Debt Collection - What To Say When You Answer The Collectors Call

[supertrex2]

if u owe less than $5000 im sure they wont waste their time suing

[johngwatts]

@supertrex2 It may be that way in other states but not in Alabama. One of my former clients was just sued for $600. Surprising, and it seems stupid, but that's the way it works here. Thanks for your comment.

[thenekom]

Why so many dislikes? It's decent advice really. Know your rights, know what's going on

[catspawo6]

I`m not understanding some of these comments....yes he does look like a christian (shudders) :DD However he does not say to give them your information...infact quite the opposite, he says to quiz them and inturn put them on the backfoot..... for Uk debt collection agencies that`s a good start of how to deal with them lot!

[psychicpriest]

LOL I wouldnt trust this guy in this video for anything!!! He is way too much like a christian used car salesman, And you just cant trust either one....

[johngwatts]

@psychicpriest Well, guilty of being a christian.  Never been a used car salesman.

[mmixon82]

@psychicpriest As an Atheist, I also get the feeling he's probably an over the top Christian. But his information is legit. Don't let your differing religious views prevent you from learning some good information.

[psychicpriest]

@mmixon82 Actually I havent had any debt in a decade. No credit used. So I am not personally in need of debt counseling......

[212nycelle212]

@psychicpriest lol...I love it when they call me. 1,000 bucks in my pocket everytime...rofl! I'm a Christian, I share this info with my fellow Christian friends and family. Sheep in wolfs clothing! 

[freeminded4ever]

@212nycelle212 why if your Christian, do you divide a fellow soul, like we a christian and you are not, we are all one, division is the reverse what spiritual masters are saying, look at Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus || Spoken Word on youtube, thankyou

[patreganauthor]

Buy a Truecall system and unwanted calls will become histoty...simple. DCA abuse is unlawful and puts the company at risk from action by comsumer regulators. Why is this NOT highlighted in this clip?

[graverobber35]

This is absolute bullshit...You NEVER give out any information to collectors. And it does no good to prove to them you are not the person they seek.....they call back anyway. Get caller ID . If they contact you , put down the phone and walk out of the room...Or, blow a whistle into the phone.

[johngwatts]

@graverobber35 We all have our opinions. Mine is based on filing hundreds of lawsuits against collection agencies and seeing a number of collectors stop calling my clients when they realize they have the wrong person. I agree it is not often but when a consumer tells a consumer the collector has the wrong person and the collector continues to call (as you mentioned), it doesn't make the collector look very good to a jury. Or I guess the whistle might work also. :) Have a good one. John

[CameronIsGodless]

@graverobber35 I work in collections. Think logically. If I am trying to collect a debt and someone says they are not who I am seeking, what logical sense would it make that I persist on calling that person. Unless I have reason to believe they are just lying to get me off the phone, that is a simple waste of time.

[graverobber35]

@CameronIsGodless You are one of those people that send out computer-generated calls, because my last name is the same as one of your deadbeats. Sometimes I talk to your type, to waste your time and mine. I find that collectors are dregs, I can tell by the dialects and the vocabulary y'all have.Nome=sain? L = o = L

The underhanded lies you tell, about filing lawsuits and having me arrested.Yes, it's illegal, but it's too hard and too much trouble to make it stick.You are scum.Pls commit suicide

[KrazyKuKluxKiller]

Why should I trust that this video isn't total baloney?

[johngwatts]

@KrazyKuKluxKiller That's a good question. Anyone can put anything out on the internet. You don't know me (as far as I know). Take a look at my websites and other videos and you can decide if the information I put out is legitimate or if it is total baloney. Trust me, defense attorneys and debt collectors think what I say is wrong and the lawsuits I bring are bogus. You make your own decision and I'm sure it will be the right one for you.

[joalmala2]

you can really get sued, so you should try to se what you can do because you can get an Earnings witholding order, bank levy, or a property lean... so yeah... you will have to pay sooner or later....

[johngwatts]

@joalmala2 If a consumer gets sued and loses, then I agree they will face garnishment possibilities, etc. But we see so many instances where someone pays a bogus/scam collector and the debt is still owed to a legitimate debt collector. This is why we suggest people be careful when dealing with someone who calls -- make sure you really owe the debt and really owe it to the people calling so you don't fall victim to a scam.

