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  1. #1
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Jacksonville, Fl
    Posts
    2

    Default Harrasing Phone Calls

    My question involves a consumer law issue in the State of: Florida

    I have a problem I currently have a car and like most people I have fallen a little behind, I make payment whenever I can something the full amount sometimes half. This past month my car company has called me non stop. Home, work, cell and email. I want to know who many times can they call me in one day? Can they call me my family and ask them questions about me? Should I just return the care and save myself a headache. Any advice is useful at this time.

  2. #2

    Default Re: Harrasing Phone Calls

    In Florida they're allowed to call up to 7 times per day if they don't reach YOU (they talk to someone else, or get no answer, or voicemail, etc.). They can call and speak to YOU once per day. They can call from 8am to 9pm, 7 days a week.

    If you don't want them to call numbers OTHER than home, the law says they have to honor that request, but PUT IT IN WRITING and send it CERTIFIED MAIL - otherwise if they violate the request it'll be your word against theirs as to whether the request was ever made or not. Once you ask them not to contact you at ANY number, that sends out the big red flag that you have NO intent to pay, ever, and you'll get bumped to the escalated collections/repo stack ASAP.

    They can ask questions that give them information about where, when, or how to reach you, and some will ask questions trying to ascertain if you are working (to help them decide whether or not to put you in the "repo" pile or the "keep trying" pile - and every company is different about this). If you can give some idea of what other kinds of questions they might be asking, I'll be happy to have someone who works in industry regulation take a look at them.

    Bottom line is, if you're behind, you'll get calls. Most collectors don't actually MAKE the calls - their computers do - so the 5th rep on the line usually has no idea that you've gotten 4 earlier calls that day. All they know is that their phone rings (computer calls you and rings THEIR phone to answer at the same time) and your account shows up on their screen. They enter the result (made contact, no answer, etc.) and the computer determines whether to stop calls to you for that day (with a contact) or to put you back in the queue to try again later (didn't make contact with you) until the number of tries equals 7 (different for other states, but Florida is 7).

    Evasion never helps. They don't "get the hint" that you don't want to talk to them, because the computer doesn't get busy or frustrated, or upset when you cuss out the rep, it just puts your number back on the list and the next call will come shortly with a different rep. So until you actually speak to someone, and the company, based on some conversation with you, changes your status (in collections, on a payment plan, on a special program, etc.), nothing will change. Eventually, once your account is in default for a certain amount of time, they'll repossess or write off the loss and turn it over to yet another agency, for pennies on the dollar, and the calls will start all over again. If you are still with the original creditor, do everything in your power to TALK to them, try to work something out, get the account current as soon as possible, or discuss return of the vehicle - because NO ONE is more cutthroat than the companies who BUY these kinds of debts.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Apr 2009
    Location
    Jacksonville, Fl
    Posts
    2

    Default Re: Harrasing Phone Calls

    Wow this was so detailed I will handle asap. I didnt know they could call me back once they left a message on all numbers of contact. I will find out what is being said to everyone they call. I don't care about the other numbers they call I just don't wany anymore calls at work. My cell and home will do for right now as far as automated I never get those. It is always one person and one person only that call me and it is pretty much no stop. I haven't taken the time to find out how many times they have tried to call in one day.

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