just being curious, and messing around bad debt collectors

1. Are collectors really that evil? Some are, there was one case where a consumer's account was sent to a collection by a funeral home and a collector threatened to dig the consumer's parents out of the ground and set them on their doorstep if he didn't pay.

2. The CAs that operate illegally don't want you to know your rights because they won't be able to get money when they resort to illegal tactics. To companies like ye old Bass and Associates which generally threaten to have consumers to be charged with things like "interstate wire fraud" and for them to be arrested at work, etc. were able to scare people into paying exorbitant amounts because people didn't know they were not allowed to do that.

3. Some of these trolls may not be collectors at all, just people who like to stir the pot and create drama, or they may have a grudge against the site and want to try to shut us down or take away the prestige that we have gathered so far in order to try to shut it down.

I recently looked into some debt consolidation companies. I told the few, that I called, that I'm JUST interested in what their programs have to offer, information, etc. ALREADY I guess these programs just ASSUME I'm gonna go through them...everyone one of tem sent me a 'contract' to sign.The 'contract' had their monthly paym,ent on their, a place where I can 'lug-in' my bank account number, etc. How in the world can they give me an 'estimated' monthly payment, when I haven;t even told them ANYTHING about the amount of my debt? OF COURSE I'm NOT going to give ANYONE my bank account number!! One of these 'comapnies' sent me a 'nasty gram'..saying if I don't "quickly sign the contract" that I am "making them lose money." What kind of crap is that? Never heard of such a thing!! ALSO said they "took time out of their day to write up an 'agreement' for me and I should 'honor' that. What is this world coming to?LOL

those have scam written all over them chargers.that is incredible.they never heard of (no obligation consultation)huh?

I believe you're right, PAUL. Seems like they ARE a scam, if they are getting THAT pushy. Especially for something I never asked for in the first place.

I really am a debt collector and not here to stir up trouble. When I say "try to work something out with a collector", that advice only pertains to situations when you owe the debt. 99% of my accounts are pretty "fresh" meaning they went from original creditor to the company I work for so it's pretty easy to follow the chain of ownership. If the "debtor" is disputing the debt, I walk them through the steps to follow up on it. It's not as simple as requesting a debt validation letter from us. If the consumer has already paid I need to see cancelled checks or settlement letters from the previous creditor. I want to help the consumer clean things up. I will take the time to walk someone though all the steps of "what might happen next". Not many collectors are either knowledgeable or patient enough to do this. And if the debtor is not disputing the debt and doesnt want to or cant pay, I tell them the natural consequences. Most people dont want to hear the outcome and I could sugarcoat it, but that doesnt do anyone any favors. And after I spent a month or two trying to get someone on the phone and then they give me all sorts of excuses and refuse to set up even a small payment plan.... or they fall back on stall tactics like asking for letter after letter, then claiming they never received them... at some point I have to cut my losses.... so I recommend the account for suit action. Do I have to? Lots of times I dont, but everyone gets sick of having their chain jerked and Im no different. Some days I feel like the goat at the school playground and every bully is after my ass. No big deal, it is what it is.

Debt colsolidators.... never used one, would never recommend one. Nothing good can come from purchasing something that advertises on late night TV. I am almost curious enough about the job to go get one doing it.... but my impression is that anything they can do, the consumer can do for themselves. Just takes tenacity and some organization skills.

previous post was mine

I want to..I really do. This is the 2 home I bought, my car I purchased new in 2006. Then because of family issues (elderly mom & dad) the bottom fell out and this was the beginning of a series of life altering events for me. I've had to take vacation days because I didn't have gas to get to work; I've lost weight because I couldn't buy food; I've discontinued every service (ie: cable, cell, etc) that wasn't absolutely necessary. I've tried to find a p/t job but so far I've not had any success. I'm in my 50s...this is not where I'm suppose to be at this point in my life. Can't sell the house because it probably is worth less than the mortgage value...maybe a short sell? Car is pd for..sell the car and find a clunker? I know this is something you or any other CA doesn't want to hear. I had an older pick up truck that my son was using, but I couldn't afford to do that..took the truck back & sold it, now my son hasn't spoken to me for a year.
Dad died, no relationship with son, lost part of my had in an accident(still trying to pay off medical bills). Tell me what how to deal with the CA trying to collect $1400. To them its a small amt but to me it might as well be $14000 or $140000.
I don't even have $14.00.

Thank you for the rational, polite and well written response imadebtcollector, but some of the other debt collectors who have posted have been rude and sometimes abusive. I don't think that all debt collectors are bad, but some are TERRIBLE.

I agree with post that you have been very friendly "I'm a debt collector"
my questions for you would be number one..if the debt is fresh..why and how could it take a month or two trying to get someone on the phone?
question or comment number two would be that validation is often requested when it gets past original creditor because amounts owed are very different and names of who you owe often get changed or are unrecognizable to debtors..
also UNTIL you provide validation of the true debt and that you actually own the debt..the debtor would be stupid to waste time providing you with any type of canceled checks or whatever...what I think I have learned on this site is that until you the collector PROVES something..no one here is obligated to provide you with ANYTHING ..follow the law... be nice..as you have been in your posts and I believe your commissions will reflect this :D

Well......let me ask a question DEBTCOLLECTOR. Some CA's have called me about debts that are longer on my CR.Debts that are EXTREMELY old...10 years or more. If I ask them for some kind of validation, they tell me " they are not obligated to send me anything." Then they get angry when I tell them, "then I'm sorry, but I can't help you WITHPUT some kind of proof." Usually they just hang up on me.