What would you have done...(bill collector)

[xmas74]

I received a phone call this morning asking for my name, my dob, my ssn and my address. They addressed themselves by their first name and nothing more. When I asked who it was they once again said their first name and stated that, by federal law, they could tell me no further. I informed them that I refuse to give any identifying information over the phone without knowing who I am speaking to.

The man got hateful, told me I was hateful (which by then I was, since he wouldn't identify himself or his company) and I asked to speak with a supervisor. He stated that he was the supervisor and that I'd have to deal with him. Finally I get out of him that he's a bill collector and that he's collecting on a two year old bill that I didn't know existed. I find out the name of the doctor and inform him that I'll be handing it without their help.

I call the doctor's office and find out the bill was paid two years ago by the insurance company. What happened was that someone sent off the bill with my name on it to the insurance company instead of my daughter's name. (We have different insurance companies.) The claim, of course, was denied but was resubmitted with my daughter's name and approved.


Was I wrong to deal with the collector in the manner that I did? I'm sorry but with the identity thefts throughout the news lately that could have been anyone wanting my personal info, inventing a bill and then stealing your identification. Even the caller id came up "unknown number" with no other info-something it usually does only on prepaid cell phones.

Would any of you have given out the info and have trusted the little elfin asshole? (Sorry, throwing my 0.02 in him again.)

[BarenakedLady]

1. I don't give out personal info over the phone

Unless I'm 100% sure who it is and what it's for.

You absolutely did the right thing.

[xmas74]

4. Thank you.

I thought so too.

[triguy46]

2. Nope. No way I would have stayed on the line that long.

The "we don't have to identify ourselves" is bullshit. You were being scammed.

[xmas74]

6. Not a scam about the bill.

There was a bill referred to them but the bill didn't actually exist. Turns out someone put in the wrong info and it floated around that long until a new employee came in and went through accounts.

The bill was referred to them but since I'm not a patient of theirs it's not a real bill. I can completely understand mistakes happening-it's assholitry that I can't stand.

And someone needs to do something about the "we don't have to identify ourselves" shit. That's just wrong on so many levels.

[Deep13]

27. It's a scam

Someone found out about it, maybe through a credit report, and used it for credibility to gain psychological leverage.

Someone was hounding my BIL the same way. No written notice, no firm name, no address, just an asshole on the other end of the line. Eventually he took fuck off and die for an answer.

[xmas74]

30. Now that is interesting.

I never would have thought about that.

[TreasonousBastard]

70. Real bill collectors may suck, but they have to identify...

themselves and DO NOT ask for your SSN-- they already have all the info they need. This does sound like a scam.

Damn! How many people are scammed this way every year? Every day?

[xmas74]

72. Never before have I been asked for my whole ssn

I've had to do the "last four" bit but not the whole thing.

And you're right-it does make you wonder how many are scammed this way every single day?

[commander bunnypants]

3. you were fine

bill collectors suck eggs


CB

[xmas74]

7. Considering I didn't have a bill.

Now it'll count against my credit, even though the bill didn't exist.

[Pithlet]

21. It shouldn't, given that it was a mistake.

You should be able to have it removed from your credit report as an error.

[xmas74]

25. Good.

I'm trying to clean up my credit. I want to buy a place in a couple of years and I want decent credit so I can qualify.

Incidents like this are so frustrating.

[MissMillie]

5. you absolutely did the right thing

don't give anybody anything w/o knowing who they are and why they want the information. EVER!

[xmas74]

8. Thank you.

He threatened to take me to court over this but wouldn't tell me what it was about.

The part he really hated was the "federal law" bit. I asked him to quote the law, word for word. Since they want to play that game they should have the law laying around there somewhere. I know whenever I want to state a fact I make sure the fact is easy to find.

[AllegroRondo]

9. you absolutely did the right thing

I would never give out personal information over the phone to someone who called and refused to identify themselves.

[xmas74]

11. Thank you.

And for the heads up-they're supposedly out of Jeff City.

[mzteris]

10. Report them to your Attorney General's office - or

whoever it is in your state that handles business complaints.

Also, who turned it over to the collection agency? Make sure whoever did that - know how the "agency" acted.

Call the collection agency - their main office - not the collectors - and tell them. Not that they'll care, probably, but maybe you just got a really bad person.

[xmas74]

16. The doctor's office knows

exactly how they acted-I told them when I was trying to find out about the bill.

I don't know what it is about collection agencies but I refuse to deal with them. They tend to be rather nasty. If I really have a bill I'll go back to the person with the bill and work it out with them instead.

And they never gave me a name for the agency over the phone. He refused. I probably need to speak to the doctor's office again about it.

[Connonym]

61. I would write and/or call the doctor's office

and explain to them how rudely you were treated. They may want to think twice about employing that kind of a service in the future.

And for what it's worth, even if you DID have an outstanding bill that's no excuse for a bill collector to treat you that way. Even people behind in their bills deserve to be treated with dignity and respect. Sounds to me like some clearly illegal collection activities at the very least.

[xmas74]

64. I've heard stories from work that would make you feel

ashamed to be a member of the human race. I was working with someone one time who answered a call from her collector. He told her that since she hadn't paid a medical bill (very sick child-had cancer) she was an unfit mother and he was going to hotline her to DFS since she obviously couldn't take care of her children. I remember asking her what was wrong, thinking it was her son and then finding out who it was.

There are some sick fucks out there who enjoy intimidating others to get their jollies.

[PeaceNikki]

29. The FTC handles debt collection

There's a process for complaints listed here:
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/credit/fdc.shtm

[Crazy Dave]

12. I got into financial trouble once

I'd work with and be polite to the bill collectors who acted the same but you have those who think that you're getting over on them and living the high life with that $40 you didn't pay on time.
One guy from Sears (the biggest assholes of them all) called and asked if I was (Me), I told him to hang on and I'd go get him and set the phone down for about two hours. I wonder how long he waited?

[xmas74]

18. I never suspected.

As far as I knew I didn't have any bills out there. When I found out it was a collector I was preparing for a fight about student loans, which I paid off six months ago (and have all the receipts as proof. Yes, I'm proud that they're paid in full.)

[Crazy Dave]

33. It happened to me once with an insurance claim that wasn't paid

And apparently it's happened to a lot of people I know personally too. The insurance company doesn't pay the claim, the hospital waits 18 months (in cahorts with the insurer) after the insurance company closes the file, then they tell you that it's your responsibility to pay it. The insurance company repeated the same saying that after 18 months they don't have to do shit. Fortunately I was with a fairly large company at the time that was paying tens of thousands in premiums every year and the owner told the insurance company he would drop them the next day if they didn't get their shit together and they did.

[xmas74]

35. They did that when I had my daughter.

I paid them several thousands of dollars (to the hospital) over my daughter's birth. At least I did pay it, compared to some I know.

[skygazer]

13. As soon as I figured out the moran was a bill collector

I would have told him that by Federal law - the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, they DO have to tell me more - they have to inform me who their company is and what their address is as well as the original creditor's name and the exact amount of the debt in question.

That IS the law and it's a pity more people don't know it because debt collectors use people's ignorance of the law to bully and intimidate them.

You have the right to choose not to work with a debt collection agency and when they contact you, by law they have to inform you who they are.

Whenever I get a letter or call from a collection agency, I get the address and send them a cease and desist letter - essentially it states that under the FDCPA, I am choosing not to work with them and request that they immediately cease and desist all contact with me. I send it certified, return receipt and if they contact me after I receive that return receipt, they're liable in court. I've never been contacted again because they do know the law.

I hate those bastards and will not work with them. I'll contact the original creditor and pretty much force them to work with me. Most are happy to do so.

[xmas74]

19. I prefer the original creditor too.

I couldn't remember the law but did demand that he quote me his version of the law-word by word. He refused and that's when he said I was rude.

[ceile]

45. That's what I do as well.

For a while I was getting calls at work even after I told them stop. So, now I send cease and desist letters and deal directly with the company I owe.

[Coyote_Bandit]

14. Run a credit check on yourself

Make sure this doesn't show up on your credit record. If it does, go through the necessary procedures to document and contest its validity since you do not owe and never did owe the sum they are trying to collect.

