An open letter to nasty debt collectors

MANILA, Philippines – Let’s stop this foolishness coming from nasty debt collectors once and for all.

One, nobody inherits debts, only assets. So please don’t collect from people who are trying to grieve. You need to wait for your turn to get paid from the estate left by those who passed away.

Two, I understand you need to earn commission and you are probably a good person who is feeding a family of cute little minions. That doesn’t give you the right to call people names nor threaten them at work or at home.

Three, if you can’t collect in the last two months without resorting to harassment, please do the world a favor and look for another job.

Consumers’ rights are important. You are also a consumer, aren’t you? You wouldn’t want anybody calling YOUR boss and telling them you forgot to pay your credit card debt for three months.

Consumers’ rights shouldn’t be something anybody can trample on just because the boss gave the whole floor a higher quota. The idea that consumers have rights make this a civilized world to live in—for millionaires as well as for the millions who are trying to eke out a living. Some of those you are harassing belong to the second category. It’s highly likely they have cute minions like you. Think about that.

In case, you are not aware that consumers have rights.

Here’s a dummy’s guide:

1. Creditors can only claim against the estate of a dead person, not their children or spouses or others they have left behind. The estate refers to whatever belongings they leave behind whether properties or investments or businesses. If there’s none left, tough luck. Creditors will just have to write off the debt.

2. Borrowers, even those who are in default, are entitled to civilized conversations. They can complain against collectors who use bad words, call them at work and inform officemates about their debt, or threaten them to go to jail.

3. Borrowers can request for collectors’ name and the company they represent.

4. Borrowers can file a formal complaint against nasty debt collectors with the financial institution that hired them or to the regulator, which is the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas.

I’ve done interviews with insiders in the debt collection business and I know what it’s like inside. Please stand above the filth. Society needs your service. This service has earned its place in the economy because of rising loan defaults and the lack of functioning credit bureaus. But you can do it so much better than the way it is being done by most debt collectors right now.

Stand. Above. The. Filth.

To you, the consumer, know your rights. When you do, you have ammunition against those who want to take advantage of your ignorance. –Ma. Salve Duplito

http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/business/06/15/13/open-letter-nasty-debt-collectors