO CALL ME. HE TOLD ME HE WOULD CALL UNTIL I PAID HIM. SO I GOT FLIPPED THE SCRIPT, AND I BEGAN TO CALL HIM A MILLION TIMES A DAY. I CUSSED HIM OUT ALL DAY. I CALLED THIER 800 # DAY AND NIGHT. I KNEW THAT THEY WERE PAYING FOR THE CALLS. SO I WOULD CALL AT NIGHT WHILE I WATCHED MOVIES. HOURS AND HOURS ON THEIR 800#. I FILLED UP HIS VOICEMAIL WITH MOVIES AND COMMERCIALS. IT WAS HILARIOUS. FIGHT BACK AGAINST THE ABUSERS. NO LAWSUITS. NO COURTS. TURN THE TABLES ON THEM. POST THIS ON ANY WEBSITE THAT DEALS WITH COLLECTIONS PRACTICES.
zardoz911

may all the collection agencys recieve a visit from an ar15 gunman….amen.
billrowland

Once the debt has gone 7 years where they can no longer sue, it also leaves your cedit report clean so you can start over. Credit card debt is unsecured so technically you can rack up tons of debt and not pay every 7 years. However, some company that you screwed over will wait till your credit has recovered and offer you a great deal on a new credit card. When you accept it, they immediately tack on your old debt to the card’s balance.
Clint

I always tell them that I won’t talk to them. I tell them that who I owe the money to did not inform me that that had enpowered the collector to try to collect on the debt. I quite nicely tell them that while I don’t believe it is the case for all I know that this collection is a scam base on a bill somebody stole from my mailbox or trash can. I tell them once the business I owe informs me that they have enpowered them I can not to them. It at least buys a little time. I always then pay who I owe and not the collection agency.
Cin

#16) Some states allow debt collectors to lie and offer a settlement amount in an attempt to get at least part of the debt and still continue to attempt to collect on the balance (New York is one). That’s why they refuse to send a letter stating the settlement will be considered payment in full prior to receiving payment and once the money is paid it is never sent as agreed.

Not a debt collector, found this out the semi-hard way when the collector agreed to send the letter but I realized that I would not receive it before my payment was scheduled to go through so I called back and left a message asking that he call me because I needed to change the scheduled date to occur so that I had something in writing showing the agreement. Called back on Monday and spoke him and he basically said he heard the message but since he already had my bank info he didn’t bother. I explained that since I didn’t hear from him & called the bank & stopped payment on it. He checked his records and stated that it showed it cleared, I stated that it had but that was a bank error and they were already in the process of pulling the money out of the collection agency’s mechant account and putting it back in my bank account. He was kinda pissed even after I said that I was still willing to pay the amount agreed on as long as I had something in writing stating it was payment in full; that agency happened to be New York, never did get that letter so they never got the payment.
anita

What they won’t tell you, and this is very important: If you pay up a portion of what you owe on your credit card debts, you then owe the government taxes on the unpaid portion. They count it as income, and you have to pay up. If you don’t, then you’re into the IRS for money, and that’s just not a place you want to be. They can go so much further than a debt collector, including garnishing your wages and adding thousands of dollars in fines.
money power greed

I had one debt collector call me one time and like a stupid I answered the phone. They threaten not only to put me in jail but said there attorneys and judge will take me to trial if I don’t pay up and hang me! yes I clearly heard him say they will hang me. I dropped the phone and she was still talking away. What a country.
barkway

So if my equity loan was sold to another bank, you’re saying I don’t have to pay it because I have no contract with the bank that purchased the loan?
Hugs and Kisses

That’s nice. Someone took a job from someone who would have appreciated it, just so they can write a book.
Hugs and Kisses

Not all f*cking debt is bought and sold people! Quit generalizing.
HW

There is a place for debt collectors as long as they are willing to look deeper within the debtor’s position of not owing the debt. Many of these cases should actually go to small claims court – this is where the truth usually comes out. The debt collectors of today are nothing more than “paid intimidators”, nothing less, that’s why they can’t get all the so called debt paid. I had 2 collection issues, I hired an attorney for both, it cost me absolutely nothing. The attorney’s were paid a minimum of $1,000 or more to get a non legitimate debt taken care of and the debt collectors had to pay for the service and all court costs.
Blake

