I did the same thing and the response was immediate to stop the abusive behaviors. Like you most debt collectors just hang up. Those who stayed on immediately changed their tone of voice and behavior. I would advise anyone receiving verbally abusive, harassing, or threatening phone calls from debt collection calls buy a cheap telephone recording device and to use it when they call. When they inform you at the mini-Miranda point interrupt them and tell them that you too are now recording all debt collection calls. It's the most powerful tool any debtor can use.
What a great idea -- record them. Reading these comments, there are so many examples of abuse, it seems like this Consumer Protection agency ought to have gotten the message thus far: the phones are used to harass. The only way to get this to stop is to put some teeth into the laws through civil fines, not put the onus on the consumer to have to sue.
Thank you for your comments and suggestions, Gevian. CFPB doesn’t have legal authority over absolutely every aspect of debt collection, and rules about collection litigation are a complicated mix of state law and federal law. But as CFPB moves to the next stage (coming up with specific proposals for new rules), it will be carefully considering what you and other commenters say here. We hope you will continue to participate in the discussion.
Cindy L.
1
I did the same thing and the response was immediate to stop the abusive behaviors. Like you most debt collectors just hang up. Those who stayed on immediately changed their tone of voice and behavior. I would advise anyone receiving verbally abusive, harassing, or threatening phone calls from debt collection calls buy a cheap telephone recording device and to use it when they call. When they inform you at the mini-Miranda point interrupt them and tell them that you too are now recording all debt collection calls. It's the most powerful tool any debtor can use.
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gmt512
2
What a great idea -- record them. Reading these comments, there are so many examples of abuse, it seems like this Consumer Protection agency ought to have gotten the message thus far: the phones are used to harass. The only way to get this to stop is to put some teeth into the laws through civil fines, not put the onus on the consumer to have to sue.
View this comment in the discussion thread
Moderator
3
Thank you for your comments and suggestions, Gevian. CFPB doesn’t have legal authority over absolutely every aspect of debt collection, and rules about collection litigation are a complicated mix of state law and federal law. But as CFPB moves to the next stage (coming up with specific proposals for new rules), it will be carefully considering what you and other commenters say here. We hope you will continue to participate in the discussion.
View this comment in the discussion thread