How to avoid creditor phonecalls?

martinjohn

Ive just missed my first payment of what will likely be many. i want to communicate with creditors in writing only. i dont want them calling as other people live in the house and i dont want to have to change the phone number. I will be going on a DMP soon but I will be starting to miss payments this month.

Do you think its best that right from the offset so they get the idea and i ignore the first PHONECALLS from creditors and communicate with them in writing only?

OR/
At the same time i want them to agree to a DMP arangment so i dont want to get in their bad books, is it best to first "give them a chance" over the phone?

bottleofred

Hi Martinjohn,

Don't phone them as they will phone you repeatedly! Regarding the phonecalls, tell your creditors you only wish to communicate in writing and put the phone down. Then send the letter below

Dear Sirs,

Account No: XXXXXXXX

I am writing in relation to the quantity and frequency of telephone calls that I have received from your company, which I deem to be personally harassing. I have verbally requested that these stop, but I am still receiving calls and I now require all further correspondence from your company to be made in writing only. I am of the view that your continued harassment of me by telephone puts you in breach of Section 40 of the Administration of Justice Act 1970, and the Protection from Harassment Act 1997.

If you continue to harass me by telephone, you will also be in breach of the Communications Act (2003) s.127 and I will report you to OFCOM, Trading Standards and The Office of Fair Trading, meaning that you will be liable to a substantial fine. Be advised that any further telephone calls from your company may be recorded and used in evidence and I expect this harassment to cease immediately.

Yours faithfully

martinjohn

thanks bottle, im sure i will need that soon!

ok so you think i shouldnt even verbally let them know im in trouble, i guess their is little point in explaining the situation over the phone, as i hear on these boards they are basically not interested and just want payment when collections call. So their is probably no advantage of acknoledging that i am "Home",
I.e. whenever they call i will simply say, "That person is not available to take your call". Is there anyway i can somehow acknowledge im not even contactable on this number. Like ive moved out, but then theyd want a new address?

Or/

Am i doing myself no favors by ignoring this medium of communication altogether?

Jinx

I havent spoken to any of my creditors in 6 years of doing my own DMP. As soon as I stopped making the payments and sent the letters I changed my number, went x-directory and havent given it to creditors. Communicate regularly by letter re circumstance changes etc.

Basically it was to ensure they couldnt harass me and has made my life much easier.... plus no embarassing calls for my daughter or visitors to hear!

chuckley

Its the DCA's its best not to deal with by phone. credit card/bank people tend to listen when you phone them, although they'l ask for 'proof' by post like income/expenditure form, e.t.c.

my mobile isnt on atm so they call the landline, i just dont pick up. if u do fone them, 141 first!!!!!!