How do i handle collection calls from cc??

The cardholder agreement is a contract. It defines how they calculate the minimum amount due every month. If an account defaults and sent to a collection agency, they have a right to demand the full balance.

In other words, you really don't have any rights inasmuch as making partial payments. They are not obligated to accept partial payments in satisfaction of the account default. Like s/he said, they won't refuse a payment -- they will take and cash it -- but if it's not enough to satisfy the account, they can continue their collection efforts.

There is a point of diminishing returns on their end. They can play hard-ball and refuse to take your arrangements; they can demand phone payments; they can note "refusal to pay" on your account. In the end, their only recourse is to sue you -- which they usually won't sue for small balances like you have. So they are only cutting their own throat by refusing to work with you.

Personally this is what I would do:
1) Write them a letter. Tell them you are willing to pay $XX.XX per month and that's all you can afford. In the absence of a response (they probably won't write back), you will deem the arragement as acceptable.
2) Send them the $25/month by mail. Keep track of your payment receipts and keep them all together for future reference.
3) If/when they call you, ask them to refer to your previous written correspondence. Then politely tell them you only correspond by mail. If they have something to say, tell them to put it in writing and mail it to you.
4) They can "note" whatever they want in your file. The fact is whatever they write in the screen (ie refusal to pay) really means nothing.

I agree with DebtCruncher's post. I would also like to add that when you pay them, pay them only via mail and via money order. Keep all money order receipts as proof of payment. I have founnd that when you do verbal payments on the phone with your bank info, a lot of these bottom feeders will take a payment w/o your authorization.

As long as you are making SOME sort of payments on a regular basis (on one of my accounts I send just $10 a week!), it shows that you are, in good faith, attempting to pay this off. In order for any company to freeze your bank account or garnish your wages they MUST bring you to court first. That's when you will show all of your money order recipts that you have been paying on a weekly/monthly basis and ARE attempting to pay it off. This will go over very well in you favor through the judges eyes.

Make sure that when you write the company the letter that states you will be paying $xx amt every month, BE SURE to include a line that they are NOT to contact you via phone, but by postal mail ONLY!

Good luck!

Thanks to all you knowledgable people who respond to people's questions on this forum! It has been a great help to me in dealing with collection companies!

thank you, i wasnt sure how it would work with cc companies and collection. I know many collection companies you can be in charge basically, but apparently not with cc ones : (
thats a bummer,
thank you for the advice, i will send out letters to the ones that will not work with me and say how much i can afford to pay and ask them to stop calling and i only want contact through mail.
thanks

I have a question open to anyone for responding.... A collection company called and left a message in July...has not attempted to call or leave a message since about collecting a debt...the debt is not a substantial amount of money...what is going to happen? have they just threw it out the window or are they doing other things ?

How much is "not a substantial amount"? What is this debt for? Who was the original creditor? Who is the collection agency? When was the last time you made a payment? And what state do you live in?

By providing this info, you'll get better help.