[gotmituns]

@johngwatts even for the legitimate debt collectors it is pure profit. the original company does not get anything. debt collection calls are used to get you feel guilty, then you pay in the end. but buy paying to a debt collector it is 99% is wrong. people are paying because they lack legitimate information. if you want to pay your debt, call the company you originally owe to and pay them directly.

[johngwatts]

@gotmituns I hear you. The original creditor will get paid unless they have sold the debt to the debt buyer. The original creditor is simply outsourcing the collection costs to an outside (third party) collector rather than having its own employees do the collecting. I do agree about people lacking information -- that's why its good we are talking about these issues and sharing ideas and viewpoints. I appreciate the points you have made. Thanks! John

[gotmituns]

@johngwatts plus+ debt collector can not sue you. i do not see any good reason to waste your time reasoning with them

[MsB0402]

it is amazing to me how many people barrow buy and get stuff including money and never pay it back. So Honesty is not the best policy?! WOW, After53 yrs of working hard and paying off all my bills I feel so stupid.

[johngwatts]

@MsB0402 What you are describing is not a good situation. I'm talking about don't deal with corrupt, law breaking debt collectors or, if you do, have your eyes open. We always suggest people pay their lawful debts. That is different than being scammed. That is different than paying a debt so a collector will stop breaking the law. If a collector is breaking the law, pay whoever you truly owe and look at suing the law breaking collector.

[asus3571]

i had guys who would call multiple times a day i just fucked with after while when i told they werent ever going to gt anything they just said ill call ya back then i started cracked up i thought is was funny as hell i kinda miss em call em

[johngwatts]

@asus3571 Well that is one way.... Not the way we suggest but hey, different strokes for different folks... :)

[Beesnchickens]

When the third party debt collector calls via the phone simply say no to every single question. Try it.

[johngwatts]

@Beesnchickens Hmmmm..... I think that would annoy the collectors. The problem is, and I think you were being funny, is that if it is a legitimate debt collector and it is a legitimate debt, then it should be taken care of. And if it is a collection agency that will break the law, then they need to be taken care of, usually by a lawsuit. If you have tried your approach, what happened?

[Beesnchickens]

Given that one is not in contract with the third party debt collector then no performance is expected. Third party debt collectors have no power.

[johngwatts]

@Beesnchickens At least in Alabama that is not true. A legitimate debt collector who has been assigned the debt, or a debt buyer who has truly bought the debt, can collect. Contracts are bought and sold all of the time. They are assets like a pencil or a car or a house.

[bc1969214]

What if the caller ID shows UNKNOWN CALLER OUT OF AREA and even when you pickup there is just a beep? How do you go about getting the info on the caller to ensure they do not call again and contact you only by mail?

[johngwatts]

@bc1969214 That is a pain. If there is no one there, and no caller ID, I don't know how you identify the company. My experience has been with our clients is that event those places will eventually identify themselves as they would like to get paid and hard for a collector to get paid when they won't identify themselves....

[gotmituns]

yeah, one debt collector said that they would call me for 3 months, but then they would sell my account to a different debt collection agency, and so on. i eventually changed my phone number. i still have no money to pay them though.

[damiion666]

@gotmituns Deadbeat

[gotmituns]

@damiion666 also, my economic teacher said to us that, once 90 days pass, the company writes off the lost money. that is when the collection agencies jump in. even when people do pay, the company you owe to do not get the money. for the collection agency it is pure profit. in Pennsylvania, after 4 years the debt is completely forgiven, there is no need to go for bankruptcy, that is the time when the lawyers usually rip you off.

[johngwatts]

@gotmituns There is a charge off that normally happens at between 90-180 days but this does not normally change the fact that the debt is owed and does not prevent collection. There are statute of limitations that vary by every state and after that period of time the debt should not be sued on. It varies as to whether that means the debt is wiped out or just the collector can't sue. In Alabama it is simply the collector cannot sue.

[johngwatts]

@damiion666 I think not having the money to pay does not make you a deadbeat. If it does, then let's be consistent and say the same about companies that can no longer pay their bills. Let's not call it a "bankruptcy reorganization" or "government stimulus" or anything else -- let's say the banks and the airlines and all the companies that find it difficult to pay their bills due to whatever reason -- they are deadbeats. :)

[damiion666]

@johngwatts Sure I'll go with that...I never did like the bailouts anywayz

[johngwatts]

@gotmituns There is a lot of transfer between collection agencies. They sometimes sell the debts to other collectors or "debt buyers" or sometimes they are just transferring the collection. Hard to pay money you don't have -- hope things have gotten better for you.

