For the past several days I've been playing phone tag with a guy who works for an attorney's office. I had two credit cards. One has been working with me, the other won't. I send in pymts here and there, but never enough to catch up. Well apparently they went and sold it to this firm. So now this schmoe from this lawyer's office has been trying to get ahold of me. I don't know how, but they found my grandmother's phone number. I haven't lived with her since 1992. She didn't feel comfortable giving him my in-laws phone no. but did give him my cell phone number. Which is fine, I don't know how he got her number, but I didn't want to drag my in-laws into this. Hell at this time, I wasn't even sure what this was about.

So he left me a message on my cell. I tried to call him back, left one message. I tried three times over the next week. My grandmother calls me on friday and stated he had called again. So I tried once more, but got his vmail again. Then on Tuesday he called her again, this time he got very rude and heavy handed. He apparently didn't want to believe her that I wasn't there and tried to have her tell him my work number. I got a very disturbing message on my cell, from her. She was on the brink of tears and totally confused as to why he wouldn't believe her. I was and still am PISSED!

I left three messages before going to work yesterday. Each indicating they have no business calling her, let alone being rude. I adv. the schmoe that if he ever calls her again, I would go into further debt and get a lawyer and they would end up owing me money. That evening after I got off work, was a concillatory message from schmoe, asking that I call him.

I call him this morning, he then resumes his bad-ass routine. I won't go into the details but with the interest and such it's a pretty big sum. I just got my job 3 weeks ago. Still I offered him $100 a month. He rejected it. They aim to resolve these things in a few months. I adv. that was all I had and hung up. Took a few deep breaths and then called my wife, we talked about it, she suggested I try again and ask that I stay calm. I called him again and asked if I could get some money together what address would i send it too. He wouldn't give me one, unless I entered into an official agreement with him and as far as that goes he wouldn't give me any idea how much. But if he wants to get this done in a few months, well it probably won't be possible on my end. I told him I would have to talk about it with my wife and ended the conversation. At least this time I didn't slam the phone, or yell.

My question is this just how bad can an outfit like this get? I offered the same stuff I offered the original card co. and they're refusing it. Is that normal or what? Am I truly screwed or are they just playing big dog? Any help would be appreciated.

I have never had such an experience, but what has happened is your debt has been sold to a collection agency for cents on the dollar - for example, lets say you owe $1000 - the card company may have sold the debt for $500. Now the collection agency must reclaim at least $500 to break even and will attempt to get the full $1000. They have to be heavy handed to reclaim the debt or they are losing money.

Tell the guy to go screw himself - there isn't anything much he can do apart from send reports to the credit bureaus, which if you've been deliquent on the debt already is on the reports anyway. It's not like you owe the mafia money - they can't break your legs.

You should read up on the net about it because you do have rights and they are not allowed to harrass you or call you at your place of work. They are banking on you being intimidated, if you empower yourself with facts they will have no power to do that.

I believe you can get some kind of arrangement setup thru the courts to stop all the calls, basically if you can pay something each month then you can get it resolved. Also there is bankrupcy - if you file then all these debts just get washed away, although they did recently change the bankrupcy laws so I'm not sure what impact that has.

I've been through this before and it ain't fun. But, it's against the law to harass you over a debt. There are credit counseling agency's you can talk to, to help with making arrangements for payments. This is supposed to help with stopping the calls, etc. You make the call and speak with a counselor and go over your debt(s). If your income is sufficient, then you can make arrangements that can end up with only one payment per month for your debt(s). This collection agency can not refuse because they will be getting paid...maybe not in the time frame they demand, but oh well. Look into it. My first husband and I did this but we were so far into debt, the counselor said the only way out was bankruptcy. But it doesn't sound like you're in that bad of a situation so you have a chance to better your credit. There is help out there. And if this schmoe, as you call him, calls you again tell him you're getting help with this...it'll make his day! And as for your grandmother, tell her if he calls again to just hang up. Don't speak to him at all. I'm sure there is somewhere you can turn for this...she doesn't need the aggravation. The credit counselor should know how to stop it.

You should read up on the net about it because you do have rights and they are not allowed to harrass you or call you at your place of work. They are banking on you being intimidated, if you empower yourself with facts they will have no power to do that.

Right. And if they keep violating the harrassment laws tell them that you're going to be filing a complaint with the local bar association or the state supreme court (that's usually who regulates the lawyers). And then do it!

I would just like to add try and record any phone calls and if your realy lucky you will get threatend that shit is always great in court

if you record the calls be sure to tell him that they are being recorded otherwise it's illegal.

Tell him all calls are being logged and recorded - even if they are not. Also tell him that if he harrasses any family members they will press charges against him personally for harrassment & threatening behavior.

Figure this guy has 500 cases on his desk - who is he going to mess with first - the guy who shits his pants everytime he calls or the guy who knows his rights and threatens him right back?

You can take solace that anybody who has that type of job must hate life.

if you record the calls be sure to tell him that they are being recorded otherwise it's illegal.

Tell him all calls are being logged and recorded - even if they are not. Also tell him that if he harrasses any family members they will press charges against him personally for harrassment & threatening behavior.

Figure this guy has 500 cases on his desk - who is he going to mess with first - the guy who shits his pants everytime he calls or the guy who knows his rights and threatens him right back?

You can take solace that anybody who has that type of job must hate life.

Do you have the inside line on FT's place of employment? :banana: