[Dr.Muffin]

...that being belligerent on the phone is going to get their bills paid?!?!? i am absolutely fuming over this phone call i just had. im sad to say, i had to get a little loud and belligerent myself! idiots. wasting my daytime minutes with this foolishness!

[gimmeice]

((((((((((( Dr.Muffin ))))))))))))))))))))

I hate those calls too, since I have already explained to all my credit card companies that I have no money I no longer answer their calls, I am lucky to have caller id on both my cell phone and house phone so I can avoid them.

[VickiesPath]

My son is very soft spoken. The first time he ever heard me get all over someone on the phone, after I hung up, he quietly said, "Well, that was harsh."

[sabby]

They can be such turds can't they?? I've taught myself to play some games with them (and this can work for any creditor calling).

First of all, I refuse to get angry and upset with them. I calmly listen to their tirade, I agree with them that I'm the most horrible person in the world by not paying that bill. If they take a breath, I remind them that they have a job because of us most horrible people in the world, in a nice tone of voice. (they don't like to hear that...I get yelled at more LOL)

Many times they will call and ask for me. I will say "sure hang on a minute and I'll get her". I put the phone down and walk away.....or just sit there and listen to see how long they will wait to talk to the other me.

After they tell me how much I'm going to pay them and when, I agree to it and promptly ask them when they will be making the deposit into my account so I can write the check.

Remember....this all has to be done in a very calm tone of voice...you must never show them how flustered you are getting.

It's really quite comical......and I figure it this way, I deserve a good laugh now and again at my own expense!!

[Dr.Muffin]

yeah, this is my first time encountering this kind of behavior. this guy...the 'manager' says to me, "well why dont you get a job!" my response, "do YOU have a job for me?" and he kept ranting and ranting and im like, "do you have a job for me?" it pissed him RIGHT off!

these guys were just idiots. i was able to work with my other credit card company because they werent a-holes! these guys can eat it! like do you really think that im sitting here with pool full of cash, swimming around in it like scrooge macDuck, and just REFUSING to pay? really? morons!

[lenjan]

The bill collectors are just as bad as the banks. At least the last 2 overdraft fees I've been slapped with (at $35 per) have been the BANK'S -- provable -- fault, and they've refused to do anything about it. Then, if you can't make an immediate deposit to cover it, they keep the fees accruing. Um -- if I had the money in the first place, don't you think I'd get myself back to a positive balance?

Sabby, I loved your tips, I'm going to use a couple. :-) Oftentimes I'll answer and say "she's not here right now, can I take a message?" Most of the time, courtesy caller ID, I just don't answer. I programmed my cell with a special ringtone for "people I don't want to talk to." LOLOL The important people whose calls I take right away each have their own ringtone too.

I've been unemployed for over a year. I don't know how they think they're going to get blood out of a turnip. I do hope there is a special place in hell for the particularly abusive ones, though.

[Rmdctc]

one card company just upped my finance charges and my monthly payment went from $61 to $114. That pissed me off and I tired calling them to work it out and all they told me is to go to credit counseling and I was like I just want to lower it some. They just gave me the run around.

[ECHOES]

If they are calling you at work, you tell them that they may not call you at work and then they have to stop. You can also go to your account profile and delete or change your phone number there.

It is ridiculous that they can change a contract at any time, hiking fees to insane amounts. When I (if I ever!) get my modest credit balances paid off, I will never have a credit card again. I will be my own creditor by way of a savings account.

[billieJ]

Sales companies are just as bad. I got called a "negative nancy" because I said no to an offer to "one of only 3 people in Texas" scheduled to win a million dollars or some rediculous amount if only I would purchase a monthly magazine subscription for only $2.89/week. That's nearly $140 for 12 magazine issues. I use one credit card, which earns me a couple of hundred dollars a year toward my car insurance, and I use it for convenience because I have tremors which make writing checks a hardship. But I beat the company by paying off the balance in full each month. Using a credit card as a "borrowing" mechanism is asking for trouble, because they can change their terms anytime, and who understands all the fine print, to begin with? The credit card company doesn't particularly like me, because they don't make any interest money, but that's not my concern. Another thing, ALWAYS make sure you sign any payment check. They can consider this a missed payment and get you in serious trouble. billieJ

[Maven]

I've seen a number of news segments about this. First, I want to say, I agree with using humor and "messing with" these people. Anything that wastes their time is fine with me. There are websites where people post these kinds of pranks, which can be quite entertaining.

Here's why they harass you, even when you tell them you don't have money: It's their job to do whatever they can (within the law) to get you to pay, even if it's small payments at a time. They get paid for getting as many people as they can. Therefore, they do what they can to get you to pay.

Now, here's something you may not know: Many credit card companies will tell you they don't encourage belligerent and foul language and threats. But the employees that make these calls aren't necessarily "corrected" if there are no complaints to the company itself, and these threats often get people to pay, because many people don't know they're illegal. And the companies do get sued, but they don't care, because they make far more money with the way they do things, despite the lawsuits. I saw some debt collectors on 20/20, I think it was, saying this a few months ago.

Our society also screws us when we avoid going into debt because if you don't have credit--like me--it makes it a lot harder to buy a house, car, or other major purchases. You have to literally put yourself in debt (I mean, you're in debt until you pay the monthly bill, at least for the weeks before you receive the bill) to build up a credit history and show you're worthy of being trusted to make payments.

[Melbadaze]

Why take credit cards out if you can't make the repayments? Its us that work ****** jobs to pay our bills that then get lumbered with the hikes, to a degree caused by those that won't pay. Sorry, I dont agree with the "their doing something to me attitude". Filling shelves in a supermarket isn't a fantastic job, but it pays me bills.

[Shangrala]

I have a last name that is easily mispronounced....at least with those who are unfamiliar to it, (honestly, it's a easy name, but ehh).
Anyhow, it used to be when someone called asking for Mr. or Mrs. (mispronounced), it was a perfect indication that this is definitely someone I don't want to talk to. So, I tell them that I'm just the babysitter, or house sitter, and "can I take a message?", or I simply tell them that they have wrong #.

Also, I figured out long ago, (when with hubs), that I give out my cell to ONLY those I WANT to hear from, and the lan line is for those I care not to speak with. Needless to say, I seldom, if ever, answered the lan line, (I soooo loved that lil "ringer mute" switch on the side of the phone) ..lmao..

Shangrala

[ECHOES]

Filling shelves in a supermarket here would not pay the bills.

Yes why take them out..unfortunately this lesson may not be learned until they have been taken out. And everything can sail along smoothly until the economy sags, employers cut salaries and benefits, and all normal living costs (food, for example) rise and rise again.

It feels good to live debt free and that's where I'm headed.

[Elysium]

I have to agree....if you can't make the payments...don't take out the debt.

HOWEVER....how many people actually and purposefully go into debt when they CAN'T make the payments...versus being able to make the payments and then life happens and all of the sudden there's NO MONEY to pay?

Melbadaze...i'm sure you didn't mean to offend. I am one of those people who was making almost 5K a mos and managing well when life happened. I made one bad financial decision (buying a house ~ who knew?), got sick and lost my job and now everything is in the crapper.

My cholesterol is higher than my FICO score right now!!

I can see how one can get tired of working their "******" jobs to support those of us who don't pay....but I haven't had a steady "******" job since February...and I've been looking/applying daily. So, if you don't want your "******" job, I'd be glad to take it. I don't even have medical insurance right now....so if you have that, I'd be glad to take that too!!!

Please don't assume that everyone who doesn't pay is just not paying because they don't want to. Sometimes dookie happens.

Originally Posted by Melbadaze

Why take credit cards out if you can't make the repayments? Its us that work ****** jobs to pay our bills that then get lumbered with the hikes, to a degree caused by those that won't pay. Sorry, I dont agree with the "their doing something to me attitude". Filling shelves in a supermarket isn't a fantastic job, but it pays me bills.

[AAAAA]

When we took out our credit cards we could clearly easily afford the payments (or they wouldn't have given us the cards), but what we didn't count on is our income decreasing by over 40% in the mean time, necessities like heat, electricity, food and gas are increasing by leaps and bounds.

