California debt collector shows that nonpayment of bills could save your life!
When one thinks about debt collectors, names like "leech," "bloodsucker," and "pit bull" immediately dance from the tongue; for those lucky few of us who have occasionally received wake-up calls from the bill man, the terms get even more emotionally fraught and foully descriptive. While cannibalism is obviously a somewhat extreme response, regular social calls from creditors can help one see the wisdom of Hannibal Lector, who proudly bragged of eating a census-taker's liver with "fava beans and a nice chianti."In the current economic situation, affection would likely be the last response that a bill collector could expect from a client. However, this is exactly what a collector in Victorville, California got on Wednesday when she knocked on a customer's door. The collector, a car saleswoman, came by to pick up a payment when she noticed that her customer had missed the pay date.When the door opened, the saleswoman found herself facing a 30-year old woman with fear in her eyes and scratches on her body. The client wrote the word "Help," and the name of her ex, Miguel Rios. When the collector quietly asked if everything was okay, the woman began crying and whispered that Rios had a gun and was holding her hostage.
After leaving, the saleswoman quickly called the local authorities, who arrested the 28-year old Rios. A self-admitted gang member, he had been holding the woman captive since Sunday. In addition to the scratches that the collector had noticed, the woman also had bite marks on her body and bruises around her neck, allegedly the result of an attempted strangulation. Rios was arrested on suspicion of false imprisonment, making terrorist threats, and other allegations. His captive was taken to the hospital.
While it may be overstating the case to say that debt collectors deserve a little more love, it's hard to resist being impressed with a car saleswoman who takes her job so seriously. Not only did she swing by a debtor's home to collect a check, but she also took the time and the care to investigate her client's needs. Personally, I'm thinking of moving to Victorville, if only for the customer service!
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
6-26-2009 @ 4:29PM
Megan Price said...
You never know what goes on behind closed doors. When's the last time you checked on your neighbors? Especially the elderly?
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6-26-2009 @ 4:29PM
dejure said...
When I want one of these scammers to leave me alone, I answer "911 emergency, how may I help you?" Though the caller ID shows it to be the same number that called earlier (and which made threats), they hang up.
Another method I use is to talk like a recording: "Your call will be taken in a moment. Please be advised that your call is being automatically recorded."
Of I have a jerk on the line, I go Miranda: "This call is being recorded." "Anything you say may be used against you." You have the right to remain silent; however, your call has been registered with the phone company and frequent harassing calls may be a violation of federal laws under Title 18 of the United States Code."
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6-26-2009 @ 8:09PM
hi_how_are_you1985 said...
if you pay anything monthly (5 bucks) you can tell them to stop harassing you since they have received a payment, never agree to pay a set amount monthly this ways you can pay 5 bucks or more if you can!
6-26-2009 @ 10:25PM
collections said...
I think you have no clue! First of all i am a debt collector for a bank. All our calls are recorded! We have the right to call up to 6 times a day legally if you don't answer the phone! If you do answer and ID yourself, we cannot call for another 4 days. We are not scum and we don't care if you threaten to record us as we are doing nothing illegal!!!! We advise the debtor that we can assist with specail payment options etc. Most people who answer the phone are intelligent enough to know they accumulated the debt, therefore they owe! They are for the most part kind people who got in trouble and do talk to us. of course, occasionally we get a jerk who swears and cites the law incorrectly and makes a fool of themselves! In addition to being recored, all is noted and if it continues to be in collections and goes to court, the notes go as well...judges don't take kindly to idiots like yourselves who think someone shouldn't call on an unpaid debt!!!!
You must be in serious trouble with money to behave the way you do!!!!
6-26-2009 @ 4:34PM
joey said...
Miguel Rios...in California...why do I already KNOW that they are not here legally???
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6-26-2009 @ 4:34PM
chris said...
Discover card talked my disabled elderly mother into selling her burial policy to pay off her card. she only gets $900 per month on social security, luckily I got involved and took care of it before she cancelled her policy. They have no regard for anything or anyone.
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6-26-2009 @ 4:48PM
brown haired girl said...
I've experienced a very nice debt collector also. My husband took my name off all the bank accounts after I was injured. I couldn't work, and he stopped paying any bill that came in my name. The debt collectors were mean at first and I was ashamed of my circumstances, but when I told the truth, they were not only kind to me, they were sincere.
They're just people, and they have a tough job, no one wants to talk to them, or hear from them, and everyone lies to them. I'd be frustrated too.
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6-26-2009 @ 4:51PM
S said...
If you want to put out this type of story, why not also put out the correct advise?
