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Debt Collectors Sneaking Robocall Exemptions Into Budget Bill
TCPALaw writes: Hate robocalls? In July, the FCC tightened the rules regarding robocalls to cell phones, especially debt collection calls (in particular limiting calls to wrong numbers or to anyone who is not the debtor). Now the debt collection industry is getting their revenge by sneaking in a massive exemption (see section 301 on page 10 to the PDF) to the the FCC's rules that would expressly permit debt collection robocalls to cell phones (and even collect calls!) for student loans, mortgages, taxes, and any other debt owed or guaranteed by the government. Time to make a few phone calls myself to some senators. The Senate switchboard is (202) 224-3121 or go to senate.gov to find the number for your senators. This may come up for a vote in 24 hours or less.
Just don't answer your phone for any number that you don't recognize; if it's really important they'll leave a voicemail message. Debt collectors and scumbags don't leave messages, typically; there, problem solved.
Are YOU using the TOOL, or is the TOOL using YOU? Think about it!
This isn't about debt collector calls as a whole, but robocalls. Robocalls are terrible. Debt collector calls might be annoying, but that's the cost of not paying on time.
People running away from their debt, this is why the country goes to shit.
No. I don't think that's a leading factor. Debt collectors not following the rules, that's not a reason for the country "going to shit either", but it doesn't help.
Python: 'And then suddenly you have a language which says "we're all stuck with whatever the whiniest coder wants".'
Pay your bills, no one calls.
If you want news from today, you have to come back tomorrow.
Business bankruptcy is different than personal bankruptcy. You may have heard that Donald Trump filed bankruptcy four times. Those were business bankruptcies. He was on the hook for the first bankruptcy only because he personally guaranteed something. After that, he never personally guarantee anything again.
Then they just randomly call looking for people that aren't you.
And don't accept your word that you aren't them, don't know them, and have no responsibilities for their bad debts.
And keep calling back.
the preceding comment is my own and in no way reflects the opinion of the Joint Chiefs of Staff
Here's a true story: my girlfriend has bought into one of those worthless LifeLock plans. Feels secure, and has sterling credit (over 800 score). Through some small-time credit transactions finds out that some guy with a Hispanic name has been using her soc number, but with HIS OWN NAME, to get credit cards. LifeLock, now knowing there is an "issue" alerts her every time her number is used to access credit. She tells several jurisdictions about the issue as well. After several go-arounds on the phone with banks, institutions, and precincts the end result is NO ONE CAN DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. The best she can do is call the issuing institution when she finds out about it and they MAY close the account, etc.
This has been ongoing for the last 5 years. The situation is laughable if not so serious.
Python: 'And then suddenly you have a language which says "we're all stuck with whatever the whiniest coder wants".'
Trust me we did all that except small claims court.
- The hospital acknowledged the error in writing but said they couldn't take off credit report because the Collection agency had put it on the report and well you know what the CA said, "Show me the money" no percentage in the CA removing it
- Even got the Military Medical people involved AKA TriCare who provided assistance in the form of a letter to the hospital wanting to know why I was charged to begin with.
- The bank wouldn't give me the loan with the bad debt on my report, only bad item on the report by the way.
- Finally a hospital officer "Mr. Friendly" real name and I will never forget it, provided a notarized letter to my lending officer stating the debt was in error and that it should never have been entered against me. So I got the loan.
- Took another two years for it to clear from my credit history so I kept the letter for a damn long time.
In my opinion the only "Bad Actor" in the whole deal was the CA, once informed the debt was in error by the hospital they should have taken action to clear it. But no they wanted the money for the debt they had purchased. Fuck them it's the risk they take for being in that business.
The hospital had made a mistake and acknowledged same. The credit could of taken a verbal but wanted everything in writing, CYA and I get that.