Why don't people just answer the phone??!!
By SuzyLong
@SuzyLong (775)
May 22, 2009 2:47pm CST
I know this may annoy some people so please read all before commenting.
I've had enough of people not answering their phones or hanging up when they realise who I am on the phone. You see, I'm a credit controller which is another way of saying I'm a debt collector. It really gets to me sometimes, especially with the way things are, bit what most of these people don't realise is that we can help them. If people are honest with us and tell us they can't afford much, all they have to do is fill in an expenditure form and we can put them on a repayment scheme of £1 a month. If they don't think they owe the money, we can help them put a dispute together. If they are having serious problems money wise, we personally deal with some debt management companies that can give people all the advise and services they need to stay on top of everything.
We don't kick doors in and threaten to take peoples things, we are here to help yet people just won't answer the phone. Then when they are taken to court, they final tell us all the problems they've been having but it's too late because they now have a mark on their credit history for 6 years.
Why do people do this, it really annoys me that we can really help people they just answered the phone and talked to us.
6 people like this
19 responses
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
22 May 09
I think that atleast in the USA people are scared to answer there phones because for the most part people who deal with debt collecting can be quite rude over the phone. I know that the majority of them are not but I think that that is the reason why no one answers the phones. I'm not sure of what the laws are here in the USA when it comes to debt but I do think it stays on the record for 7 years here. I didn't pay debt and I know that I should have, it was a very small debt, but now it's a $1000 dollar debt. The interest rate on it is 18% and while I've been told I can talk that down, I'm not the type of person who can really do that in an effective manner that will get people to hear me. In other words, I get stepped on!
Well I'm sorry that people don't answer the phone but from where I'm standing it seems that you are one of the few that seem to actually want to help... I don't mean to offend, of course this is from my stand point as a person in debt who has had to deal with debt collectors either personally or have heard about them.
1 person likes this
@SomeCowgirl (32191)
• United States
26 May 09
I think that you can do that, when I went to my old banking company to pay on some of my checking debt the lady handed the phone to me for the debt collector to ask me if she could talk to her. She was rude when I misunderstood her, but I was clueless as to why the debt collector was asking to speak to me, in any case... I think you can have a friend or relative help. I appreciate the advice!
@kykidd (6812)
• United States
22 May 09
I don't think there is enough consumer education involved in the world today. People are afraid of what they don't know, and they don't know that if they tell you their situation that they will be relieved. The same goes with sales. I would have these people that no longer were interested in purchasing a car, but instead of picking up the phone and telling me that, they would just let it go to the machine or like you say hang up as soon as they realized who it was.
They could of saved us both some trouble if they would have just answered the phone and said they were no longer interested. I would saved money on phone calls and stamps because I would have taken them off of my list.
People need to be better educated in every day matters instead of a lot of things that are taught in schools.
1 person likes this
@SuzyLong (775)
•
22 May 09
I agree, people should know more about what we can do for them. I actually have a lady that keeps ringing for someone in the office because they are trying to sell something but I always have to say they are busy even if they aren't because they don't want to talk to the person on the phone. I think that is really unfair like you said because it would save everyones time and money being avoided.
1 person likes this
@nekonyanta (892)
• Philippines
23 May 09
I guess there are people who still go by the belief that if you ignore it, then it's not there. 
I haven't had an experience wit credit controllers/debt collectors before since I pay my bills fairly on time but my sister has had enough financial problems in the past that I am quite aware that it is more beneficial for debtors to negotiate with credit collectors. I guess it's just a matter of people's tendency to become quite defensive when it comes to certain matters - debt being one of them.
I haven't had an experience wit credit controllers/debt collectors before since I pay my bills fairly on time but my sister has had enough financial problems in the past that I am quite aware that it is more beneficial for debtors to negotiate with credit collectors. I guess it's just a matter of people's tendency to become quite defensive when it comes to certain matters - debt being one of them. @SuzyLong (775)
•
26 May 09
I've had a few of the debtor's mum's on the phone saying the same thing, their kids thought that by ignoring it, it will either go away or it won't be real. It's a shame because a lot of those people end up going to court and sometimes, their debt doubles in court costs so they are worse off. At least you know to pick up the phone and talk to debt collectors.
@renemouche (843)
• United States
22 May 09
Most people just dont want to be bothered. That is why Im so glad I have caller id. I don't have any reason for a debt collector to be calling me but the person who had my home number before me did. I call these numbers back to tell them that Im not this person and that I just got this number. Some are nice and take me off there list, some think Im lying and continue to call. I don't want to go through the hassle of changing my number that is why I just let it ring everytime I see a 1-877 or 1-800 number pop up.
I understand your point though about people hanging up in your face or if they really have a debt problem not talking to you. The more the message gets out there that you guys can actualy help them, the more I think people would talk to you guys.
@SuzyLong (775)
•
26 May 09
I have the same problem, we had our phone put in when we moved in but for some reason, we get calls for 2 different people and they just kept calling. If they continue to call you, what you can do is tell them that if you get a call from them again, you will go to the police and have them charged with harassment which you can actually do because you have told them that person doesn't live at your address and have in the past asked them to take your number off their system. See how many calls you get after that
@macdingolinger (10386)
• United States
22 May 09
All debt collectors do not work as congenially as your company evidently. Many times I have had bill collectors dunn me for money and tell me things like my children do not deserve Christmas gifts since I owe their company money. Many do not make an effort to work with you they just make unreasonable demands.
@SuzyLong (775)
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26 May 09
They won't speak to you about your son's debt because of the data protection act, if they did talk to you about, they could be taken to court. I have the same problem over a dozen times a day where parents want to know why I'm calling but I can't tell them without their son/daughter's permission. Try sending them a letter from your son's doctor saying that he is unable to pay because of the condition he is in. Fill out a expenditure form to show your expenses so they can see you can't pay and send that as well. They will then have to take notice of what you have been trying to tell them.
@macdingolinger (10386)
• United States
23 May 09
I believe that when we make a debt we should indeed pay it. Occasionally, though many of us over extend our budget. That is something I am working on even now! It's just that so many debt collectors who are truly working for the business, act like they have never been in a similar situation. Right now I am trying to deal with company's on my son's behalf as he is in a nursing home and cannot function. He does not yet speak, cannot grant me "power of attorney" because of his condition. Many collectors act like it's the immortal sin that we cannot pay and will not work with us because I am not on his bill. It's very disturbing and unfair. He's getting all kinds of late charges and they will not even speak to me about his situation. Why should I answer his phone?
@happy6162 (3001)
• United States
23 May 09
I agree with you many of the debt collector just make demands. That is why many people do not answer their phones. The bill collectors are working for a business and the business is their priority. You owe the money and should pay your problems are not theirs.
@lingli_78 (12822)
• Australia
23 May 09
i agree with you... if people just can be honest with their situation, i believe that something can be done to help them... rather than avoiding the situation and running away from it, it makes the situation worst... and as you say, when it comes to the court, it is already too late... i think people just get scared or paranoid when they heard the word debt collector... that's why they try to avoid the calls by not answering the phone... take care and have a nice day...
@heathcliff (1415)
• United States
22 May 09
I agree with a couple of above points: bad experiences have soured alot of people on the collection process. I managed a Rent-To-Own store for awhile (which WAS trying on my soul!) and we had to do our own "collections", even if the company didn't call it that. Sometimes the pressure to be the best "collector" in the store or district made some of my colleagues downright nasty. It is also more difficult to reach people with so many screening calls with answering machines or caller ID. I guess because we are all too busy to talk to people who call "out of the blue". Either way, good luck!
@hollowheart (1572)
• India
23 May 09
Hi Suzy, i know what ur going through. It really hurts. I have seen a lot of peole doing it in fron of me and i feel really bad. Afterall u r doing ur job and not calling on ur personal interst. If they have any thing to say they can atleast speak and say. The same happens to people who r from the credit card sales.
I am not ingterested, but i atleast speak to the person and inform that i am not really interested. I am sure that the person wouldnt feel hurt.
I have been into the customer service sector for 4 yrs now and i know that customers really dont value us.
Thats really sad. But plz dont take it to ur heart.
Look positively and keep moving on.
Life afterall is not a bed of roses but a net of thorns and we need to move through it to reach a single rose.
I hope u would agree to that.
@mikeysmom (2088)
• United States
22 May 09
pardon me, but i find it real hard to believe that you want to help people. i have never spoken to a bill collector that was anything but rude and ruthless. and by the way they were calling my home to try to go after my ex-brother-in-law and it had nothing to do with us at all. so it is intrusive. he never lived here so how did they get my phone number and what gives them the right to harrass me?? and also if you are in this kind of business you should not take it personally if people hang up or do not want to talk to you. it is your job not your life. sorry to be so frank but there are some real bloodsuckers out there doing these so called collections.