There are laws.
You have to send a registered or certified letter telling them not to call. While I don't know all the details certainy aol must have access to them.
So aol where is the info your readers need?
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6-26-2009 @ 5:04PM
Nancy said...
They call to get you to pay the bill for stuff YOU BOUGHT! What if your employer didn't pay your paycheck? That is money owed to you same as they are owed money.
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6-26-2009 @ 5:13PM
bryee5 said...
AAAAAAAWWWW.. SHUT UP!!! Nobody asked you.
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6-26-2009 @ 5:32PM
robinshood said...
Joey, you "know" this from the name alone because you are prejudiced. There's also a possibility of zenophobia and racism, you might want to check that out.
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6-26-2009 @ 5:35PM
CFrancis21 said...
My husband and I filed bankruptcy about 2 years ago, after trying everything to get back on top after a job loss. After we had filed with the courts, Chase credit card called me and wanted to take a payment over the phone or make arrangements, I was probably like 90 days past. I told him that we had filed for bankruptcy and he didn't really believe me. ONLY because I had offered to give him our case number which is what our lawyer had instructed us to do! He said he was in shock I actually had a case number! Apperantly he had been working in the Collections department of Chase for the past 8 years and NEVER had anyone give him their case number! He said people always said they had filed or was in the process, but could never give him their lawyers name, number or case numbers! It is no wonder they are rude when they call! People just lie to them!
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6-26-2009 @ 5:46PM
Rhonda Jeannine said...
I have an ex-policeman friend who got into a financial jam. His solution to the harrassment was this: "Anytime a debt collector would call, he would explain his payment policy. He told them that each month, he puts all the bills in a pile, then throws them up in the air. Those landing face up would get paid that month. Those landing face down went back in a pile for next month. Collectors who would call and harrass him, he would inform that their bill would be removed from the pile and not have the opportunity of being thrown in the air that month. If they didn't call the next month, he would put them back in the pile." He did have fun with those folks!!!!
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6-26-2009 @ 5:41PM
Megan said...
They are not necessarily calling because you owe something. We have had collection agencies calling us for YEARS because of a mistake by MCI. They never recorded our final bill as paid, even though we had proof of payment, and sent our bill to collections. We proved to the first agency that we paid and they said they'd remove it from our record. What they did is give the bill back to MCI who sold it to ANOTHER agency...and on, and on, and on for 7 or 8 years! And each time it ended up on our credit report and we had to fight to get it off.
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6-26-2009 @ 5:43PM
Bobbie said...
If it's a debt that was due to necessary spending, (medical, for example) then yeah, I feel bad for you. But if it's debt due to gotta-have-it-now syndrome.... well, I agree with Nancy. You bought it. You pay for it.
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6-26-2009 @ 6:11PM
Heather said...
I have an even better bill collector tale, my mom passed away in 1995. 4 years later a bill shows up in the mail addressed to my mother. I open it and find that she was billed for a clinic visit in February of 1999. When I called the doctors office, I got the head of accounting who was quite rude and told me that my mother had no right to hide behind me and not pay her bill. At that point I said there is a real good reason she didnt pay it, she's dead. The woman said really, can you prove it? I said no problem I'll be right over with her death certificate from 1995 you idiot to shove down your throat and i'll also be nice enough to bring along her ashes so you can open the container up to see if she has her checkbook with her. Funny, I never got another bill
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6-26-2009 @ 6:15PM
Dee said...
I have had bill collectors hassle me after a couple of injuries that put me in the hospital (not knowing my estranged husband has cancelled my health insurance). I'm disabled and on a limited budget. I tell them the truth. I don't have the money and if they want to ruin my credit, then they have to realize you have to have credit in order for it to be ruined.
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6-26-2009 @ 6:26PM
rose young said...
Victorville, That is where Roy Rogers and Dale Evan lived for many years.
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6-26-2009 @ 6:29PM
CB said...
I agree with someone saying we don't know what happens behind closed doors. Although my neighbors seem to let everyone know now and then with a good vocal and loud argrument outside their homes. Glad the car salesperson felt and knew that lady was in danger and did something about it right away. Some ignore situations like that cuz they don't feel they need to get involved.
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6-26-2009 @ 6:59PM
wayne said...
Every time collection agency call me, first thing after pick up the phone I use my airhorn close to the phone. That sure break their eardrums. They never bother to call me ever after what I had done to them. I love it everytime they called me, and I was excited to use my airhorn. Airhorn is always right next to phone.
Collectors, please call me and I would like to hear the response from screaming AHHHHHH!.
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