Employee getting collection calls...

[lendaddy]

I've tried being polite and asking them to call during his break or at home but it doesn't stop, so now I give them the "sure, he's in back, let me put you on hold while we go get him." Sometimes I refresh the well after a minute or so with "ok they found him, he should be with you in a moment."

They waste my time, I waste theirs.

[Jims5543]

I just put them on hold until they hang up. We had some calling for a field guy that was never int he office. I used to tell the receptionist to just put them on hold until they hang up.

[Danny_Ocean]

FWIW: It is my understanding that laws involving collection prohibit calling a debtor at their place of employment (or at least not identifying yourself as a collector when placing the call).

On the other hand...If I had a truly "deadbeat" employee, I'd be more concerned about if/how they're ripping me off to pay their debts...

[lendaddy]

Originally Posted by Danny_Ocean

FWIW: It is my understanding that laws involving collection prohibit calling a debtor at their place of employment (or at least not identifying yourself as a collector when placing the call).

On the other hand...If I had a truly "deadbeat" employee, I'd be more concerned about if/how they're ripping me off to pay their debts...

Nope, he's a good guy. But times are tight, the hours aren't there, so bills sometimes get prioritized.

[Jims5543]

LOL!! I get collection calls myself lately. Times are tight and bills go unpaid until I can swing them.

My 1 employee that got collections calls was a great guy. I would never judge him by his inability to pay a bill. He was also on probation for punching a much deserving moron in the face outside a bar. (story has been told on here before)

His probabtion officer tried to get him fired by calling me and asking me if I knew he was on probation. I answered "Yes, because he punched a deserving Jerk in the face and I would have done the same thing, any respectable man would have done the same thing, its too bad the punk he punched was not man enough to admit he had it coming."

The Probation officer was not interested in continuing the conversation.

[Jeff Higgins]

Unless this guy has already proven himself as an exceptional employee, you might want to consider where this could be going. While I am not a business owner, nor in a management position where I have to deal with this (ahm jus' a po' dumb enguneer), my wife comes home with horror stories all too often. She used to be a nurse (and a times like this really wishes she still was) but now rides herd over staff at six clinics here in Washington. Almost a hundred direct reports, so she sees a good variety of folks. When one gets into this kind of trouble it has almost universally escallated to garnishment, which places a significant paperwork burden on her staff. It's usually downhill from there, as other personal problems begin to manifest themselves in the workplace. So unless this guy is already a known commodity, be forewarned, and be careful.

[onewhippedpuppy]

Originally Posted by Danny_Ocean

FWIW: It is my understanding that laws involving collection prohibit calling a debtor at their place of employment (or at least not identifying yourself as a collector when placing the call).

On the other hand...If I had a truly "deadbeat" employee, I'd be more concerned about if/how they're ripping me off to pay their debts...

That was also my understanding. Of course, bill collectors are not known for having a lot of respect for the law (or people in general). I don't believe people should dodge their debts, but the stories I've heard about collection tactics are just disgusting. Many of those guys deserve a punch in the face.

[CRH911S]

Locally, I've heard this sort of thing is regulated. But, then again, I read recently that the city (Anchorage) hired a collection agency to collect unpaid fines. If I understand len correctly asking the callers to call a certain times that seems like the only thing one can do. And I might add len was pleasant in his response. I would have told the guy to deal with this on the employees off-hours and not a work.
FWIW, my son told me a story about this guy he worked with that was *****ing one day about the boss's payroll department f#@king up a court ordered child support payment to the state. Seems to me like this sort of thing shouldn't be a burden on any employer or the tax payer for that matter. What an embarrassment to have to be told to financially support one's own children.

[lendaddy]

Oh garnishments and Friend of the Court paperwork isn't so bad, I get a check from the state for $2.50 for my time [no, I'm not kidding].

[Scott R]

Back in 1996 I worked for a small computer company, we had a great tech that just couldn't get his affairs in order. The collection people would call at least five times a day looking for him, so we used a bank of modems we were designing, and we war dialed the collection office for a two days. They had to change numbers, and tried calling again, we again brought their phone system to a halt.

They threatened to sue us (the company) however we had a commercial license to test this product as an automated dial out system. Then they got nasty and threw a brick through our window. Sure we antagonized them, but all they had to do was stop calling. These people are scary times 10.

