Listen,
Let me clear up all the garbage on this discussion board coming from a GC employee. First of all, I didn't read everything so I'll only reply for a couple things to get everyone back on the same page.
First of all any of your so-called "do-not-call" lists don't apply to collection agencies because these very "do-not-call" lists are to stop sales and solicitation attempts, telemarketing attempts and other similar phone calls. Collection calls are quite the opposite. We're not trying to sell you anything and wouldn't want to anyway because we know what happens when people sell you stuff... you don't pay your dues... that's why you are in a collection office in the first place. So let's throw out all the "do-not-call" list stuff.
Secondly. going to the neighbors... "a nearby" so called within the office, is often simply a last-ditch effort to contact the debtor because of one of several reasons. 1) The phone number provided by the person is no longer in service (especially frequent when they are in collections after holding a credit card for several years and the number is just an old number) 2) No answer after repeated messages left. The collector at this time will attempt a different method to confirm that the number is the correct number because some people will not return a phone call if it is simply a wrong number. So, we ask the neighbors... "Hey, do you know Jane and John Doe next door at 125 Main Street? Can you please get them an important message for me because I'm having trouble getting in contact with them?" This is for their benefit! If we don't contact them and no voluntary payment arrangements are made they will most likely be sued! Help your neighbors!
Third. Of course we are going to call ex-boyfriends and ex-girlfriends and aunts and uncles and moms and dads and friends and sisters. The computer system we use allows us to put in the debtors SSN and find their address, last known number, family relatives, associates and nearby. These are the people physically closest to and with the most influence with, the debtor. Us, from our call center in 1 location will never be able to get John and Jane Doe on the phone without first poking at their curiosity or outright annoying them, or unfortunately, after friends and family pressure them into calling! They bring this upon themselves! First, if they would pay their bill there would be no collection calls in the first place but secondly, if they would answer the collection call and not tuck tail and hide then we can make arrangements and everything will be much more cordial! If they do choose to tuck tail and hide then we must find an alternate method to contact them, which means going to those who know the debtor because they will tell them to call! Wouldn't you call back (finally) if your mom, aunt, second cousin and neighbor gave you a message to call Tom Collector at [protected]? (made up number)? If not, what about if they told you two or three times? Eventually, you'll call back out of frustration and then the arrangements can be made! Don't forget these people signed a contract, have gone 90 plus days in default of that contract, avoided the direct attempts by their creditor to make arrangements with them and then finally had their account put into collections. They are no such innocent victims! I saw the word harassment thrown around a couple times... harassment? What if you lent out someone $20,000 to be used to help start their business and then they stop paying you back? AND THEN... you find out that most of the money was used at places like blockbuster and ruby tuesday... business expenses? So not only have they failed to repay per the terms of the contract, they misused the money! Of course, this specific example applies only to business cards but the general idea behind it can be used for all collection accounts! Enough said... remember.. pay your bill and you won't have to worry about any of this in the first place! It's that simple... and if something happens in your life dramatic which prevents you from doing so... stay in touch! Tell your creditor what is happening! Don't just go into hiding... what do you expect them to think? What would you think? Exactly.
Let's not forget who failed to pay their bill on time in the first place... let's not forget who went 90+ days without paying their card... you debtors think your such innocent victims but if you'd simply pay your bill then you wouldn't be in this situation, would you? And most of these posts are embellished for dramatic purposes. There is absolutely no cursing or threatening or anything like that. The calls are monitored by the client (the creditor you actually owe) and if they are not satisfied with the service or find gross negligence and failure to apply the FDCPA... they will end the contract with GC Services. Be honest guys...
- GC Employee
Wouldn't work. If you are or were a bill collector you should know that once the account comes up after searching by phone number the collector is naturally going to ask who you are. And if you are not the person they are looking for, not always, but most of the time they will remove the number without you explaining how to do it. The only time these numbers are not removed are when there is a doubt about the validity of the claim of a wrong number. If everyone could just say wrong number and have their numbers removed, then collections wouldn't work now would they?
- GC Employee