[xmas74]

20. I plan on running one next month

because of this. It's not a big bill but enough. I'll give the office 30 days to remove it.

(BTW-he said it was $400, the doctor's office said $116.)

[mopinko]

15. he was lying.

they have to give their company info, and no way i would have given them jack shit.
he also was NOT the supervisor.

[xmas74]

23. Exactly.

And he knew that I knew he was a lying SOB when I demanded that he quote me the law he kept throwing out there. A law used that often is probably in easy reach.

I asked him if he owned the company. He wanted to know what that had to do with anything. I told him if he wasn't the owner then there was someone higher than him I could speak to about his treatment.

[LynneSin]

17. I'm fighting a similiar mess with Sears

Without my permission, Sears automatically switched me from their Sears-Store-only credit card to the Sears Mastercard. Everytime I went to Sears and bought something they kept bugging me to upgrade and I kept saying "no". First, I work for a competitor company and only use cards issued from them and second, I just want my Sears-only card. It's nice to have in case I have car problems and need to get some work done but find that I'm broke. So I rarely use this card.

Anyhow they upgraded me to Mastercard. I had a small balance of a few hundred dollars left over from some new tires I had just purchased there and when I got my first mastercard purchase the balance transferred over from the old Sears-Only card.

But then when I went to get approved for a mortgage I found that there was a collection for the same amount from the old Sears-only card even though I had completely paid the bill off when I got my first Sears Mastercard bill.

:grr:

The mistake won't hurt my chance to get a mortgage but it just pisses me off that they switched me and then they screwed up the transfer of my money from the one card to the other

[xmas74]

24. It's the idea of it even being on there.

I've been working to clean up my credit and now here's a bill that doesn't even exist...it just makes me angry and upset.

I understand exactly what you are saying.

[LostinVA]

22. He broke the law by doing this

[xmas74]

26. I thought as much.

He wouldn't even identify the company. All he said was that he was (his first name) with a collection agency in Jefferson City-your capitol. (Not kidding-that's exactly what he said when I finally got him to admit to something.)

[LostinVA]

36. He didn't tell you because the company WOULD be fines and you COULD sue

And you'd win.

[xmas74]

37. That's funny.

Now I wish I knew the company.

[Zywiec]

28. Why not just hang up immediately?

I never understand why people continue to speak on the phone with unknown callers. What's the point?

[xmas74]

32. Because I wanted to know who was calling

while throwing my real name and an old address out there.

Besides, I've been cleaning up my credit. If there's a bill out there I want to know about it so I can work with the original creditor to pay it back.

[grace0418]

38. I think bill collectors use that as an excuse to get even more aggressive.

They can say you were hostile and hung up on them. Even though they were the assholes who refused to identify themselves.

[grace0418]

31. Absolutely, I will never give that information over the phone to someone who calls ME.

Never. And he should fucking know better than to think someone is going to be okay with that, considering how much identity theft is out there. Asshole. :mad:

As far as your credit goes, wait a few months and check it, then file a dispute if it shows up. They should remove it, or at least put a note on the entry.

Medical billing seems to be the worst when it comes to errors like this. My husband has been getting calls from what turned out to be a bill collector over a co-payment bill we never got. It probably wasn't even something we were responsible for anyway, because he just ordered diabetic supplies from this company one time over a year ago (he started ordering them from somewhere else because their service sucked). And he paid with a credit card. But it wasn't worth fighting about, it was 18 bucks.

Because, yeah, we have perfect credit, no credit card debt, and pay all our bills on time but JUST TO BE ORNERY we refused to pay a bill for 18 bucks. :eyes:

The weird part about this bill collector was that they wouldn't say who they were calling for or what they wanted or who they were. If we picked up, there was dead air. If we didn't pick up, a recorded message said "Hi. This is Sean Lee. Call me at xxx-xxx-xxxx." Well, who the hell is going to call that back? But the calls wouldn't stop so I finally called and found out it was for my husband. It took a lot of wrangling to get that much information. But that makes no sense to me. If they are bill collectors, shouldn't they be doing everything in their power to actually collect the money? Leaving cryptic messages for no one in particular seems like a stupid way to go about it.

