what do you do when a bill collector calls you

When they call here I usually pretend I'm the babysitter. I have 3 kids at home so a lengthy phone call trying to explain why I have no money to send them just isn't possible. At any given time one of my kids is screaming whether its a happy scream or a mad scream lol. I usually will answer the phone because I'm afraid it will be family calling and I don't want to miss them. My husbands great grandmother is 106 so any day that call could be coming in.

Don't hate me when I say this: I used to be a bil collector. Still here?
Most of them (I'm not one anymore) are nice enough most of the time, and are just there to do a job. You actually get a lot of attitude from the higher-ups in that kind of job, so that is why you have some who get grouchy with people or they get jaded. The bosses push the collectors very hard. There are often incentive competitions that net them extra cash if they achieve above the quotas that are assigned to them. The problem is that the quotas are set VERY high, so it often makes the individual collectors VERY pushy.
Many times, the collector gets Bull-pucks stories or sob stories or outright lies from the debtors, and that makes them a bit jaded.
Also remember that they are stongly encouraged to insist on payment in full.
Well, when I was a collector, I figured that if the person who owed the money actually had the money, they would have paid it already. If only to make the collection agency stop bugging them and SHUT UP. Clearly, they didn't have it then. I tried never to get sharp with anyone. I tried to help each person solve how they were going to pay off the bill. Most of the people on my cue ended up doin payment arrangements with me for a monthly affordable payment. I had enough regular payments coming in, I could make my monthly quotas without even contacting anyone.
Why don't you work out a budget for yourself and find a way to pay them enough to cover the interest on the debt and some extra to erradicate the principal a little at a time. If they are getting regular paments, you may find they don't ride you like a pony. They may try to upsell you every 3 months or so, but it will take some of the edge off some of the calls you get.
Give it a try and let me know how it works out for you.

It can be very frustrating to receive these calls. I believe that a lot of us are in the same boat and we have gotten behind in our bills from time to time.
But on the other hand, I don't know what to tell these people half of the time because I have other financial matters to attend to. I have gotten myself into some debt, yes and I am well meaning on wanting to pay but I have some other financial priorities right now. I try to talk to them patiently but they can be very persistent.

Thank God so far I have never had a bill collector call me. Things may change though, I lost my job to lay off a month ago, and I know things are going to be very tight. If I did encounter a call from a collector, i would be very nice, yelling at someone you owe money to does not make sense to me. I would explain my situation, and let them know that I would do the best that I could with what I had. Can not get blood from a turnip.

Hello,money! It is not wise to cheat.when the bill collector has come to the door step we should rather be happy that are coming and taking the bills and saving us from problems.It is my duty to keep the money ready by the dates they usually come for collections.thanx.

There has been a few times when bill collectors call and ask for payment but they usually ask for my husband because the bills are in his name so I tell them he is at work. They ask me if I am the Mrs and I reply yes. They start to ask me when they can receive pmt. I ask them to check to see if he has auth. me to discuss his financial matters with them they say Uh well no there is nothing on file. I tell them please call back later when he is available he gets off at 7 or 8pm. We run a farm so his hours vary as to when he is here.

I have had Bill Collector's call me alot since we don't have any type of Health Insurance it has been really hard for us. I have a Chronic Illness and have been in and out of the Hospital Lately. and my husband Employer doe's not offer anykind of Medical Insurance we are not able to make the Hospital payment. so yes I have tried speaking with some of the bill collector's and they are not very understanding, so I just don't even answer the phone anymore I just let the machine pick it up.

CG1109

Me, i answer the call. Since I have a regular job I don't have any problem with bill collector. I am good payer of bills. Thank God that i have a job to get all the money.

Hi there

Initially, fob them off with sorry not here, then and this really annoys them, when you know who is calling just put the receiver down. They then get the message and start the war of paper. This happened with a previous telephone, broadband and TV provider. They tried all the methods which we refused to acknowledge. It eventually took their Director of Consumer Affairs to telephone. The amount outstanding was written off with an invitation to come back anytime.

Best wishes
Steve

Theres been more then once that I've had them call. Most of the time what I'm doing at the moment decides how I deal with them. If I'm busy I tell them that they need to call back at another time. If I not busy then I talk to them. Alot of ppl I know will tell them they aren't at home even if they are the ones answering the phone. Some have had their numbers changed and some have asked friends and family to call them by a nickname so they can know who's calling. Others have screened the calls with an answering machine.

I know that bill collectors are just doing a job however some can be really hateful and if they get threatening, abusive or nasty with me, I hang up and/or refuse to answer their calls. I've turned a few into their supervisors and a few into the phone company.

**AT PEACE WITHIN**

~~STAND STRONG IN YOUR BELIEFS~~