Can someone explain one part of number 8 to me? “…or even acknowledge the debt.” What exactly does that mean? For instance, if a credit card company called me up and they discussed the debt with me, would I be acknowledging the debt, thus reseting my 4 year period on the Texas statute of limitations?
40 years of good credit

Recently lost a land home package(ended up used doublewide) with Vanderbilt mortgage after they broke and entered not foreclosed went to chpt 13 and lost job,floreclosed before bancruptcy trustee paid.. Lot,taxes paid for,improvements paid for,home paid in full.Home decreases not same Hud or finance standards(promissory).Floor rotting,ceiling leaks,etc. They still wanted 90,000 more cash or 200,000 on note. Home gutted by them,land bulldozed over. Resale 30,000.Paid over 100,000. Violate telemarketing threats,TILA actually asking consumers to thank them for price gouging.Owned by Berkshire they own the insurance and continue to kite names. 38 billion congress cowards won’t look into this mega monster.Then they said they were landlords but made no repairs,evicting me in Jan. All under Citi Bank mega monster.
jamminjjs

Best thing to do is fax them a CEASE AND DESIST CALLING NOTICE UNDER THE FAIR DEBT COLLECTION PRACTICES ACT, AND IF THEY FAIL TO STOP CALLING THERE IS A $1000 FINE + ATTY FEES PER INCIDENT, USE A FREE FAX AND WRITE IT UP.
Done BYE BYE SCUMBAGS!
kpallante

Another one of their tricks is to
sell your debt to another collection agency (once you prove that the debt does
not belong to you). It took me 1 year to prove to the CA folks that I did not
ever have a Sprint phone nor did I owe Sprint any money. After filing a lawsuit,
the CA finally agreed with me and sent me a letter stating that I did not owe
any money to Sprint and they were wrong and they would cease all collection
activities against me. 3 months later I was contacted by a 2nd CA! I sent them
all of the appropriate paperwork and they too stopped all collection
activities. That CA then sold it to yet another CA; this charade / game has
gone on for 7 years. 5 months ago I was contacted by the 7th collection agency
since this debacle began. I printed off 10 copies of my paperwork (showing I
was not the person that owed this money) and I keep them in a file labeled:
“Sprint nightmare.” Now, when the 8th collection agency calls me, I
will send them the paperwork – this way I do not have to reinvent the wheel
each time.

Oh, BTW, it is always best to
have your response delivered to their physical address. That way, you can track
& confirm that they have received your correspondence. Like the banks and
loan modifications, most CA’s will deny receiving your information (challenging
the debt). They are taught not to give out the physical address (I think they
fear for their lives). So, what I do is pretend that I will settle for the full
amount — “…but I need the physical address as Fed-ex will not deliver
to a PO Box.” Once I have the physical address, I mail all of the material
and demand that they cease and desist or I will sue them for violating FCRA.
http://www.facebook.com/people/Don-Brock/1337428696 Don Brock

>5. We also have an astounding power to wipe out thousands of dollars of your debt.

For any settlement less than the full amount, the difference is taxable and the IRS is much harder to negotiate with.

Get Our Best Deal!

13 Things a Debt Collector Won’t Tell You

1. They teach us that all debtors are compulsive liars,

2. Like us or not, we’re a vital part of keeping the cash flow going in this country.

3. We’ve heard every tale of woe.

4. The more money I get out of you, the bigger my bonus will be.

5. We also have an astounding power to wipe out thousands of dollars of your debt.

6. A lot of agencies buy debt for pennies on the dollar,

7. Sometimes when we’re negotiating, I’ll say I have to get a manager involved,

8. Always check whether the debt has passed the statute of limitations

9. If you decide to settle, I am trained to “take your application.”

10. We love calling you at work

11. Don’t ask for a manager.

12. Many times when we leave a message on your phone,

13. If I threaten to have you arrested, use profanity, or call before 8 a.m. or after 9 p.m.,

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