[xmas74]

34. I had a phone call two weeks ago

stating that it was Miss Betty and to call her back at xxx-xxx-xxxx. I don't return calls to computers. Truthfully, I thought it was someone who wanted a donation for something.

I don't have perfect credit but I'm cleaning it up. I wanted to know about this bill so I could contact the original creditor and fix it.

[grace0418]

39. You have every right to know, and every right to protect your personal information.

It doesn't matter whether you have perfect credit or not. Mine didn't use to be perfect. But I cleaned it all up and it's been perfect for over 7 years so all the other stuff is gone. Anyway, definitely dispute everything you can. Even if you don't have proof, you can ask that a note be placed on disputed items.

[xmas74]

42. Oh, I plan on it.

I've gone without and have fought for what I have. No way someone's adding crap that shouldn't be there!

[RetroLounge]

40. No. Bill Collectors are assholes.

and not one has ever proved otherwise.

RL

[xmas74]

43. Thank you for the confirmation.

I'm not a fan of bill collectors.

Actually, I bet that's something both DU'er and freeper could agree on: No one likes a bill collector.

[MissB]

41. Oh, you were totally in the right.

You might want to talk to the doctor's office again and let them know that the collection agency they're using sucks.

[xmas74]

44. I told them over the phone

that the collection agency was extremely rude and refused to identify themselves.

[I Have A Dream]

46. It would have been absolutely foolish to give him any information...

even if he really was a bill collector. You did exactly the right thing. :thumbsup:


(On edit: I don't think that he was really a bill collector. Why would he be asking you those questions if he were? I think that he just found out about this somewhere and thought that it would be his "in" to getting you to reveal this information.)

[xmas74]

47. Thank you.

I thought so too. He claimed it was the only way they could identify who they were speaking to.

[ThomCat]

48. You were right. Never, ever give out personal information

over the phone.

You did the right thing by calling the doctor to figure out what was going on.

Bill Collectors are professionally rude and dishonest.

[xmas74]

53. This one was especially nasty.

He spoke to me rather slowly in the beginning-one of those who saw my name and assumed that I didn't speak English all that well. Once he started speaking to me he quickly realized his mistake.

[IndianaJones]

49. Complied and given out the information...of course...

its such a gray area, I can see the conflict.

[xmas74]

51. Smart ass.

I just got a thread locked because of my adoration for you. Besides, you promised you were applying tape to my name to block it.

(And actually, a relative in the room stated that I was a bitch and should learn how to be "nicer" to young men on the phone.)

[IndianaJones]

54. Well...I had no problem with the other thread....

but being a "smart ass" or a "bitch" are sometimes not bad things.

And sometimes I forget to move the tapes.

[xmas74]

56. Neither are bad things.

Growing up both were used as terms of endearment in my family.

I didn't have a problem with the other thread either but someone else did...

And I'll mail you some electrical tape if you need it. You can still see through Scotch tape.

[barb162]

50. No, never ever give out personal info to anyone over the phone

You don't know the person from Adam. I would get the name of the company he works for and then write a letter to them (CC your STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL) and then let them know how you were treated inappropriately. You might get them to lose their business license, especially if others are complaining of the same thing.

[xmas74]

52. That's something I do plan on doing.

The way they acted over the phone was disgusting.

[barb162]

55. Yes, I believe in most states they aren't allowed to

be insulting, get snotty, ask for info they don't really need, etc.

[xmas74]

57. Yet they do it all the time.

You have to catch them at it and then prove it.

[barb162]

66. I think if people did certifed letters to these companies and

(with open cc.) to the attorney general every time this kind of shit happened, these guys wouldn't be operating the way they are. They know most people don't take action to get the authorities involved re violations of state law. And so they keep doing it.

[xmas74]

68. I'm sending off a letter but

I send off letters to the AG of my state all the time.

You're right: if others did it they wouldn't practice the way they do.

[barb162]

94. Good luck with that!

I hope the AG goes after these nogoodniks.

[Lyric]

58. Debt validation.

One of the easiest ways to thwart collection agencies is to ask for complete debt validation up-front. Because collection agencies are typically very streamlined, minimalist companies, their record-keeping can be rather incomplete and shoddy, which can work in your favor.

