When do collections calls become harassment?

United States
February 16, 2012 4:02pm CST
I got four calls from the same credit card company in under an hour yesterday! They called my cell phone, then maybe two minutes later the landline. Then they did it again before the hour had even ended!! I don't like talking to them because they refuse to take no for an answer. Or one time I told them I'd already mailed the payment and they wouldn't stop talking until I agreed to make ANOTHER payment over the phone and the check I'd mailed would just go in as extra. But four times in an hour! That seems a little obsessive to me and I was definitely ready to tell them so if they called back again.
3 people like this
10 responses
@SIMPLYD (90727)
• Philippines
17 Feb 12
It's a good thing that they would just call you on the phone. Here in the Philippines, some of them would go to the house of the credit card holder sometimes in the guise of a policeman. But now, a lot of credit card holder already knows that those collecting agents cannot sue you, as they were said to be saying to the delinquent credit card holders. So, some would simply just ignore them or would report them to the police for public nuisance and harassment.
1 person likes this
• Australia
17 Feb 12
Hi and a happy day to all! It happens to all collection agencies and your not the only who experiencing it. Many are so frustrated about it until they want to transfer to other houses and change everything telephone numbers and all. Personally, i think you have to do a search in your area, a government institution i think where you can report that collection agency for harassing you. It is really annoying and you want you life back. Collection agency do that for a reason. They want money. They get a percentage of the collection and they are getting their salaries thru collections. But it doesnt mean they need to harass you all the time. Enjoy your day.
16 Feb 12
If you're not answering, they'll keep trying. Personally, I tell them I won't discuss it on the phone because I want a written record of everything. And I just keep repeating it until they give up and write. As someone else said, there are usually rules about this stuff. In the case of bad credit (i.e. if it's gone to collection and an agency is calling you on behalf of the credit card company), you can usually tell them to get lost. You don't owe them anything: you owe the card company. Alternatively, answer the phone and when they say it's a collections thing, just place the phone on a flat surface and leave it there. They can run up their phone bill and you don't have to listen to it.
1 person likes this
@prinzcy (32326)
• Malaysia
17 Feb 12
Why should you make another payment when one was already on the way? If it's my case, I would be pissed off. Financial is not an issue that I take lightly. I make sure I manage to pay things according to priority and if I were force to pay more than I can manage, I would flip. If I pay one bill more than I should and I were not making much money at that time, I'll miss another bill and that will cause another trouble.
@Java09 (3075)
• United States
16 Feb 12
They are harrassing you .I get calls like that,I think you can report them for harrassing you.They think if they constantly call it's gonna make you pay them.What I did to get rid of some of themis I recorded a greeting on my voice mail that makes the annoying noise and says "the number you dialed is disconnected". It works.Got it from youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BVbyCZXc5s&list=FL8MEMKMTvTatrbCjyWX3eSA&index=12&feature=plpp_video
@vexxus (712)
• Philippines
16 Feb 12
That's very clever, this is a nice ringtone too, I am trying this one, so funny I bet those caller would think they have really dialed the wrong number, and wont bother you anymore.
@Java09 (3075)
• United States
17 Feb 12
It really does work.I get less spam garbage calls.It makes them think your phone is disconnected,they believe it.Then they don't call anymore. I did a search one day on you tube,on how to get rid of collection agency callers and found that video.
@megamatt (14292)
• United States
17 Feb 12
People can really be pushy when they want money. And given the amount of credit card companies who are having people who have not been had many people making payments, racking up loads of debt that will never be paying, to a certain extent I can rather see why they might be a little harsh. Granted it will seem rather agitating to the rest of us, who do make their payments. Of course, I think that we can all agree that if you already did send off a payment, then they just should leave in along. If that has been verified, it is going right to making sure someone has their obligation and also to the level of harassment. It is a very fine line and sometimes they get a bit heavy handed about what they do to collect on people's obligations. They can get down right irritating for sure.
@lilaclady (28207)
• Australia
16 Feb 12
How annoying can they be, here in Australia we have a "no call registry" that when you register it makes it illegal for companies to call you, which really works well, I was getting stressed out with it all before the registry started up.
@deeeky (3667)
• Edinburgh, Scotland
16 Feb 12
They have a one track mind to try and get a sale of some sort. There are means to stop the harrasment and it is best to use them for your own benifit. Have a great day from Deeeky
@cher913 (25782)
• Canada
16 Feb 12
here in canada, there are rules regarding collection calls. not more than once a day etc. it might be worth doing some research into this.
@loonys (418)
16 Feb 12
If you do not answer the phone they have to try to get on you. Its their job after all. They can not get money from you unless you give them your money(or their money). Did they say that if you do not pay now it will show as late payment?