Stop them fast!
Date: Fri, 10/20/2006 - 22:10
First, go to the Federal Communications Commission website at http://www.fcc.gov/ and download and print the complaint form. If you have more than 1 agency calling you print as many as you need. Next, type a letter to the agency asking them to stop attempting to contact you electronically and to remove your phone number from their database. I do not use my real name as I don't want any collection agency to be able to verify anything about me. Make 2 copies of the letter, one for the collection agency and a copy for the FCC. Next, fill out the FCC complaint form as you see fit. Then write to the FCC a letter explaining all of your actions including withholding your identity if that is what you did. The letter you send to the collection agency must be sent certified mail; apply the certified mail number to the letter written to the FCC. In the letter to the collection agency you will have an option for "cc" which means "Courtesy Copy", place the Federal Communications Commission name after that, make sure you use the full name and not just FCC so they will tend to take you more serious. Once you have completed sending the letter to the collection agency send the letter you wrote, the complaint form, and a copy of the letter to the agency to the FCC. You then have a record of your actions on file with a federal agency. If the FCC gets enough complaints about a certain agency they will fine them, pull their license, and shut them down.
This does not wipe out your dept, it only stops methods of harrassment and intimidation. However, I think that infractions of requests for a cease of electronic communication are punishable by a fine of $10,000.00 per incident. Make sure you keep record of everything that you do and they do, write down times, dates, and corresponding events. Even if you don't have caller ID, a record of outgoing calls is kept by the phone service provider and the agency and is accessible by the FCC.
Please let me know any questions you have and how well my advice works. Your feedback will be encouragemant to others and will give them hope that they don't have to be abused.
Hi Guest, This is great advice and I can also add that if you a
Hi Guest,
This is great advice and I can also add that if you ask them to stop calling you and they don't, it's a violation of the Federal Debt Collections Act and there is more recourse that you can take there. Thanks for posting.
Thanks for that post...I learned some stuff I didn't know. I thi
Thanks for that post...I learned some stuff I didn't know. I think it will definitely help out here.
Unfortunately........
kscornell, thanks for the reply. Unfortunately the only things that matter are what you can prove in a court of law, so by just asking them to stop and they don't, it is your word against theirs. I cannot stress enough the need for traceable documentation with these people. This is simply a way to get them from breaking the rules to behaving because once you ask them to stop contacting you electronically they can only send letters.........and they tend to behave themselves civilly when they send you documentation. Also be aware that it is illegal for them to send you communication in the form of a legal brief unless they intend to use it. A disclaimer of "This is an attempt to collect a debt......" on the brief is still not legal. Make sure you hang onto these if you get them.
collection agencys
Jimbeam, Thanks for the post. Do you know the tyactics these people use are incredible. My brother baby was in ICU at the hospital and Drive Financial actually called the intensive care unit and harassed him. I would think something could be done about that. Stick around on the forum we need people like you. KYSIDE38
Thanks for your response, kyside38
Your story is exactly what I want to see stopped. If the FCC does not know this is happening they do not act. Documented complaints and specific incidents are the key. If we all work together we can make a difference.