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collector · Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2007 8:23 am Subject: citi cards collection

I am writing this letter to help you all out. I am a late stage collector (4-6 months) for Citibank, At&T, ANB , and Key Bank Credit Cards. All which are part of the Consumer Card Portfolio for Citi. I am writing this from a collectors standpoint. One we are people most of whom have famlies and children, or we are students working our way through college. I am speaking only from a citi standpoint and no other companies, but we have programs with apr redcutions down to 0% as well as payment reduction programs, though they are based off your CURRENT balance. There are also 5 year programs designed to pay off the acct at a fixed rate of either 9.9% or 0%. Believe it or not we are looking at your account and going damn if they would only pick up the phone and not cuss me out for saying hello I could proably help them out. But 99.9% of people are calling me names before I can get my name out. YES there are collectors that are assholes but chances are the concsumer is being on as well. But all credit cards do have hardship programs and Citi has some great ones. The number to reach Citi is 1-888-309-7367. Mon-Fri 8am-Midnight EST Sat and Sun 8am-9pm EST, If you have a Citi Card call them you will be suprised what they can do for you.

---A Collector / Student

Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2007 8:49 am Subject:

Collector,I appreciate your post and I can understand why you would be upset getting cussed out all the time. I do have very little use for collectors because so many of them treat people like dirt.I do agree that if a person can get into some of them programs they will save money and Citi will get their share too. Please post some info on these programs if you are allowed to and also please post if your office follows the guidelines set out in the FDCPA. I am unsure if you are original creditor or not.

Posted: Mon Apr 30, 2007 5:14 pm Subject:

IMO, it is the continuous annoying phone calling that angers people until they reach the boiling point.

After four or five calls with no response, it should be obvious to a collector, the person does not want to talk with them.
When people are pushed to answer their phone out of frustration, of course, they are angry.

I had a collector phone one of my neighbor's a month or or so ago.
The collector accomplished nothing as it only made me angry, and motivated me to send them a C&D letter.
The collector called my neighbor for the sole purpose of trying to embarrass me so I would answer my phone.

Posted: Tue May 01, 2007 5:18 am Subject: citi cards

That's a good point collector and a good option for people to have. I think what happens though is when people are unable, for whatever reason to make payments on their credit cards they know you are calling and are embarrassed and/or afraid to pick up the phone thinking that the collector is going to be rude and unreasonable. And I know that not all are, I've dealt with very nice collectors before. About seven years ago instead of a call on a credit card I had I received a letter explaining that if I was having problems they could put me in a program to pay off the card. No more interest fees, no more late charges. I could no longer use the card even after I paid it off, but it was worth it and saved me a bunch of hassles. By sending it in the mail I was able to see what plans they had and call back.

Does citi send out letters like that?

Posted: Tue May 01, 2007 10:34 am Subject:

I still have to ask, why is using the telephone the only option? My friend has a psychological phobia of telephones and everytime he tried sending letters, the only response he got was 'call us and we can help!'

michael D · Posted: Tue May 01, 2007 7:00 pm Subject:

Answer this collector. How come you reduce yourselves down to scum by calling family members, neighbors, and jobs. To belittle and embarrass the holder of the debt to the point where he doesn't even want to talk to you anymore. How would you feel if they did the very same thing to your wonderful "family"
or started calling your "college" that you are working so hard to get through???
Even after numerous attempts to work work out a payment plan with creditors it just seems like you are only interested in the full amount, and just keep calling even though you know the scoop. And you wonder why we don't want to talk with you. Its like trying to tell a fly to stop banging into a window pain because it thinks its going to get out.

Posted: Tue May 01, 2007 8:51 pm Subject:

Posted: Wed May 02, 2007 1:07 pm Subject:

guest · Posted: Wed May 02, 2007 2:09 pm Subject:

you can gain relief from the calls by simply paying what you owe. The FDCPA was not put together as a means for you to get away with not paying your bills.

Posted: Wed May 02, 2007 2:32 pm Subject:

Posted: Wed May 02, 2007 3:32 pm Subject:

Posted: Wed May 02, 2007 3:55 pm Subject:

Posted: Wed May 02, 2007 4:30 pm Subject:

Words were not put into your mouth. I did not address the "imo" portion of your post. I replied to the portion a reader might consider as being more factual...I would not a reader to misconstrue that portion of your post as such.