[quote=CringeFest][quote=Austruck]
Of course, if it's someone calling about your car's extended warranty AGAIN, then all bets are off and you can say whatever you want. :D[/quote]

funny you bring that up, i haven't gotten a call from those folks in 5 days, what the hell is wrong with the world? Did my cold shoulder finally sink in? This is a sign that we are doomed.[/quote]

[quote=Austruck][quote=CringeFest]Just to further clarify what i'm getting at: there's already a major ethic not to ever be angry or rude towards anyone no matter how absurd the situation or how awful the other person is bahaving, but "turning the other cheek" 100% of the time is just not possible. I feel sympathy and forgiveness towards customer service reps and waiters when they make mistakes or frustrate me, but somebody calling you and wanting them to give them money puts them on the same level as scammers basically...even when someone actually owes money this activity doesn't improve people's lives, it's harassment and shouldn't be easily tolerated. Unfortunately you can actually go to jail for your debts in some states.[/quote]
There are ways to be firm and even intimidating without being rude or demeaning. Asking for a supervisor and heading up the food chain is the way to go, and that can be done by using verbal pressure that doesn't have to amount to verbal abuse. 

Of course, if it's someone calling about your car's extended warranty AGAIN, then all bets are off and you can say whatever you want. :D[/quote]

[quote=CringeFest]Just to further clarify what i'm getting at: there's already a major ethic not to ever be angry or rude towards anyone no matter how absurd the situation or how awful the other person is bahaving, but "turning the other cheek" 100% of the time is just not possible. I feel sympathy and forgiveness towards customer service reps and waiters when they make mistakes or frustrate me, but somebody calling you and wanting them to give them money puts them on the same level as scammers basically...even when someone actually owes money this activity doesn't improve people's lives, it's harassment and shouldn't be easily tolerated. Unfortunately you can actually go to jail for your debts in some states.[/quote]

[quote=CringeFest][quote=Austruck][quote=CringeFest][quote=John McClane]Worst everything. lol

Yeah, I second that. I’ve only had two encounters with a collection agency, and both times it was a billing error. The first one was pulled back, corrected, and paid. So the pushback I’ve been getting on this second collection is beyond frustrating because it’s the same mistake.[/quote]

Every brush (twice) I've had with collection agencies was an error, I have no sympathy for people in that line of work.[/quote]
I guess my point is that the guy/gal on the phone is probably not the person who made the clerical errors in the first place. So, the phone workers are just the people who get the brunt of the ugliness of those phone calls. 

The pencil pusher in the back office is the one goofing up these things, I'm sure.[/quote]

no i wasn't advocating being mean to the person on the phone, but i think being a debt collector is one of those types of jobs where you should expect ugliness, people would probably think you were a hero if you beat up someone who came into your business and started making threats about "getting insurance" and whatnot, debt collection agencies aren't a whole lot different.

I'd say hanging up and not paying the debt is just as valid of a strategy as having a word with the supervisor.[/quote]

[quote=John McClane]So in that regard I always feel bad for them. But I feel worse for that robot they got calling people about car warranties. Dude probably never gets any sleep[/quote]

[quote=John McClane]Yeah, the people that pick up the phone have no power. You gotta kill them with kindness till they break and put a supervisor on. Ugliness never works and most of the time it makes things worse.[/quote]

[quote=Austruck][quote=CringeFest][quote=John McClane]Worst everything. lol

Yeah, I second that. I’ve only had two encounters with a collection agency, and both times it was a billing error. The first one was pulled back, corrected, and paid. So the pushback I’ve been getting on this second collection is beyond frustrating because it’s the same mistake.[/quote]

Every brush (twice) I've had with collection agencies was an error, I have no sympathy for people in that line of work.[/quote]
I guess my point is that the guy/gal on the phone is probably not the person who made the clerical errors in the first place. So, the phone workers are just the people who get the brunt of the ugliness of those phone calls. 

The pencil pusher in the back office is the one goofing up these things, I'm sure.[/quote]

[quote=CringeFest][quote=John McClane]Worst everything. lol

Yeah, I second that. I’ve only had two encounters with a collection agency, and both times it was a billing error. The first one was pulled back, corrected, and paid. So the pushback I’ve been getting on this second collection is beyond frustrating because it’s the same mistake.[/quote]

Every brush (twice) I've had with collection agencies was an error, I have no sympathy for people in that line of work.[/quote]

[quote=John McClane]I have always paid my bills. Yes, I’ve been late before but I have always paid what I owe (outside of my chapter 7 of course…but I had paid so much interest before filing that I had paid for the original charges twice over).[/quote]

[quote=John McClane]Worst everything. lol

Yeah, I second that. I’ve only had two encounters with a collection agency, and both times it was a billing error. The first one was pulled back, corrected, and paid. So the pushback I’ve been getting on this second collection is beyond frustrating because it’s the same mistake.[/quote]

[quote=Austruck][quote=John McClane]Debt collectors are the worst.[/quote]
The worst what? :D

I know it's a necessary evil, but honestly, I feel sorry for anyone who has to do that job for a living. How do they not go home depressed every single day? :([/quote]