Creditor Phone Harassment

[Douglas Meredith]

I currently live in Houston, Texas. I have been unemployed since 02/2001, due to a lay-off in the computer industry. I am only behind on my truck payments by less than two months, yet I get recorded and personal phone calls demanding payment from Ameri-Credit as many as 6-8 times a day! They have even gone as far as yelling at me on the phone and mocking me for not being able to find a job!

I have explained to them my current situation, I have been activily seeking employment, sending out as many a 15 resumes daily. I finally have some good leads, but the computer/high tech industry has been hard hit recently, and the average time to find a job is 3 1/2 months.

Question:
Can they continue to harrass me daily on the phone? Is there some agency I can report them to, and if so, the next time they call, can I tell the to stop the calls or I will report them to this agency?

 

[vpamelectricman]

IS Americredit your original creditor? I have found that telling tele-credit-whores that I choose not to talk to them, I will only talk to the original creditor and on my terms. I'm not a lawyer but I do know that the law is set up so that you only have to deal with the original creditor. Ameri-Credit is a large company, they have this new multi-million dollar facility located in Arlington I see it every day, it's amazing what they get off of harrassing people like you. If I were you I would call them, don't let them call you, I would give them an exact payback date and amount, then I would give them contact instructions and times to call, if they can't agree to your terms, then you can't agree to theirs, just hang up the phone on them. Another successful thing I've done that was well deserved was to CHASE MANHATTAN the world's biggest group of *******s, I called them and told them my information had changed I gave them a new phone number, to the local police department, and a work number to the county correctional facility, I told them all my old numbers no longer worked, I didn't recieve a call from them for over two months, while they paid some one to track me down back to my original number IDIOTS. Hey creditors are just out for money, you need your money more than them, take care of yourself first

 

[Jeter]

DO NOT HEED THAT ADVICE!! You may be able to get away with trying strong arm tactics on unsecured debt but this is a secured debt! If you try to call and set your own terms at your own leisure you'll watch as your truck gets towed from your driveway. Then you'll have to pay, not only the 2 months in arears, but a penalty plus interest. If you don't pay that within about a weeks time, your truck can get auctioned and you'll be left with nothing but your pride.

The original creditor obviously retained this company to help collect their money. You should call them, yes, however make an amicable payment arrangement with them. Something mutually satisfactory. If they won't talk to you, then try your original creditor. They may be more willing to work with you.

Jeter