Prior to this recent economy, our rule was we never owed more in payments than a week's worth of wages. That included our mortage, insurance, car payments, credit card payments, and utilities. Our rule of thumb about establishing what we were going to pay a month was the minimum payment + amount that was paid last month in interest + 10%, so we were paying off principle as well.

Don't get me wrong, we were careless, we should have saved much more money than we did. We should have realized that the trouble with the economy was serious much sooner than we did and make luxury cuts much sooner. The credit card companies didn't make us make those charges, but even now we get calls (which we refuse) and I'll tell them NO, I can't afford a credit card, and they try to sell sell sell "oh this is WHEN you need a credit card".

I can see how people (including myself) who are responsible in every other area in our lives can fall into this trap.

[ECHOES]

I don't know if the book is still around, but years ago I read a good book "Get Out of Debt and Stay Out of Debt". It was a good book and helpful.

[Dr.Muffin]

Originally Posted by Maven

I've seen a number of news segments about this. First, I want to say, I agree with using humor and "messing with" these people. Anything that wastes their time is fine with me. There are websites where people post these kinds of pranks, which can be quite entertaining.

Here's why they harass you, even when you tell them you don't have money: It's their job to do whatever they can (within the law) to get you to pay, even if it's small payments at a time. They get paid for getting as many people as they can. Therefore, they do what they can to get you to pay.

Now, here's something you may not know: Many credit card companies will tell you they don't encourage belligerent and foul language and threats. But the employees that make these calls aren't necessarily "corrected" if there are no complaints to the company itself, and these threats often get people to pay, because many people don't know they're illegal. And the companies do get sued, but they don't care, because they make far more money with the way they do things, despite the lawsuits. I saw some debt collectors on 20/20, I think it was, saying this a few months ago.

Our society also screws us when we avoid going into debt because if you don't have credit--like me--it makes it a lot harder to buy a house, car, or other major purchases. You have to literally put yourself in debt (I mean, you're in debt until you pay the monthly bill, at least for the weeks before you receive the bill) to build up a credit history and show you're worthy of being trusted to make payments.

i find it really difficult to believe that the belligerent tactic actually gets people to pay. maybe its just cuz im kinda spiteful, but that kind of behavior makes me NOT wish to pay, even if i had the money...

[Dr.Muffin]

Originally Posted by Melbadaze

Why take credit cards out if you can't make the repayments? Its us that work ****** jobs to pay our bills that then get lumbered with the hikes, to a degree caused by those that won't pay. Sorry, I dont agree with the "their doing something to me attitude". Filling shelves in a supermarket isn't a fantastic job, but it pays me bills.

the problem with this statement is the assumption that where i was when i got the card is the same place i am now, financially. and i take issue with the idea that i "wont" pay.

i am a student and i was a student when i got that card, and i didnt have a job. now, my question is, why give someone with no job a $5000 credit limit? and this card is right now OVER its limit, not because of purchases ive made but because of shady stuff that the credit card companies do. and these shady things are WELL documented. so, they nickel and dime me and charge me fees for literally nothing and push my limit until the minimum balance is more than i can afford, which makes them charge me more fees and pretty soon, im just throwing money into a pit. the debt is not decreasing and my money is not appeasing them. what is the point of that?

as to why i "wont" pay? i CANT pay. as my tuition has risen, the max amount of student loan money i can get from the govt has remained the same. which means less and less money to live from. i stopped being able to pay that bill 5 months ago. after being a loyal and solvent customer for 8 years, and this is the behavior i get? interesting. im sorry, but i have to prioritize. having a roof over my head comes before credit card bills. having food to eat comes before credit cards. things i have to pay for to complete my education come before credit cards (and this includes maintaining and gassing up my car so i can get to class and work)....so, yeah, they are on the back burner. and until i am able to pay, they will remain so. no amount of yelling or cursing or character assassination is going to change that.

[Yoda]

Originally Posted by Melbadaze

Why take credit cards out if you can't make the repayments?

Ten years ago I was working & making three times as much as I make on disability. I had five cards IIRC with the highest single card debt ~$1000. Since then I let four cards go to default because I now owe thousands in hospital & medical bills as well as raising a son with no insurance of any kind. Now I have a single Mastercard with a max limit of $900 which I pay off monthly.

