Debt Collectors Calling My Cell Phone!!
Posted on July 2, 2009 at 7:47 pm
can debt collectors call my cell phone? i feel harrassed and very troubled because they have been doing so. i wonder if there is any way for them to stop this. they have been calling me at inappropriate hours, too. it's very frustrating to say the least and i hope this can be rectified. can you please tell me what to do?
Posted on July 2, 2009 at 9:41 pm
Hi, Mobile Manic,
If you have included your cellphone number on your initial credit application, that also means that you're giving your creditor--and in turn, the debt collection agency currently handling your account--permission to contact you at that number.
If I may ask, at what times are the debt collectors calling you? They are only allowed to contact you between 8 AM to 9 PM at your timezone. Any attempts to contact you beyond those designated calling hours are violations of federal law.
Posted on July 2, 2009 at 10:55 pm
they should stop calling when you request them to.
Posted on July 2, 2009 at 11:23 pm
Au contraire, F & Z--if collection calls wish to be stopped, the consumer needs to write a letter stating that they no longer wish to be contacted via telephone. A verbal request is not enough to let the calls stop.
Posted on July 3, 2009 at 12:00 am
thank you, Karess--they have been calling me at 8:30 in the morning, when i'm getting ready for work. they've also called me at very inappropriate times during the day, while i'm at work and everything. it's really really unnerving and i hope this stops soon.
Purple Cow-- how do i write them a letter? can you fill me in on this, please?
Posted on July 3, 2009 at 12:36 am
They haven't been making violations on the time zone restrictions so far. And just so you know, the 8 AM - 9 PM time allotment also doesn't give the debt collectors an allotment as to how many calls they can make in a day.
You can write a Cease and Desist letter simply by requesting that all calls be stopped--that includes your other phone numbers as well. Calls should to immediately stop as soon as they receive your letter, and they will then proceed to contact you thru the mail. Keep in mind, though, that a request to stop the calls doesn't mean that you don't owe the debt any longer.
Posted on July 3, 2009 at 12:37 am
Here's a sample Cease & Desist letter for your use:
http://www.privacyrights.org/Letters/debt2.htm
Posted on July 3, 2009 at 1:04 am
I agree with Karess's point earlier about the calls at the cellular phone. The Federal Communications Commission has stated that as long as the consumer has provided the information from the time the loan or credit card was applied for, s/he is giving their consent to receive communication from the debt collectors.
In fact a number of (angry) customers filed a petition with the abovementioned Commission in 2006 for the calls at the mobile phones to stop. The petition was disregarded two years later.
Posted on July 3, 2009 at 2:13 am
thank you for taking the time to answer this. siiiiiiiiigh. it isn't really helping that they are continuously making calls at my cellphone. i wish i could just throw the darned thing away to be honest. it doesn't help when you have $35k in credit card debt and you don't know what to do
Posted on July 3, 2009 at 3:03 am
I'm sorry to hear about your situation, Mobile Manic. Have you sought alternatives in taking care of your debts? You may actually be able to rectify your current situation without going through so much hassle on your end.
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