Debt Settlement Secrets: Stopping Creditor Calls

THE BEST WAY TO STOP COLLECTION CALLS ASAP DURING THE DEBT SETTLEMENT PROCESS.

This only applies to people in a legitimate debt settlement program, such as the debt settlement programs I endorse. If you are not yet enrolled into a debt settlement program, be sure to read this Debt Settlement WARNING before talking to any of the bazillion new debt consultants off the street.

Please note, I do not provide legal or tax advice, and nothing in this post should be construed as such.

Onward.

First, let’s review your options for dealing with these calls and the rules of thumb for each.

When I was a child in school, everyone used to sing a song. It went something like this, “First is the worst, second is the best, third is the…. (insert bad words)!”

This little elementary rhyme also applies to these three options:

1) Talk To Creditors / Debt Collectors

It does nothing to help and will only make things worse.

Here’s the rule of thumb: The more you talk outside of the script, the more calls you will get.

So avoid all conversation with creditors during your debt settlement program.

This is because creditors know that IF they deal with you, they’ll get A LOT more money than if they must deal with a professional negotiator. They also know you have rights, but if you fail to stand up for your rights or put the laws protecting you in place, then the door remains open for them to do what they do best: “get under your skin” and “scare a payment out of you”.

These folks, for whatever reason, have chosen to make a living using fear and intimidation tactics to scare people into making payments on their debt. They receive a commission for collecting money. This is how they pay their “lousy bills”. So understand they are human beings too (Sometimes you have to wonder) and understand the game they are playing. The best option, #2, is how to win this little game…

>>> Quick Tip: To better understand what’s going on out there with creditors, collectors and this silly game (a shame really) that’s being played on Americans, go down to your local Blockbuster or video store and rent the movie “Maxed Out”, released last year. For an even better piece of journalism about the credit card industry, check out the PBS FRONTLINE Special “The Secret History of the Credit Card“. It’s from 2004 and a little old now, but still VERY good.

2) Use the Script & Tracking Sheet provided by your Debt Settlement Company

Here’s the BEST way to get these calls to stop:

Take the call, deliver the script word-for-word (sound like a broken record), hang up (zero conversation), track the call (on the tracking sheet) and fax the tracking sheet to Customer Service.

The script, tracking sheet and “Advice Regarding Creditor Calls” are provided in your Welcome Pack. Please let me know if you would like me to email you a new copy to use if you are my client.

I understand how nasty creditors can be.

Believe me, I tested EVERY APPROACH myself with my own debts… avoiding calls, delivering scripts… testing tricks with the phone… and even getting into it with collectors on the phone, not to mention using legal methods and tactics etc. So I can say from my own experience as well as from the feedback I’ve received from hundreds of clients I’ve coached though the years that THIS IS THE BEST WAY TO STOP COLLECTION CALLS ASAP.

Here’s why…

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) is a body of law that govern what creditors and collectors can and cannot do. It is your rights and protects you from many things creditors may do but are not legal because of this law.

By taking the call and deliver the script “word-for-word”, you are putting in place a “soft cease & desist”. The collector will realize, if not the first call then eventually, they will NOT be able to deal with you directly and must deal with your negotiator who has your Power of Attorney.

THE KEY: As soon as they think it is a waste of their time to call you, the calls will go away.

If however, you talk outside of the script like in option #1 above, the collector will increase the value of your account in their computer system and call more often. Delivering the script verbatim causes the collector to “devalue” your account in the computer system and your number will drop down on their list of calls to make.

When you fax the tracking sheet to Customer Service, they will (if appropriate given your creditor and situation) send out a “Cease & Desist” letter to the creditor. This is a “hard cease & desist”. This further enforces the e FDCPA to protect you. Original creditors are less affected than third party collectors but this is the best you can do. This also further “devalues” the account in the eyes of the collector. They also know that you are savvy to your rights and their risk for violating your rights increases.

Violations of the FDCPA are $1,000.00 each.

Should the collectors ever harass you or violate your rights, please let me know and I will get you in touch with an attorney who will go after the collectors for you.

Special Note on Stopping Calls to Your Cell Phone

If you are self employed and calls from collectors to your cell phone are affecting your business and income, then here’s what to do…

Since you are self employed, simply stop allowing yourself to receive calls at work. Your cell phone is your work number. Thus the following is true in your situation…

Here’s the script to use IN ADDITION to the script in the Welcome Pack for CALLS AT WORK:

If you get any phone calls at your job, tell the creditor, “I am not allowed to take personal calls at work. You are jeopardizing my employment. If you call again, I will file a complaint with the attorney general and the FTC.”

Make sure you document the call in your Creditor Call Log (attached) and call FDR Customer Service.

You will find this script above in the “Advice Regarding Creditor Calls” section of the Welcome Pack as well.

3) Ignore / Avoid the Collection Calls

This usually results in the calls continuing at the same frequency. Creditors / collectors “auto dial” your number with a computer. Nothing changes. This does nothing to solve the problem. Again, I recommend rolling up your sleeves a bit and taking action on #2 above until you are able to settle your debts.

OK, that’s the full picture of creditor calls and how to minimize them ASAP during the process of debt settlement. Take action on #2 and let’s see what the results are. Let me know if you need further help to stop collection calls or settle your credit card debt.