Turn the tables on the debt collectors here is how: Debt collection companies are businesses just like any other, whether non-profit or not, and they need to collect on their accounts in order to satisfy investors, cover expenses and pay their people. To accomplish this, they need methods to "close sales" through sales agents. We know them as collection agents. The caller is trying to close a sale by convincing you to make a payment.
The caller wants you to make payment over the phone while giving confidential information that can be used against you later to forcibly collect money without your consent. Did you realize that cooperating with the caller is totally voluntary and within your control? Did you know that the callers attempting to collect are following a script and using sophisticated software to monitor and record your responses? You can use this knowledge to gain a substantial advantage over the caller and turn the tables in your favor
Follow these steps:
Step 1: Never discuss the account that they are calling about. Your first concern is to get the caller’s full name, mailing address and phone number.
Step 2: Write this down in a log next to your phone along with the time and date.
Step 3: Next, never, never, never give out any information about yourself to the caller; not your address, phone number, banking information, social security number, driver license number, place of employment, nothing.
Step 4: Do not acknowledge the accuracy or inaccuracy of any information they provide.
Step 5: Inform the caller that the conversation is being recorded, that he has the right to remain silent and that anything he says may be used against him in a court of law. Expect him to end the call at that point, but be prepared to continue to explain that you do not want to receive any more calls from this organization and that any further calls will constitute harassment and a class 1 misdemeanor under state law. Explain that if anyone calls you again from his organization, that you will hold him personally responsible and file a written complaint for telephone harassment against him individually with the state attorney general’s office.
Step 6: Tell the caller that you are requesting a validation of the disputed account. Never indicate that you refuse to pay.
Step 7: Next, request a copy of their "do not call policy" as required by the Federal Telephone Solicitations Act.
Step 8: Send the collector the request for validation and the notice to stop telephone communications
Doing these things will go a long way to cease the collection efforts of collectors with out actually telling them to cease and desist.
