Debt collector harassing pregnant wife

[haven]

My 8.5 months-pregnant wife received a call today from a debt collector from CitiFinancial. He, without saying so many words, informed her that her mother-in-law (my mom) had a debt. He then asked for the #. My wife offered the address, and also said she would pass on a message, but refused to give out the phone # - and honestly replied that she did not even know her mother-in-law's # (it's in my cell - I doubt we have it written anywhere). He became a little harassing.

She requested to be taken off the list, and informed him of two statutory provisions he was violating. You see, I'm an attorney - and my wife is in her 3rd year of law school - and is ironically taking a consumer rights class right now - so she could even cite the provisions he was violating.

He called her stupid and told her she didn't know what she was talking about. He kept on pestering her, and became very aggressive, essentially making up laws. He refused to give an address or a last name, but only an accounts-receivable address.

I'm very angry. I'm a baby lawyer (first year out of law school). I'm also a federal law clerk, so I have plenty of time to make CitiFinancial miserable, if it would actually result in anything.

To be honest, I'd really like this guy to be fired. My wife called me crying and upset. He didn't know she was 8.5 months pregnant - but that still makes me even angrier. I'm 240 miles away right now - after graduating law school, I really wanted to take a clerkship, and my first offer was in-state, but not close to her.

We're already going to report them to the appropriate federal commission. If I start a letter writing campaign, is there any chance I could see some tangible results in terms of discipline and getting these guys to leave my wife alone/

Incidentally, I have no idea if the debt is valid. My mother denies it, and she's generally fiscally responsible - but she recentlyl moved, and for all I know there's some random collection account that she's in denial about.

[littleman]

My 8.5 months-pregnant wife received a call today from a debt collector from CitiFinancial. He, without saying so many words, informed her that her mother-in-law (my mom) had a debt. He then asked for the #. My wife offered the address, and also said she would pass on a message, but refused to give out the phone # - and honestly replied that she did not even know her mother-in-law's # (it's in my cell - I doubt we have it written anywhere). He became a little harassing.

...


It sounds like he might not even be from CitiFinancial at all -- it's protocol to give the name and stuff, right? Are you sure it's not just some guy who has some ulterior motive posing under the guise of a CitiFinancial staff?

Either way, I'm pissed for you as well. If needed, get the police involved; don't let things escalate. It's best to clear things up on your mom's end, it's more than a bit unfair to get your pregnant wife involved at this time.

Good luck..

[Achtung]

You'd think that if you called them back, they would be required to give you the name of the person (and I use that term loosely) your wife spoke to. I'm almost sure they have records of that. If they start making excuses, tell them to send you a record of the alleged charges in writing, and inform them that you'll get the police involved if they continue to harass you. Debt collectors have no scruples whatsoever, even if they are completely wrong they will harass you. They're practically worse than the defaulters who make their jobs necessary.

[prk166]

The guy made a pregnant woman cry? Pig ********er!

I would file a compalint with the better busy bueruea. I would right citi financial a letter detailing what oocured and what you expect them to to rememedy it. Make sure to carbon copy your state's attourney general office and represenatives. Send them copies of those letters and explain to them what happened.

Reporting it to your better business buerea is for the numbers. The politicians are in hopes that it gets their attention so they peak at the numbers or put more pressure for greater fines, etc. Your complaint on it's own probably doesn't mean much. But the story is truthful and owuld make for a good soun bite for a politician that wants to be seen as going out there and cleaning things up.

And I know it's easy to say in hindsight but I wouldn't give any of that information out. If it's important enough to the collector, they can dig it up on their own. And what if it's not a legitmate collector (hard to say that given how they behaved) and it's some other scheme?

[Dark Savante]

Hope you nail that guy haven, I'd also be wary of whether that's a fruadster at work!

[Teso Dos Bichos]

I would break his neck.

