Credit Card Owners #2

I work at an inbound call site.  I say that for the purposes of this post.  Just so you all know; our site does not call outbound.  So when I get a call, the card member is calling me.  When an account goes past due the computer system automatically puts that account in queue, so that the number associated with the account is called from our auto-dialer.  A computer generated message is then left with the card member telling them to call us back about a personal business matter.

Another thing I want to mention is before you read further, I am going to be quoting a call that was extremely vulgar.  So for the faint-hearted or easily offended readers, be warned.  For the rest, read on.  One more thing-in training we were taught that the #1 most important aspect of collecting is respect to the card member.  We were trained to be understanding, attentive and problem solving associates who relate to the issues facing people who can’t pay their bills.  So I might write things down here that I would NEVER say to a card member while on a call.  If we are rude to our card members we get fired.  That however, doesn’t excuse people who just don’t want to find a solution to their problem.  BUT I could be wrong.  Without further ado, here are the two calls I would like to mention. 

Call #1  “I want you to stop calling me.  If I get one more phone call, I’m going to call a lawyer and file a harassment suit against your company.  I read that your bank is in a lot of trouble right now and I can understand why having morons like you working for them.”  My response:  (Laughing) “Did you just call me a moron?” Caller: “Yes, I did”  Me: “Well, I hope that makes you feel better, however I do need to inform you that if you continue in any way to be abusive I will have to terminate this call.” Caller: “MORON!“  I hung up.  Now what’s amusing about this call (aside from the put down) is that the money he is going to use hiring a lawyer could be sent to pay his bill which would stop the phone calls.  But hey, what do I know? I’m a moron.  Oh and by the way…he signed a contract (when opening the credit card account) that gives us permission to call his home if his account become past due.  But again, what do I know…I’m just a moron.    I actually did laugh by the way.  I didn’t mean to but it just came out.  I couldn’t help finding it funny that here is a person who charged on a credit card and then didn’t pay the bill and his solution is to call me a moron.  Someone he doesn’t even know and a person who could actually help him.  But again…I’m a moron.

WARNING!!!! BELOW WRITING IS GRAPHIC AND SEXUALLY VULGAR DO NOT READ IF YOU MIGHT GET OFFENDED.

Caller:  “You guys keep calling, calling, calling, calling.  You wake me up in the middle of the night.  Now I’m just wondering are you going to stop calling me or am I going to have to call your husband and tell him how his penis fits into your vagina?”  And then he hangs up.  Yes, this was an actual call that I received today 5 minutes before my shift ended.  I noted his account permanently with a warning to future associates that he is extremely vulgar.  First thing that tipped me off this guy wasn’t right in the head?  “You wake me up in the middle of the night”.  No we don’t, Federal Law prohibits any credit agency to call after 8:00 p.m. or before.  Maybe he thinks that if he calls us being rude and disgusting we’ll stop calling him.  BUT..alas, it’s a computer calling him not a person.  And we don’t stop calls just because a person is abusive to our associates.  Sorry, but a good solution to his problem: Pay the bill. 

And yet another day goes down in collector history.