[JeremyD]

1. Len - start asking them for their contact information, business license number, state of incorporation.

2. That usually stops them calling. If it doesn't, explain to them that you are trying to run a business and they are interferring with process.

3. From there a letter outlining that their debt is with an individual, incurred on their personal time not your business or during business hours and to cease and desist.

4. From there contact their registered agent with a return receipt.

90% of the time - #1 works. I've only had to get to #4 once.

And for you folks out there that are not on an hourly wage - try going though a divorce - get injured, have a child get sick where you have to care from them, have a spouse get laid off - identity theft, etc - and not have a collection agency after you - it's much more common than you think.

[LeeH]

1. Section 805(a): Collection calls to consumers ( AKA Debtors )

Unless you consent or a court order permits, debt collectors may not call to collect a debt:

(1). at any time or place which is unusual or known to be inconvenient to you. 8 a.m. - 9 p.m. is presumed to be convenient;

(2). when he knows you are represented by an attorney with respect to the debt, unless the attorney fails to respond to the communication in a reasonable time period, and

(3). at work if he knows your employer prohibits such contacts.

[cashflyer]

Originally Posted by LeeH

... debt collectors may not call to collect a debt:
(3). at work if he knows your employer prohibits such contacts.

And the operative words are "if he knows". As a business owner, I have had to put this beast down several times. It take a little of your time, and sometimes takes follow up.

Draft a simple letter explaining that the calls are a disruption to your company business. Cite 805(a)(3) and state your demand for the collection company to stop calling. Demand that they notify all of their employees and agents of your cease and desist demand. Finally, inform them that any further collection calls in violation of your notice will be reported to appropriate state and federal authorities. Mail via certified mail with return receipt.

Only once have I ever had to follow up by actually filing formal complaints. I filed with FTC, FCC, and the State department of consumer affairs. Problem solved. All it cost me was postage and a little bit of my time.

edit: the problem has never involved any of my employees... every time (~8 or 10 times in 4 years!) it has been from some lowlife giving a fake (to them) phone number on a credit form.

[Z-man]

Another option for you len, would be to respond to the bill collector thusly:

"I am sorry, he cannot come to the phone - he is very hard at work earning money so he can pay his bills. Putting him on the phone means he won't be working, which means he won't be able to pay off his bills, as you wish him to. Good day."

-Z

[Tobra]

Originally Posted by Danny_Ocean

FWIW: It is my understanding that laws involving collection prohibit calling a debtor at their place of employment (or at least not identifying yourself as a collector when placing the call).

On the other hand...If I had a truly "deadbeat" employee, I'd be more concerned about if/how they're ripping me off to pay their debts...

Next time you get a call, speak to them yourself, get their name and tell them to never call again or you will consider it harrassment, fire the employee and pay for their attorney in the lawsuit they will file against the collection company.

That or get the number blocked so they can't call you at all.

[lendaddy]

Thanks guys, I've gotten used to putting them on hold though. I am pretty sure I've seen a marked decrease in frequency as a result.

[slodave]

Originally Posted by Z-man

Another option for you len, would be to respond to the bill collector thusly:

"I am sorry, he cannot come to the phone - he is very hard at work earning money so he can pay his bills. Putting him on the phone means he won't be working, which means he won't be albe to pay off his bills, as you wish him to. Good day."

-Z

Exactly what I was going to post...

Dave

[DARISC]

Tell them he's no longer employed by you?

[Tim Hancock]

[QUOTE=lendaddy;3525116]I've tried being politeQUOTE]


Maybe just for fun, after they indentify themselves, you should just tell them to f@ck themselves. It might be kind of fun.

[Hawktel]

Originally Posted by CRH911S

What an embarrassment to have to be told to financially support one's own children.

Hey this one isn't always the way it appears. A good friend of mine has one he is paying for. He makes great money and has no problem paying.

He has the child services setup so it goes automatically to a credit card. It always has money but its not enough for these idiots.

They just can't get it right. Periodically about once a year they just stop billing the credit card. Its not stopped, they just don't do it. He checks on it periodically but twice over the last 5 years, he has told me it went to where his work was presented with garnishment papers.

They blow it. Its not always the payers fault.