My ex was saying recently that he was going to file bankruptcy. He mentioned that his lawyer told him to tell bill collectors that he has an attorney when they call & every time they call back after being informed they have to pay a penalty of $1000 which is divided between the attorney & my ex. I don't know if this is state law (WV) or federal. Something to think about.

[eskielover]

Debt stinks.....it's the reason I can't even get divorced on top of everything else.......but it wasn't planned just like others weren't planned.

I grew up with the value of saving up your money then pay for it with cash & never buy anything you don't have the money for. Then I met my guy who ended up being my husband......knew there was a problem at the beginning with his thinking.....he had a $500 credit card that was maxed out & he was just a student with nothing but a part time job when we got married.....his parents bailed him out for our wedding present......it took him months after graduation to get a job in computer engineering way back in 1975.......you would think he would have not used the credit card, but that was his philosophy in life....if you can make the minimum payments then no problem.

Stupid me, ended up getting caught up in his thinking.......I didn't graduate until 1978 & had my career job offer before I ever graduated.....which got me caught up even more in his thinking.....shoot, I was making so much more than my dad ever made on my first job out of college so why not???? Credit cards, nice cars, skii vacations, it took us awhile to buy a home.....in California, it was almost impossible to afford that first home with the down payments & the price of homes, but we finally got into that debt also.

I wanted to get out of the homeowners association in our first home, we put the house up for sale, but it wouldn't sell for years (housing slump again)......then we could't qualify in the first place. I took over our finances & got us completely out of debt on everything but car & house.....it felt good & I thought my husband had learned a lesson No such luck. We got into our second home finally & I kept us out of debt. Then in 1994, my career fell apart & I couldn't force myself to go on anymore & even when I tried to find another company, there was nothing available if I could have handled the job in the first place with all the anxiety I was going through. I couldn't even handle the finances anymore & then I became suidical....hospital bills just piled up. Not only that, but my husband refused to cut back on anything....He thought for sure I was going back to work....He didn't ask me or talk to me....but he knew for sure in his mind that this was only temportary, so why bother cutting back. There were other expenses that hit too.....trying to make me better.....dog showing & horse showing......where the money came from???? (credit card I am sure). I didn't really care at the time, being suicidal & never having a good marriage in the first place, I didn't figure I would be around to care. His stupidity would be his problem. My husband didn't bother dealing with any financial aid on any of the medical bills & they just piled up. My husband continued working for awhile & then the personality problems he was having all along started getting him into trouble & he got fired.......but never stopped spending. We had 401K's saved up for retirement & those went in paying bills......there were some debt that ended up as liens on the house.....all the rest went to collection & after so many years, they have finally left us alone. Don't know if they will ever be written off or will sit there until we die.....nothing like leaving our daughter with debt & no money.

When my Mother died & I sold her house, I needed away from my husband, so I took that money & moved across the country. I needed out of that relationship more than taking my inheritance & paying off & clearing us out of debt......if I had stayed under the same roof any longer something would have snapped.

I am living on just what disability covers.....my husband is living on what his disability covers.......he managed to get one last money shot at me when me messed up the income tax on my inheritance while I was outpatient dealing with the PTSD that hit when my Mother was dying with her home care person who abused her & me......so I wasn't in a place to force my husband to take it to an accountant & make it right.......he managed to make a huge mistake that will take years of paying off the IRS......but I forced him to take his retirement from one of the companies he worked for that just covered the bill.....figured it was 1/2 mine anyway.

My lawyer told me not to get divorced because it would bring up all the debt & it would have to be taken care of in the divorce & split accordingly......so we continue to sit here in different worlds with debt in collection enough to take many lifetimes to pay off.....so it sits there. He was also always missing payments & then incuring late charges........so much for being married to a responsible husband......so much for him being married to a responsible wife who would fight for what was right.

Debt is not a choice. It feels good to not have any debt, but it doesn't feel good not to be able to finish my move (living with no furniture & most of my cloths are still in california along with my horses.......too many things to afford to finish paying for & no money to finish as I will never borrow against anything.....lucky, I don't have a house payment or truck payment.....those were all paid off.....& I am still just getting by.......how sad that the costs of everything have gone up so high that even without debt there is just enough money to live on.

