What NOT to do when a bill collector calls by a former bill collector

For those that want to clear up debts and obligations, it is important to know what steps to take. However, it can also be vitally important to know what NOT to do. I thought I would share tips to what to avoid if you want the bill collector to work with you and not against you:

The first step is simple, yet crucial: Do not lie. Ever. Most bill collectors have  a built-in lie detector and can immediately tell when someone's lying. Do not say your father, mother, sister, brother or pet goldfish just died, unless it's absolutely true. Do not lie about your work situation either. For many people, their place of employment is listed on their credit report, so trying to hide your source of income can destroy your credibility. Remember, bill collectors are much less likely to negotiate terms if they have to wrestle the truth from the borrower.

Secondly, never EVER have your child screen your calls. Do NOT, under any circumstance, put your son or daughter on the phone and then have them to lie for you. This is one of the surest ways to raise the contempt and ire of the typical collector, most of whom have children too. It is stressful enough for grownups to deal with debt, do not expect your child to handle the tension any better than you do. The typical collector's attitude is, "You ran up the bill, you should be adult enough to face the situation."

The third step, do not be disrespectful to the other person on the line.  Now, I'm not saying to bend down and kiss their toes, but try your best to keep your part of the conversation as civil as possible. Talk to them like you'd talk to the clerk at your local grocery store. Despite rumors to the contrary, most bill collectors are human and have a family to go home to at night. As a collector, I had some latitude as to how each situation was handled. If someone treated me fairly, I would work with them as much as the situation allowed. However, if someone started each conversation with profanity-laced insults, then I usually didn't give them any more leeway than what was required.


Fourth, do not make empty threats. Never say you are going to call your lawyer, unless you actually have one on retainer. The average collector hears that line at least once a day, if not more. The collector is also aware that if you don't have the money to pay your debts, then you probably don't have enough to hire a lawyer. Generally speaking, threatening to complain to their manager is futile. Odds are, the collector learned their techniques from their boss, and the supervisor may be less willing to make payment arrangements than the original collector. Don't use threats to report them to the FTC as a way of sidestepping the issue. Parenthetically, if you do have a bona fide complaint, most collectors prefer that you file a report because it helps clear the bad eggs out of the industry. But most experienced collectors are experts at staying within the boundaries of the FDCPA.

Being past due on your obligations can be trying and difficult. It is in your best interest to maintain a level head, keep your ego in check, and work with the collector so that both of you can feel like you've achieved a win-win situation.

Tough job but I have to tell you, the majority of collectors are unscrupulous characters and don't warrant a lot of respect. They also don't comply with the laws as you have suggested. I have requested no calls and only written communication with all collectors and not one has complied. I have also asked them to submit verification from my original creditors to prove they have the right to collect, not one has complied. I would never have my kids answer my calls but I having asked for written communication and proof of right to collect feel no obligation to talk to them. They ring constantly, call my work which if I get fired will definitely insure they never see a dime. My wife has been patronized by a collector " oh no honey, you've got the right number". I have been very forward in my written communication on my situation, my budget, and requirements to begin working with them. They expect me to comply with their wishes but completely disregard mine. It's a dirty biz and yes, I did run up the debt and will pay. At the same time creditor practices are predatory and unscrupulous as well so when as they say sh*# happens they need to be a little more proactive if they desire cooperation.

All one has to remember is that 99% of all debt collectors give the other 1% a bad name. The OP sounds not like a former debt collector but one still active in the field hoping like hell he or she can get some respect. Once you enter the pool and immerse yourself, it is hard to say the water is too hot/cold.

Debt collectors should practice what the OP practices. Maybe if more of them were actually sued and the judiciary actually imposed sanctions against them, the industry would be free of outlaws. It wouldn't hurt to put a few of them in state prison and not county jail for a minimum of a year. Attitude adjustment happens very quickly in such a surrounding. 

I have absolutely nothing against the profession. After all, there are debtors who wouldn't pay unless collection actions were instituted. What I believe is the profession attracts the kind of person who loathes him/herself. They lack self esteem and have absolutely no authority in their home life.

Their only release is to believe they have the (apparent) power to lord over another person. They easily slide into their true selves behind the protection of a phone. I would imagine if they were face to face with the alleged debtor, they would water the front, or soil the back, of their trousers before they would utter the words they voice over the phone.

Mind you, I am only expressing an opinion of the characters I've observed in this field. To say they have families too is state the obvious. Even Ted Bundy had a family.

I can't imagine this set of amoebae going home and holding his/her head in any upright manner and saying to the children, "yes sir, I called a debtor today and used every cuss word in the book and lied through my teeth. I want you kids to grow up and be just like me."

Can you imagine wishing your children growing up and behaving like or becoming a debt collector? Truly admirable characteristics to pass along to the future generation, right?

OK, I'm finished expressing my opinion. The only salvation for a debt collector is knowing lawyers are still graduating every year. Ahhh, the wonders of American society...

Goodness people, that's a little harsh.  While it may be true that 2/3rds of debt collectors may be jerks, it's probably also true that 2/3rds of the people they have to call each day have no intention of ever paying their bills.  Being hateful towards the 33% that are trying to do their job right because the other 67% were jerks is no different than them being hateful to you because the other 67% of people they talk to are jerks.

I also don't think it's a job to be ashamed of.  Lots of us have worked in call centers and I really don't view this as any different.  I didn't set out in life saying "I want to work in a call center when I grow up" and dreaming some day my children may also work there, but it was a good stepping stone and I'm not ashamed of it.

If being a debt collector is anything like the call center I worked at, you have quotas to meet on cases closed per day, maximum average call durations etc.  Unfortunately the hateful tactics probably are more successful in general so those who practice them 'accel' at their jobs and thats why there are so many jerks in the industry.  You shouldn't apply that to everyone who has a job in debt collections though.

Condemning a group is merely a tactic to draw attention to that group for any number of reasons. The tactic calls into practice a broad brush approach which touches all of the group's members.

I like it when it involves a group that should be (according to me) under the microscope. Debt collectors happen to be such a group. Why? Because they have a set of federal and state laws under which to operate.

Whether, or whether not, the debtor intends to pay is not relative. Their mandate is to operate in a specific manner under specific rules. No exceptions exist allowing them to violate the law. If the debtor doesn't pay, the debtor's case is elevated to the legal department and out of the hands of the collector. Hence, the collector is freed from this particular case.

Let me use an example from another profession. Let's say your brother is a cop. A very honest hard working cop. But, he knows of three other cops who are less than honorable and in fact take bribes. He doesn't turn them in to his superiors. Is he still an honorable cop?

As always, just my 2¢.

Bottom line, if the collector or creditor has expectations of me to be straight forward, respectful and honest then they need to do the same. There is no reason to lie, harass me at home or work and disregard my requests for written communication when I agree to communicate under those conditions. Creditors and collectors have legal recourse, helping me to lose my job or my mind is not going to get them paid. As a collector recently told me when I told them I'm in position to declare bankruptcy........." then you need to just do it ". My answer is if you intent to sue me or attempt legal means to collect then ..........." you should just do it".