Is it even possible to get creditors off your back?

[LDSmomma]

DH lost his job in July 2008. Finally got a new job on October 1, 2008, the same day I lost mine, while pregnant. This new job of his didn't pay much, and for about six months, we had to put some of our expenses on credit cards. In early 2009, we couldn't even afford to pay minimum payments on those credit cards anymore, which were all maxed out.

We moved to a new apartment with lower rent, and we're making it by now, without paying cc bills, but just barely, and with food stamps & energy assistance.

But lately the creditor phone calls have started up again. I heard a rumor that under the fair credit reporting act, if the debtor (that's me, right?) asks the creditor to stop calling, they have to. Is that so? The people who are calling are vicious, and I'm tired of the abuse. DH is in school, and we will eventually get to the point that we're able to pay these debts off, but that's just not going to be anytime soon.

[stephaloo]

Yes, it is possible. There are sample letters and a ton of information on creditboards dot com. Good luck!

[shayinme]

The previous poster is right, you should check out creditboards. Yes you can ask them to not call you but it must be done in writing and you need to send it certified/return receipt requested. So that you have proof of the request and they are less likely to keep it up if they know you can prove that you asked them to stop as its a violation of federal laws to keep calling once you have requested that they stop.

[alicia622]

also, if you listen to Dave Ramsey, he may have some advice. He always refers to bill collectors as morons and says you aren't talking to intelligent life.

[limette]

Dh managed to do it. He basically told the guy off and called him on his bullshit threats. The guy practically grovelled in response. He never called again.

We had only missed two payments (when forgetful dh took over the bills for a bit) on a loan and nobody contacted us. We had to contact the bank to discuss paying back and it had already gone to collections. We contacted them first to pay and he kept bugging to get us to pay in full. Ugh I remember when he said to ask for money for Christmas from our parents instead of gifts (what parents?), or when he told me dh's name wasn't on the contract and so he could only speak to me (lies). We ended up paying the entire loan off months ahead of what it would have been otherwise. But yeah, we had to stand up to him to get him off our backs.

I think they have this image in their heads of the kind of people they are dealing with over the phone and treat them badly as a result.

[diana_of_the_dunes]

Dave Ramsey is great. Another option is to threaten legal action. I work in law enforcement, and I had a call recently where a lady was being called at least every hour by a check cashing place. She was only a week overdue and had already explained her situation to them politely. They kept calling, and calling, and calling. So she called us, more out of desperation than anything I think. But what they do is harassment, according to both Indiana and federal law. I called the check cashing place and spoke with a manager. She tried to defend the company, saying that the woman had agreed to pay whatever amount by whatever date, and they'd keep calling until they found out when they were getting their money. I mentioned that the customer hadn't agreed to be harassed, and told her that the next person to call would be charged with harassment.

No more calls!

What made me even more mad was that this woman only owed $60, and had just been hit by a car two days before. She could barely talk and was on all kinds of medication. I know every situation is different, but these people obviously don't have any kind of common decency.

If it's really a problem, at least try calling your local police. Some may not do anything (I know of another department in my area that probably wouldn't have even sent an officer out), but it's worth a shot.

[PancakesMancakes]

My SIL puts them on hold and never picks the phone back up.