[StrikerCW]

******** him. (sorry don't have any advice, just encouragement) And congratulations on the child, too.

[Stud83]

Sue him. After the baby is born, that is. And tell your wife to hang up on anyone she doesn't want to talk to. For now just call them and ask to redirect to their immediate supervisor or whoever is in charge. Tell them that you are a lawyer and contemplating action against them, they'll apologize.
What a bastard.
Congrats on becoming a father!

[MtP07]

Sorry to hear about it, haven. That collector sure picked on the wrong household...one with two lawyers in it!

[Sapphire]

Oh, that's horrible haven. :mad: It makes me so mad when people can't be civil to each other, especially to pregnant women and new mamas--that can be so hard.

I think going to Citi is the right thing to do, and see how they respond first. I haven't dealt with them directly, but have had mixed experiences with other creditor-types.

To add to the suggestions of others, have you thought about going to the local media? I was thinking of a news guy in Houston named Marvin Zindler, who is a media consumer advocate and usually scares the sh!t out of every company in SE Texas when he takes up a case that involves them. Is there anyone like that in Austin? Something like that could give you results as well as a feeling of satisfaction.

[mhtwins113]

My friend used to work as an intern for Citi, says it's the worst job he's ever had, it was that useless. So frankly, I can't say I'm too surprised that they've taken their stupidity to new levels.

And Haven, congrats on the kid, make sure you raise him the right way (aka the United way)!

[jayro75]

I agree with littleman.. He probably wasn't from citi at all.. Big firms like that don't typically collect there own debts they outsource to collection agencies which is another phrase for total dirtbags... They will call threaten and make sh1t up as they go along trying to make you say you are liable for the debt but thats all they can do.. They can't even necessarily make you pay even if you do owe the debt...

If I were you I would get in touch with Citi and try to find out what the debt is and start to proceed from there... But definitely complain to them about what happened and if she got a phone number find out who the company that called is and ata the very least call the BBB...

Also I just saw that she has an accounts recievable address. Do some researching to find out what company is at that address.

I'm sorry to hear about this and I know if I was you I'd be mighty pissed as well... By the way congrats on the baby that's awesome....

[johno]

sorry to hear that mate... these are the times you wish you could reach through the phone and throttle someone... that's really the only thing that would make me feel better given the same situation...


however, just for kicks and for future use...

anytime you get an unsolicited call from debt collector or telemarketer sound really interested and tell them you're just stepping out but to give you their home number and you'll call them later.

when they ask why, respond "so I can interupt your dinner and generally make an ass out of myself."

works for me all the time.

[haven]

Thanks for the sympathy and congratulations, guys.

I wrote them a polite letter stating factually what occurred. If I get a satisfactory response and an apology, I'll let in end at that. My wife and I have, however, identified at least three different violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and the Texas debt collection act. There are statutory penalties, which we will pursue only if they don't handle this properly. We don't want a lawsuit - just an apology and assurance that they won't bother us again.

It just really makes me angry - I understand that sometimes debt collectors are jerks - but they're not even contending that we owe them a debt. They're annoying us because someone else owes them a debt. The truly retarded thing is that my mother is listed in the freaking phonebook.

[jayro75]

Thanks for the sympathy and congratulations, guys.

I wrote them a polite letter stating factually what occurred. If I get a satisfactory response and an apology, I'll let in end at that. My wife and I have, however, identified at least three different violations of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and the Texas debt collection act. There are statutory penalties, which we will pursue only if they don't handle this properly. We don't want a lawsuit - just an apology and assurance that they won't bother us again.

It just really makes me angry - I understand that sometimes debt collectors are jerks - but they're not even contending that we owe them a debt. They're annoying us because someone else owes them a debt. The truly retarded thing is that my mother is listed in the freaking phonebook.


Was it actually Citi or a collection agency????

[Motterman]

Sounds like they were in violation of many parts of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act: http://www.ftc.gov/os/statutes/fdcpa/fdcpact.htm#804