Telephonic script to stop debt collectors from calling
Telephonic script to stop debt collectors from calling
Debt collectors calling repeatedly over phone and employing unreasonable and unethical tactics to extract payments from you is tantamount to harassment. The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) is enforced by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) and private attorneys to ensure a fair and ethical collection of debt.
The first call from debt collectors can unnerve you. But a careful planning of the script for you to use to speak over the phone with debt collectors can ensure their stopping their calls to you. Keep writing equipment ready near the phone and start as soon as you get a call.
Scene 1: Debt collector calls
Ask for debt validation letter. Be very polite to debt collector and use clear sentences without promising or committing on anything. You may inform the debt collector that you are willing to sort the matter out but would like everything sorted out in writing. Now, start playing the game and ask for debt collector's name and spelling of the name, write it down along with last name. Do not falter or hesitate to get mailing address and proceed to write that down.
There are chances of debt collector refusing but again politely tell that without knowing who and from where the call is from, you cannot proceed under the FDCPA USC 15 Section 809(a). If he does not cooperate, simply hang up.
If he narrates his name and other details thank him and tell him that under the FDCPA USC 15 Section 809(a) you will expect a written contact from him within five days. At this point hang up telling him that you would resolve the issue after receiving the written contact. You should also mention to him that under the FDCPA he should not contact you over the phone unless he does not receive a letter from you.
Scene 2: Debt collector calls and had sent you a letter previously.
You may start the conversation expressing your concern about solving the matter and about having received a latter from him. Do ask for name here and if he does not give name you may ask him to stop calling immediately and hang up.
Once he identifies his name take the complete name along with the name of the place where he works. Thank him for the information and proceed to tell him that you would be writing to them shortly to clarify the matter and would not solicit his calls until then.
You can politely ask him to stop phone calls and wait until he receives your written communication regarding the debt within five days. You may hang up at this point.
Scene 3: The calls do not stop
Even after using the above scripts the calls continue, repeat the above procedure of taking name and company name of the caller. Write down the date and time along with these. Inform the caller that you had already spoken to a different caller before or himself before, and that a written communication would shortly reach their office. You may inform them firmly but without any rashness that they need to discontinue the calls and you would work with them on the matter once they send all the proofs of their claims. You may also tell them that any further calls from them would mean a breaking of the federal law under the FDCPA USC 15 Section 806(5)
The agenda behind the above scripts over the phone is to tell debt collectors that you know the FDCPA and your rights under the FDCPA. This is a lesson to them that they cannot go free by troubling you for any reason.