CC Phone Calls

dochand · #1 06-09-2004, 10:09 PM

Just received the green card for my VOD/CPN package sent to MBNA.

They continue to call me at home, the office and on my cell.

I have not taken any of the calls as yet. I wanted to be in posession of certain proof that they had first received the package.

Now, my question is - Do I take the calls or continue to ignore them?

If I do take the calls, what should be said to them?

I wish to remain in honor and not argue. If I continue to not take the calls, does this put me in dishonor?

I know that they are going to ask why I stopped paying and when I will be remitting my next payment. So I'm looking for the proper procedure here.

Not looking for legal advice, just some ideas on the topic.

Doc

wirlwind · #2 06-09-2004, 11:16 PM

Doc,

If you take a phone call from them, ask for the name of the person that is calling, their address, their supervisor's name, and then tell them that they are not to call you anymore- to keep all communication in writing. They may tell you that you will have to put it in writing. don't answer any of their questions- after you have told them to quit calling, and gotten their information, tell them to have a nice day and hang up. Richard Cornforth says to start telling them all of your personal problems like sicknesses and aches and pain and about corns and bunyons until they start trying to get off. Ask them for their home phone number so you can give them a call sometime and "shoot the breeze". Be as rediculous as you want, but don't answer any of their questions! It can really be a lot of fun. I described a "problem" I had with toe jam and belly button lint once until they hung up on me. They have never called back either.

Donna

dochand · #3 06-09-2004, 11:28 PM

Thanks for your response Donna!

My thoughts are concerned with staying in honor with all this.

So, I wanted to know if I 'must' take the call to say in honor, or can I just ignore the call when I see it come in on caller ID?

Of course, I really don't want to take the call, but if I 'must' to stay in honor, then I will. And I will take your suggestion into serious consideration - especially since it sounds like great fun!

Thanks again!

I'm still open for suggestions and thought regarding my questions.

Doc

RICKY · #4 06-09-2004, 11:44 PM

DOC,

FIRST, MANY OF THE CALLS ARE COMPUTER GENERATED AND THERE WILL BE A COUPLE SECONDS OF SILENCE PRIOR TO THE PHONER GETTING ON THE LINE. I SAY HELLO TWICE AND THEN HANG UP. IF I RECOGNIZE THAT IT IS A CCC ON THE IDENTIFIER, I LET THE MESSAGE MACHINE ANSWER WHICH WILL ASK ANYONE CALLING TO LEAVE A MESSAGE AND I WILL GET BACK TO THEM. THAT KEEPS ME IN HONOR BECAUSE I CAN'T BE HOME ALL THE TIME TO CATCH THEIR CALLS. THEY NEVER LEAVE A MESSAGE. EARLY ON I SPOKE WITH A FEW AND JUST TOLD THEM TO READ THE MAIL I'D SENT THEM REGARDING NOT CALLING ME. EVENTUALLY THEY COMPLIED.

NOW WE ARE CORRESPONDING BY SNAIL MAIL. I KEEP ASKING THE QUESTIONS I NEED ANSWERED, THEY KEEP AVOIDING AND THREATENING. THE THREATS RANGE FROM STATING THAT THEY WILL NOT CORRESPOND WITH ME ANY FURTHER ON THE MATTER AT MY REQUEST (WHICH WAS NOT MY REQUEST UNLESS THEY COULDN'T VERIFY THE ALLEGED DEBT) TO THEY WERE TAKING FURTHER ACTION.

YOU AND I ARE IN THE SAME TURN OF THE RACETRACK RIGHT NOW I THINK.

LATER,

RICKY

wirlwind · #5 06-09-2004, 11:46 PM

You can take their call to remain in honor, and simply tell them not to call you on the phone again- to keep all communication in writing-- but still don't answer any of their questions. Tell them to have a nice day and hang up. Once you have told them to keep all communications in writing, you don't have to answer anything. You haven't refused to communicate with them, you have simply stated the way you will communicate with them. I just can't resist aggravating them- they've aggravated me enough.

wirlwind · #6 06-09-2004, 11:55 PM

Ricky is right. By utilizing an answering machine, you have answered the call, and remained in honor. I would probably go ahead and take it once, tell them to communicate in writng (it won't do any good), and then let the answering machine pick up the calls after that. However, if you don't want to answer it, let the answering machine "answer" it. I don't think it really matters. I do what I feel like, and sometimes answer just to mess with them and aggravate them.

dochand · #7 06-09-2004, 11:56 PM

Ricky and Donna,

Thanks again for your replies.

I think that I will take the next call and conduct the conversation as you have suggested.

Yes, Ricky, I feel that we are on the same turn and getting closer to the finish line! I'm with ya buddy!

Donna - LOL - I love your approach of giving back some of the aggravation that they cause us. I realize that they are just 'doing their job' but we know that we 'have to do our job too!'

I cherish the thought that we are, as a group, seeing more and more success with the knowledge that we have been accumulating in our journey. I trust that we will all continue to succeed and look forward to reading of your successes as much as I will posting mine!

Here's to us all - CHEERS!

Doc

wirlwind · #8 06-10-2004, 12:02 AM

Doc,

I'll second that!

Donna

dashboy · #9 06-10-2004, 03:35 AM

Should my responses differ to creditors attempting to get me to collect in full or make a payment on a debt be any different that the responses to third party debt collectors once I have tendered a CPN??

dashboy

Ice · #10 06-10-2004, 04:04 AM

dochand,

Try this: You answer, they start talking, you say hold on a minute... put the phone down and walk away.

How much money do you think they will spend on phone bills to collect what they claim you owe?

You don't have to answer YOUR PHONE. It's your property. It doesn't matter who is calling. You can do what you want with your property. Since it is yours, you are not REQUIRED to answer it when it rings. So, HOW COULD YOU BE IN DISHONOR BY NOT ANSWERING THEIR CALLS? You can't.

Your VOD should state very clearly that you require that all further communication be in writing... and that means they have dishonored your request if they call -- so why should you feel obligated to answer a call from someone that would so readily move into dishonor?

Isn't the request for all communication in writing for one of "protection" of rights (yours and theirs) and to insure adherence to the LAW by both parties? Well, if they are CALLING you then they must be wanting to make sure they can avoid protection of rights (probably want to trample on yours) and avoid adherence to the LAW (they think you don't know what they are lawfully allowed or not allowed to do). The previous stated fact should make it clear to you that they are in dishonor by not honoring your request to keep all communication in writing.

SO RUN THEIR PHONE BILL UP!!

"Would you mind holding on just a minute? Thank you." Walk away. Let them sweat it out and pay their phone bill.