@SuzyLong (775)
•
26 May 09
I do want to help people, when I was having really bad money problems because both my partner and I lost our jobs, I had no idea where to turn until I started working here. I just want people to know what help they can get. They shouldn't of harrassed you at all if he had never lived there. The only way they would of had your details was if he'd given them as his own details.
@GemmaR (8517)
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23 May 09
I think the issue is that people are afraid. They will know the mess they've got themselves into, but will be too scared to face it.
They don't understand that you can help them; they just see you as the bad guys who will have bad things done to them if they don't pay you the money that they owe.
Take it from someone with experience, they're just scared.
And, a lot of debt collecters can be very unplesant on the phone as well, which is another reason many people might not be too thrilled at the prospect of answering it.
@kvasis23 (32)
•
23 May 09
I had worked as credit manager and I know how it is. When people need loan they will do everything to get it, they will call you to get this loan quicker. But when they are having some problems with payng back this loan they will not contact you, they think that there will be some consequences if they will be cought by loan administrators, debt collectors or so on. They just hope that maybe nothing will happen.
@SuzyLong (775)
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26 May 09
I know what you mean, if people are just honest as soon as something happens that means they can't pay, they will be surprised at what some companies will do. Some I know myself won't help but at least contact has been made and they know the situation. If anyone does get problems with creditors and debt collection companies like that, they can go to a debt management company that will help by taking over the situation for you.
@CJscott (4187)
• Portage La Prairie, Manitoba
23 May 09
Sadly, it is a perception thing, you are perceived as a bad person. I know you are not, I always answer my phone, even when the person on the other end is someone I do not want to talk to. Usually my mother in law, not the debt guys, I know the debt callers can help. I learned by answering the phone and getting yelled at by my mom, but I did get them to give her an extension, which she blew, but that is my mom. Cheers.
@SuzyLong (775)
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26 May 09
Thank you for that, I agree with what you said about how debt collectors are perceived but most of the time it is from word of mouth from someone who had a bad experience as I was the same. When I started here I did nothing but ask questions on my first day and found out so much that helped me get back on track. If I hadn't got this job, I think i'd still be in really bad money trouble.
@lelin1123 (15595)
• Puerto Rico
22 May 09
Well I know of a stituaton where my son-in-law was behind on his credit card bill. When a guy called about the bill he explained that he didn't have the money and was out of work living with his in-laws. When he got a job he would start paying again, and that he was actively looking for a job. Do you know that person would call him 5 to 6 times a day if not more threatening him. Saying things like "you call yourself a man, a father your not either one". He was down right nasty. He acted like the money came out of his pocket. So once you get one bad apple like that I know he would never talk to a person from a collection agency again. They are not all nice like you.
@SuzyLong (775)
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26 May 09
They have no right to talk to anyone like that and if they do it again, ask to speak to their manager and file a complaint telling them that you want a copy of their complaint procedure and your complaint so that if you get another call like it, you will go to the police.
@Speedfalcon (32)
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22 May 09
Man, I would hate to be in your shoes right now! With the whole of the downturn hitting hard, especially on the UK economy, most people will try to stand clear of people like you. People hang up on you because they have the bad image of the debt collector stored in their mind.
@Sandra1952 (6047)
• Spain
22 May 09
I think the real problem is that many people who are in debt are in denial. Speaking to you means admitting that they can't manage their finances. These days, anyone can fall into debt, but the secret is to do something about it before it gets to the stage where debt colectors have to be called in. However, doing that means admitting the problem. Hopefully the current situation will make people realise that there is no shame in owing money, as long as you acknowledge the problem and do something about it other than burying your head in the sand.
@SuzyLong (775)
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26 May 09
That is very true, I have a few friends that have come to me saying they have a final letter from a debt company and don't know what to do. When I ask if they have tried talking to them, they said they just ignored it and hoped it would go away. They are so silly because it doesn't go away and the debt could end up doubling if it goes to court
@xprincessx (99)
• Malaysia
23 May 09
its really annoying and frustrated when someone not answering the phone..i hate this..but cant be denied that some people really like to do that..but i really don't know why..