I went to a political meeting & one of the politicians was saying that everyone should get off of government support...medicare.....etc....but what the guy misses is the fact that the low paying jobs don't have medical insurance coverage.....the government support does.....so even when people do take the lower paying jobs, if they pay for insurance, they have no money to live on...if they life, they have no medical for the family or themselves......this economy is really bad & sadly, with all the credit & the way spending went, I don't think then have any idea how to help this economy.......we can't make money like the government does........so the people here are really stuck.

Sadly, it was all our attitude on credit that has messed up the economy in the first place.....spending money we didn't have, just like the government.....only the little guy IS HARRASED to pay it back.....think the government should be Harrassed too, but then they would just UP OUR TAXES & we would have even less money.

Ok, I feel like I'm digging a hole here......sorry.

[Kiya]

Originally Posted by ECHOES

It is ridiculous that they can change a contract at any time, hiking fees to insane amounts. When I (if I ever!) get my modest credit balances paid off, I will never have a credit card again. I will be my own creditor by way of a savings account.

Yep. Mine went from 9.99% to 21 % so my bill went from $350 to $550 which was more than my rent... course being in part time work, $350 was already . When I called to speak to them about this, they put me on hold *closed* my account, THEN told me about it. That's how they kept it at 9.99%, they said. Gee thanks. Really, i figured it was a favor -NO MORE CARDS for me. EVER. *famous last words*... i realized I cannot book airline or hotel for graduation in May without one. Plus, as this month my money (bordering a hundred bucks right now) sho ain't gonna pay my rent, car, ins, or card.... dunno... just dunno.... I may be getting some of those calls to soon... and utilizing some of those choice expressions. Dunno if i can stay that calm, tho, sabby

Oh, I even wrote the President on all our behalves; got a form letter back LOL "Dear Friend" ... stating that he's working on making it so cards can't just up fees so that *responsible* borrowers .... blah blah...

[Kiya]

This is BRILLIANT!

Originally Posted by Elysium3006

HOWEVER....how many people actually and purposefully go into debt when they CAN'T make the payments...versus being able to make the payments and then life happens and all of the sudden there's NO MONEY to pay?

Melbadaze...i'm sure you didn't mean to offend. I am one of those people who was making almost 5K a mos and managing well when life happened. I made one bad financial decision (buying a house ~ who knew?), got sick and lost my job and now everything is in the crapper.

My cholesterol is higher than my FICO score right now!!

I can see how one can get tired of working their "******" jobs to support those of us who don't pay....but I haven't had a steady "******" job since February...and I've been looking/applying daily. So, if you don't want your "******" job, I'd be glad to take it. I don't even have medical insurance right now....so if you have that, I'd be glad to take that too!!!
AMEN!!!

Please don't assume that everyone who doesn't pay is just not paying because they don't want to. Sometimes dookie happens.

[sabby]

Originally Posted by Kiya

.....I may be getting some of those calls to soon... and utilizing some of those choice expressions. Dunno if i can stay that calm, tho, sabby

Oh, I even wrote the President on all our behalves; got a form letter back LOL "Dear Friend" ... stating that he's working on making it so cards can't just up fees so that *responsible* borrowers .... blah blah...

The secret I found to staying calm is making it a game. As soon as I see the collection call phone number come up on my phone, I gear myself up for the call by thinking, "ok, fun time begins NOW!"

Oh, and for those of you who do speak with some of these maroons who are nasty....when talking with them, stand up and talk to them, do not sit down. When you stand, it helps you to feel like you are more in control over the conversation. You then produce a more stern voice and not one of giving up or giving in to them when they are being ridiculous. (I learned that from going to a collection seminar....yes, I used to be a collector at a newspaper.....trying to get payments from advertisers who defaulted). I was not nasty though

Sabby you had me giggling there ! I bet you can do the nasty phone voice ! You have kids ! Anyone with kids can or should be able to do it !

[turquoisesea]

hugs to everyone who's had to deal with this... I wish everyone could just get alone *wow that's a thought*