[gotmituns]

@johngwatts things are the same. but i started collecting all the letter i receive in the mail, and i started logging all the calls i receive. most collection calls are illegal. they are calling from different states, unaware of the laws in my own state. my econ teacher is an adviser to a lawsuit where a person is suing collection agency for calling him 400 times, each call is 1,000 dollars. Prior to that the collection agency was warned by man's lawyer to stop soliciting.

[bluesmap]

i dont agree with some of the questions/answers. for example asking the debt collector "what will you do if i dont pay you" seems to acknowledge that a debt is actually owed or that a debt exists.

too many consumers are inexperienced when it comes to answering a collection call. i say if they call, tell them to communicate to you by mail only.

[johngwatts]

@bluesmap That is one approach -- to only communicate by mail. The collectors don't have to agree to this but some will. I don't think asking a question means you admit owing the debt -- it is simply gathering information. Who are you? What are you collecting? How much? What do you say I owe this for? What will happen if I don't pay? Gaining information. But you make good points and people have to decide if they are comfortable talking by phone....

[rayme4raw]

What I want to know is what information is safe to give a third party debt collector. I will only give them my name, address and phone #. I refuse to give them the last four of my soc. I always ask them to send me a letter letting me know who they are. They have 5 days from the time they first call you to send you a letter, you have 30 days to respond to that letter. Until they get MY letter, they will call me everyday.

[johngwatts]

@rayme4raw Collectors, if they are following the law, will want to verify they are speaking to the right person so normally I don't have a problem confirming the last four of social security number. I think asking for a letter is wise and, as you pointed out, once a collector speaks to you they have to mail an initial letter that explains some of your rights and some details about the debt. If a place won't send a letter, a good sign it is a scam place. Legit collectors will mail you.

[rayme4raw]

@johngwatts You're right, they almost always send me a letter although one of them didn't & they only called once probably because I refused to talk to them & asked if they sent their standard letter. I never did give out the last 4 of my SSN, only my name, address & phone #. According to the FDCPA, I sent them a validation letter asking them to validate the debt every time. They immediately sell my info to another collection agency. 99% of people probably never send a validation letter.

[gotmituns]

@rayme4raw i suggest not to talk to them at all. lets say you owe $800 to Macy's Visa, and you receive a call from some Other Collection Agency. You know for the fact you do not owe anything to the Other Collection Agency. So there is NO any reason to spend time reasoning with them. All the want is profit. Whenever you get money it is better to pay directly to Macy's Visa, not the debt collector. my reasoning.

[rayme4raw]

@gotmituns You're right in a way, but after six months of trying to collect the primary lender usually charges off your account and sells your information to a third party collection agency. The primary lender does have other options but this is what most of them do. This means that the primary lender settles your account for 3 to 7% of what the balance was, by selling your info to a collection agency. I wouldn't reopen a closed settled account, just to give the primary lender more money.

[gotmituns]

@rayme4raw that is correct. law in Pennsylvania states that after 4 years your credit score is cleared of any debts older than 4 years. That means your credit is restored. I do not understand why people would file bankruptcy over $2,000. Most likely you will not be sued over $2,000. If you receive a collection call after 4 years, it is illegal automatically, every call will cost the collection agency $1,000. which they have to pay to you.

[rayme4raw]

@gotmituns Thank your for your comment. I never did deal with the collectors, I stuck to giving my name, address & phone number then asked if they had sent their standard letter. You're right, it's amazing how many people think that you should pay a company lots of money when that company never provided you with a good or a service, they only bought your information from another company. Even the FDCPA states that if you don't dispute the debt, the debt is "Assumed" to be valid. LOL, Assumed.

[gusanitaxsm]

I do agree. now on the CA i work for we answer the phone saying hey this is (name last name) from (CAs name) my i speak to (debtors name). Sometimes after you said that consumers want to know what do they owe, but if you dont get the consumer to verify their address or ssn before telling them what do they owe then that is 3rd party disclosure. So you might have to include that on your video.

[johngwatts]

@gusanitaxsm I agree on the verification. I'm uncomfortable giving out the whole SS# but I think it is reasonable to verify the last four digits so the collector knows they have the right person. I think that is a good practice and very prudent to do that. Takes just a moment but can save you a lot of time down the road by not making an illegal third party disclosure.