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Harassing bill collector phone call tactic

 
Narin the Squtz
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User ID: 869747
Canada
03/27/2010 02:51 PM
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Harassing bill collector phone call tactic
Just wanted to share this and get your opinions. I've dramatically reduced the amount of phone calls I get.

A while back I was late on my Citi Mastercard by like a week or so. They started calling me and hassling me right away. Up until that point I had always paid every bill on time, and it seemed overly aggressive to me.

Then. a little while later, like many others, I had to start making decisions about what bills weren't getting paid due to my cash flow situation. Because of the treatment I got from Citi they went to the bottom of the list (squeaky wheel does NOT get the grease from me). Of course, the phone calls started. They literally call morning, noon and night, every day. I can recognize the toll free number on Caller ID. I don't bother answering them.

So, I tried something. I answered the phone and just started telling them that I was not going to commit to anything on the phone and to please stop calling me.

Needless to say, it didn't work. The calls continued. So now it's war. I don't give a crap if I win the lotto, I will wouldn't pay the bastards at this point. They were disrupting me with at least 12 calls a day, no joke, sometimes more. I should note that I've paid other bills up to date that didn't harass me at this point, it's just Citi that are the major assholes that I'm not paying.

So, I have this multi function fax/printer deal. I have it set to manual receive. I got this idea. When the calls come in now, I answer it with the fax machine. My theory is they will note on the other end that it is now a fax number.

I still get the calls, but far less frequently now. Maybe 2 a day, down from 12.

So, am I right in my thinking? Are they putting it down as a fax number? So far it seems to be working.
BadMoonRising

User ID: 727864
United Kingdom
03/27/2010 03:06 PM
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Re: Harassing bill collector phone call tactic
two more for you...

Answer the phone with "Hang on I'll just get him..." and then just leave the phone on the side with them hanging on.

Or...answer their security questions deliberately wrong.
"What The HELL Is Going On?..."

[link to www.worldending2012.org]
Anonymer Held
User ID: 927194
United States
03/27/2010 03:11 PM
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Re: Harassing bill collector phone call tactic
Tell them that you're Ms./Mr. Jim Jones and that you're subletting/renting the place and that "YOU" are traveling in Europe and will be home next year.

And no, you don't know how to reach them because you're giving emergency humanitarian aid by volunteering with the Red Cross and could are working in the field helping oppressed people.



5a
Anonymous Coward
User ID: 455685
United States
03/27/2010 03:20 PM
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Re: Harassing bill collector phone call tactic
Solution (I did this long ago and it works):

1) Call a number that has been disconnected (you can usually do this by picking a prefix that is invalid and dialing it). RECORD THE MESSAGE

You are looking for the type of "disconnect" message that starts with the 3 tones in the beginning: "Dee Dee Dee - The number you have dialed is no longer in service. Please check the number and dial again. 303-222".

The "dee dee dee" represents the three tones that go higher in pitch each tone.

Put the recorded message on your voicemail greeting. Tell your friends about it -- they can leave you a message. The autodialer equipment however used by the collection companies (the predictive dialers) will hear those tones and remove your number form the database as a "bad number"

2) This is the best approach. Go buy a magicjack. You can get them in 7-11 and other stores. Activate it and pay the $25 for the YEAR. You will get a telephone number. Just plan on never using it. Give this number out ALWAYS as your home number (use it with credit cards, banks, businesses etc). If they call it they will just go into your never checked magicjack voicemail.

Then change your real telephone number to an unlisted number. Never give it to anyone EXCEPT your friends and family. NEVER use it to call a bank or credit card company or anything else because they record INCOMING numbers and they will then have your new number.

If you insist on calling them for some reason use a pay phone.

That will END the annoying calls.





GLP