Debt Collectors Want Your Cell Phone Number
In my previous post, I discussed the annual report on the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act issued by the Federal Trade Commission. As noted, the FTC receives more complaints about debt collection than for any other industry. We can expect it to get worse, however, if the collection industry gets it way on a key issue currently under review. Since sweeping changes to rules for telemarketing went into effect in 2003, debt collection firms have also been prohibited from using automatic dialing systems to call consumers’ cell phone numbers. But the industry’s trade association (ACA) is trying to get the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to change this rule.
If the industry gets its way, we’ll see the number of complaints increase big-time. Currently collectors can only call cell phone numbers by placing the calls manually, which is very inefficient. In fact, many collection agency telephone systems are configued so their collection reps can ONLY handle calls that are placed via auto-dialer. So if the rule is changed, consumers who are behind on their bills can look forward to getting bombarded with cell phone calls in addition to calls placed to the home or workplace.
The ACA claims that inability to auto-dial cell phones will be “extremely detrimental to the industry and consumers” and “creditors will lose billions” if the rule is not changed.
What nonsense. Inconvenient to the collection industry, sure, but detrimental to consumers? Are there any consumers out there who think it will be benefical to allow collection agencies to auto-dial their cell phones? The only people who think this is a good idea are debt collectors and auto-dialer equipment vendors.
The National Consumer Law Center has submitted a recommendation to the FCC against changing this rule.
It will be interesting to see the outcome on this debate, which has the potential to affect millions of stressed out indebted American consumers. Meanwhile, the message is clear: Don’t list your cell phone number on any credit-related applications!
What people also don’t realize is that when you fill out the paperwork to be admitted into the hospital, all of that information is forwarded to collections as well. So if you give your cell phone number at the Admission Desk, and you don’t make payment arrangements with the hospital directly (and even sometimes if you do make the arrangement and make your payments on time this still happens just so the hospital can get your account off their books) a collection agency has all the information you gave, plus even an emergency contact phone number. The agency can then call that number to look for you.
Comment by Brenda Walker — July 10, 2006 @ 7:35 amSpeaking of debt collection. Tmobile tried to charge me a $800 dollar cell phone bill because I cancelled the contract early. Actually charged me two contract cancellations because I had my girlfriend’s line added with mine. Anyway I just let the bill go to collections and then worked out a payment deal with them to the tune of only paying $400 dollars. Not only that but they’re letting me pay it in payments. So if your having problems paying for a cellular bill and the company won’t let you get out of contract for crappy service then simply let the bill go to collections. You can always get a hefty sum knocked off the bill.
Comment by Daniel — November 28, 2007 @ 7:25 pm