Reply to Call from debt collector

Forum Index » Money and Finances

Reply to "Call from debt collector "

Subject:

Emoticons





More smilies

Text Color: Font: Close Marks

[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]No no no. You never call these people back. Ever.

If they are legit, don't worry, they will send something in writing AND call you again.

Don't worry. 
If you owe money, you have many written reminders and phone calls to go before they actually do something besides harassing you.

BTDT.
[/quote]

OP, deal directly with the medical provider.  The debt collection agencies will never give you *any* information above and beyond what you could find out through your medical provider.  If you have a guess as to which bill it was for, start by calling the billing office for that bill.  Ask lots of questions.  The debt collection agency works at the request of the billing office for your medical provider.  If the billing office is satisfied that the bill is paid, they can instruct the debt collection agency to cease contacting you.  Don't be afraid to ask the medical provider's billing office to tell the debt collection agency to back off.  Also, don't be afraid to ask the medical provider's billing office whether the debt collection agency really contacted the credit rating agencies.[/quote]

This isn't good advice. You need to know whether the debt has already been reported. Most debt collection agencies, if you call them, will agree not to report the debt for x period for you to negotiate with the medical provider. If you don't call them, they will report the debt. Getting a debt collection call or letter is no big deal if it doesn't make it to your credit report, and a huge headache if it does. So just call them back, see if they've reported yet, and if they haven't, explain that you are working with the medical provider and need them to hold off. If they agree, I would send a letter to them confirming, and then prioritize this particular debt in your repayment plan.

What is the upside of not calling? Do y'all think if you don't respond, it somehow gives you more time or that you're consenting to the debt collector taking over the debt. Neither is true. If this really is a scam call not associated with a real debt collection effort, OP should be careful to tease that out. But for an actual debt collection, there is no upside to dodging the calls.[/quote]
I am sorry pp -- but that is NUTS!  If there is a legitimate debt, let them contact you by mail. How are they going to prove you talked to them on the phone and were made aware of the debt. You can't rely on them to see if they reported you to the credit reporting agencies, you need to check your credit report yourself(on a regular basis).  I DO NOT GIVE OUT INFO ON THE PHONE -- that's just a badddd idea.
And I get these kinds of calls all the time --and I have a FICO score in the high 7's -- so I know they are full of it![/quote]

"How are they going to prove you talked to them on the phone and were made aware of the debt."

You seem to be mistaking debt collection with process serving. Whether you accept their call has absolutely nothing to do with whether you owe them money. If you talk to them, you can ask them to delay reporting. If they agree, you could also send a written letter confirming the conversation. And, over the phone, you could invoke your right to receive a written statement of their claim.

"You can't rely on them to see if they reported you to the credit reporting agencies, you need to check your credit report yourself(on a regular basis)."

I didn't even kind of suggest you rely on them to find out if they reported you. What I said is that if they have not reported you yet, you can ask them not to, which they might do. You should ALSO check your credit report yourself, but by the time it appears on your credit report, it is often too late to fix or at least exceedingly difficult to fix. There is a possibility you can avoid the problem in the first place by asking them not to report. This is especially true with medical debt collectors, who sometimes have agreements with the medical provider to let the pateint attempt to resolve the issue with the provider after first contact from the debt collector.

" I DO NOT GIVE OUT INFO ON THE PHONE -- that's just a badddd idea."

I didn't in any way suggest otherwise.[/quote]

Options

	Disable HTML in this message
	Disable BB Code in this message
	Disable smilies in this message

Review message

Search Recent Topics Hottest Topics