# Send a letter requesting validation to the collection agency.
# Dispute the collection with the credit bureaus.
# Wait 30 days to hear back from the collection agency. Most likely they will not respond or they will respond saying that they received your letter. Only a letter which includes:

* Proof that the collection company owns the debt/or has been assigned the debt,
* Complete payment history, starting with the original creditor, and
* Copy of the original signed loan agreement or credit card application

is satisfactory.
# If they haven't sent you satisfactory proof, send a copy of your receipt for your registered mail, a copy of the first letter you sent and a statement that they have not complied with the FDCPA and are now in violation of the Act. Tell them they need to immediately remove the collection listing from your credit report or you are going to file a lawsuit because they are in violation of the FDCPA, section 809 (b).
# Wait 15-20 days to hear back after this second letter to the collection agency. They will either remove it or not respond.
# If they do provide a contract with a signature from the original creditor showing that you owe the debt, there is one more thing you can try: see if they are legally licensed to collect the debt in your state.

(taken from http://www.creditinfocenter.com/rebuild/debt_validation.shtml)

[xmas74]

60. Now that is info I will be passing on

to others. Thanks!

[SeattleGirl]

59. You were not wrong at all in the way you handled it.

Fucking asshole should have identified his company at the beginning of the call, AND told you what bill he was attempting to collect on. Yeah, they all use fake names (my favs are Ms. Jones and Mr. Smith :eyes: ), but withhholding the name of their company is pure bullshit.

[xmas74]

62. I've got one right now who keeps calling.

This has happened ever since I received the first call this morning. When I answer the phone it's an automated message to call Mrs. Johnson at an 800 number. I've now called four times and have yet to speak with "Mrs. Johnson".

And it shows unknown name and number on the caller id.

[SeattleGirl]

67. I hate bill collectors with a purple passion.

Either that kind of job attracts major assholes, or they have a crash course in how to be a major asshole. I could never do that job and live with myself.

[xmas74]

69. Same here.

I could never do that kind of job.

[trackfan]

63. I would have hung up immediately,

or, if I was feeling ornery, would have cussed him out - then hung up. I would not have picked up the phone again after that. I don't ever answer the phone anyway.

[xmas74]

65. I wanted to know who it was

and what the bill was for. I've been repairing my credit so I like to know everything out there.

This guy was just an asshole.

[Spirochete]

71. Anyone who calls me

and asks me for personal information like that, especially without identifying themselves, is going to hear nothing but a derisive laugh, followed closely by a click and a dial tone. The nerve of some people. They think everyone's an idiot but them.

[xmas74]

74. I never completely gave id.

I said I was me and that's it and tell me who the bill was from. I wanted to know about the bill since that was the first I'd heard about owing a bill.

[Spirochete]

78. You have more patience than I do

They were demanding information without even telling you why. You had to pry the fact out of them that they were collecting a bill. Then they said you were "hateful" for asking? They don't sound very professional. You did just fine. They were way out of line.

[xmas74]

79. Thank you.

I was quite surprised about the hateful comment from the operator.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

73. Hell no!

You handled yourself beautifully! :applause:

[xmas74]

75. Thank you.

Someone in the room stated I was a bit "irrational" and needed to be more ladylike in my dealings.

[GoddessOfGuinness]

77. No need to be ladylike when dealing with con-men.

It's damned rude of them to try to phish for info and waste your valuable time. Why offer courtesy?

[xmas74]

80. And many are con men.

I've been informed on a few occasions that I'm unladylike when dealing with callers. I just don't see the need-if I don't cut them off asap they'll keep calling.

[flamingyouth]

76. No, you weren't wrong.

Never, ever give out information like that over the phone to people you don't know. I know I'm way late to this thread. I haven't read any of the other replies and I'm sure everyone else has said the same thing. I just wanted to throw my .02 in here.

