I got a call from 800 888 2238.

[jendaby]

I am so furious I am shaking! Absolutely furious

Comments

[heliograph]

You really should screen your calls. I do.

[jendaby]

Our phone service is via our cable line. If someplace doesn't indicate who they are on caller ID, there isn't a way to screen.

But, in future, I will hang up as soon as I hear an automated message, to be sure.

[heliograph]

In the good old days of screening (which you remember, right?), you'd wait until they started to leave a message, find out who it was, and then pick up. But without an answering machine, alas. No Caller ID = Do Not Answer. As far as I know you have to request blocking your caller ID, so it is almost never anyone you want to talk with. This may not be true with cell phones, though, I dunno. If I don't know who's calling, though, I do not answer. If it is important they'll leave a message. If they leave a phone number, then you can Google them.

[whulfdan]

Why do I get the feeling that women have to put up with that shit more than men do?

[heliograph]

According to collections people, shouting at women increases you chances of collecting, but shouting at men decreases your chances. With guys, you don't threaten them, you threaten their credit rating.

[jendaby]

Geez. How sexist is that?! I used to work at a call center where people would phone in for information about student loans. Our company restructured and I was sent to the department where non-payers were contacted (I was mostly on the call receiving end when people wanted information). Sometimes, they had us make calls, but we were NEVER mean to people. We had a script - which was just "Did you know you were overdue? Okay, well we don't want you to default, so let's see what we can work out." and then we would see if they were eligible for deferments or reduced payments or whatnot. That's why it boggles the mind so much when these people are so nasty.

Heh - and I felt like a guilty scumbag for working in the default prevention department! I don't think the people who work for these harassing debt collectors actually have souls.

[whulfdan]

I figured it was some sort of tripe like that.

[whulfdan]

"Oh, my GOD! Who the HELL do you think you are? The Queen of New York!?"

I'll bet there's a few drag queens you could fight for the title!!

[jendaby]

If I hadn't been so shocked by her conduct, I would have said "No, I am an American citizen who has the right to know why I am being charged this amount, and what for."

As far as fighting people for a title? Nah. I wouldn't want the publicity anyway.

[dianora2]

You need to stop answering the phone, seriously.

They teach them those harrassment skills so you'll just pay the money so you don't have to get yelled at anymore. It's evil.

[jendaby]

It is evil. And, yes, I should stop answering the phone. I have received so many weird and/or unpleasant phone calls, especially in the past decade, that I am sometimes surprised I don't have a phobia.

I just don't want to know what kind of person actually chooses to work a job like that. I'm sure some of them are just trying to make ends meet, but the woman yesterday was definitely not a good person.

[heliograph]

You might find this helpful:

http://www.privacyrights.org/fs/fs27-debtcoll.htm

[jendaby]

That is very helpful, thanks! Now I wonder if I should answer the next time they call so as to get the contact information. I wish I had with the woman yesterday.