This kind of reminds me of a weird situation I had not long after I moved into my house. I got a call very similar to the one you got, only this person wasn't totally rude. It was about a bill that went back about four years. I didn't have the info and I didn't have the same insurance any more, but I know the bill had been paid. She called another time then ended up sending a process server to my house (!). It turned out the bill HAD been paid after all. So yeah, thanks for totally freaking me out and trying to ruin my credit. Gah. :grr:

[xmas74]

81. Don't you love that?

They try to ruin your credit over a bill that has already been paid!

[begin_within]

82. I never give any information whatsoever...

...unless I placed the call.
That way I know who I'm talking to. If someone calls me, I won't even admit my name, let alone any personal information such as dob, ssn, etc.

[xmas74]

83. He wanted everything and thought I was a pig

for not giving it to him.

[begin_within]

84. I'm sorry that it happened, but...

maybe the experience of having gone through it will help you "steel yourself" in case something like it ever happens again.

[xmas74]

86. I should be ok.

I was just disappointed that someone in my family thought I was too harsh.

[Gormy Cuss]

85. I would have requested the name and mailing address of the collection agency.

Then sent a notice informing them to cease contact.

Can you stop a debt collector from contacting you?

You can stop a debt collector from contacting you by writing a letter to the collector telling them to stop. Once the collector receives your letter, they may not contact you again except to say there will be no further contact or to notify you that the debt collector or the creditor intends to take some specific action. Please note, however, that sending such a letter to a collector does not make the debt go away if you actually owe it. You could still be sued by the debt collector or your original creditor.

source: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/pubs/credit/fdc.shtm

I was harassed by a debt collector because they were looking for someone with the same surname and first initial and I refused to tell them anything other than no one by that name had ever been associated with my phone number. When that didn't stop them, I printed out a copy of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and kept it near the phone. The next time he called I quoted sections of the FDCPA to him and suggested that he was violating Federal law. That did it.

One caution however is that it's true that debt collectors can't tell you with the full name, SSN or address of the person they seek because that's a violation of the FDCPA. However, you are under no obligation to tell them your information either.

http://www.ftc.gov/os/statutes/fdcpa/fdcpact.htm

[xmas74]

87. Thank you.

But this guy was asking for me by my full name and my old address.

Something just didn't sound right.

[Left Is Write]

88. No! You were not wrong!

"Federal law" preventing him from giving out the name of his company? PURE BULLSHIT.

And, of course, you are right - never, EVER give out identifying information over the phone unless you initiated the call.

[xmas74]

89. Thank you!

I just get so tired of some who think they can pull this crap.

And what do you think of Big Brother now?

[Left Is Write]

90. I know who won HOH - I wouldn't have been able to wait until tomorrow to find out.

It's getting good! This whole season has been pretty juicy.

I lost a lot of respect for Dustin when he took the prizes in the POV competition, and I also think Jameka was very foolish.

[xmas74]

91. Well, she won

because K threw Jen under the bus, once again. Jen was disqualified and Kail tried to make a deal with Daniele.

You knew the biggest part of the spoiler so I figured I'd give you the details behind it.

Oh, and someone is flying banners again. They often don't mention them on the show because they don't want the public to get ideas but this time around it's a big deal. The banners last night and this am could easily change the game.

[cynatnite]

92. We had a bill collector call us over a $10,000 car loan that wasn't even ours...

This happened about three or four months ago. I about flipped out. He said it was three years ago when we lived in Montana. I told him we'd been living in TN since 2001. He asked if we ever lived in MT. I answered yes...that was about 12 years ago. We went back and forth for a little while over where we've lived and hadn't lived. The guy was being really nice about this so I didn't mind so much. The more we talked, the more we realized how huge of a mistake this was. Then I gave him our info. He put me on hold, came back a few minutes later and said what had happened was that another guy with my husband's first name had an identical social security number except for a one number difference. Somehow his info merged with ours. The guy told me he'd take care of it and I assurd him I would be checking our credit report to make sure it and other outstanding bills didn't show up. He said it's always good to keep an eye on your credit.

Nice guy, but scary conversation.

[Orangepeel]

93. He called you, asked for your personal info and said you HAD to deal with him

you were much more polite than I would have been. I would have hung up on him. :shrug:

[Wapsie B]

95. Sometimes I'm tempted to get the loudest whistle I can find

just for occasions such as the one you described.