Don't mess w/ the Receptionist!

[Treasure]

BG: I'm a receptionist/admin assistant for a software company; we're small, we only have one program and a limited market - don't deal with the public, it has 3 partners and one of my bosses is still paying on her student loans /bg

i apologize to those of you in collections; everybody else please don't take this to fratching.

Me: "answering spiel"
Collections agent: Boss M's married name, please
* this is how i know that its a CA - she's recently divorced*

"may i let her know who's calling?"

"Mr. CA w/ xyz"
"one moment please" let boss know who it is, she asks that i send it to her VM, so i transfer

phone rings again

"opening spiel"
"this is Mr. CA w/ xyz - i asked to speak w/ Boss M - and you sent me to her vm, i need to talk to her!"
"I'm sorry sir, she's on the line with a client - "
"- I'll hold"
"Sir, she's on with a down system*, i don't know how long it will be, i can transfer you to her vm, or take down a message"
"She's always on with a down system.. I realize that's her job, but i have a job to do too, and i need to speak with her... let me speak to her manager... this is a business matter, let her know that i need to speak to her... everyone can hold. Every one can hold. Every One, can Hold. Every One Can Hold."
"one moment" and put him on hold.

he disconnected the call

*(I was following instructions i have been given regarding collections for this boss)

the bookkeeper called from her office "is there a problem"
Nope!

"everyone can hold - including you!"

He refused to accept my answer - i was doing my job; He had an attitude when he called the second time, and more than once he cut me off, or prevented me from getting a word in to answer him - he didn't quite raise his voice to yell at me, but he did get a tone to his voice that was just as good ....

if you want to get past the "guardian of the phone line" be nice - like your associate that called while I was posting this -
"Boss M, please"
"may I let her know who's calling?
"Collecter"
"with...?"
"xyz"
"Sorry, she's on the other line right now, i can take a message or transfer you to her VM."
"Oh ok, her VM is fine, thank you"


see this is how you behave with a receptionist - many people think we are "lowly" and have no authority/power - what they do not realize is that we can send your ass back into the phone tree - and if you keep hitting "0" we can put you on hold - forever, it might tie up a line, but i have roll overs, so Im ok with that...

[pitmonkey]

She needs to tell them to not call at her place of employment. By fed law they must comply. This gentleman just slid under the radar of the law with his attitude.

[Sapphire Silk]

To to mention it is a major fine to engaging in harassing behavior with an innocent employee.

[sirwired]

I have a collector that keeps calling my office phone, asking for the last employee that had my phone number.

Too bad he's not with the company any longer.

He was fired twelve years ago.

I know they don't believe me when I tell them that because I'm sure they hear liars saying it all the time, but the agents never take me up on my offer of the number for the corporate switchboard, who will be more than happy to tell him/her he doesn't work here anymore. Calling me repeatedly won't make this ex-employee magically re-appear.

[EvilEmpryss]

If the pushy one calls back again, inform him that all calls may be recorded for quality control purposes. Even if you never record them, I'll bet it straightens him up.

And I believe that it's a law that if you tell them they may not call you at a particular number, they cannot do so. If anyone knows the particulars of that law, or if I'm wrong, please feel free to correct me.

[Andara Bledin]

First: If the call is never going to be taken, get permission to tell him that he is not to call again and if he does, harassment charges will be filed. If they're legit, they'll be able to mail her a notice, which they're free to do all day long.

It's the law that if you tell someone to stop, they have to stop or face charges for harassment, and even the abusive collections creep that came after me on a paid debt (Capital One sucks) never came back after I let him know I was serious.

My company also does this regularly for people calling against people who don't work here any more. We tell them on the first call that the person they want is no longer here and that they're never to call back regarding this issue.

^-.-^

[Sapphire Silk]

And I believe that it's a law that if you tell them they may not call you at a particular number, they cannot do so. If anyone knows the particulars of that law, or if I'm wrong, please feel free to correct me.

That is correct. The law in question is the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, which is administered by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC). It prohibits abusive collections tactics, calling at unreasonable hours (before 8am and after 9pm). Collections agents must stop phone calls upon request, and must provide written documentation of the debt within 30 days.

Here's a link to the FTC's FAQ on consumer rights when it comes to debt collection: http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/cons...dit/cre18.shtm

[MoonCat]

Don't get me started on these people. Ugh.

Any caller, not just the collection agents, need to get it through their heads that you have to do what your boss tells you to do, not what a caller tells you to do!

[Treasure]

I can't be the one to tell them "go away" Boss M has to be the one to tell them, or I would

[Andara Bledin]

If boss M gives you permission to act as a representative of the company (and thus, the owners of the phone line in question), you can. I did that as receptionist more than once, and a couple of times since then, too.

I get that people don't want to deal with creditors, but it's not that hard to just say, "Yeah, I owe money, please never call this number again." *click* And that's a whole hell of a lot better a choice than paying someone to waste their time fielding calls over and over again.

^-.-^

[dougall]

I have a collector that keeps calling my office phone, asking for the last employee that had my phone number.

Too bad he's not with the company any longer.

He was fired twelve years ago.

Isn't there some sort of statute of limitations I know English law says if there is no acknowledgement of the debt in writing or a payment toward the debt for 6 years they are unable to enforce the debt unless they get a court judgment before the six year mark.

[sirwired]

Isn't there some sort of statute of limitations I know English law says if there is no acknowledgement of the debt in writing or a payment toward the debt for 6 years they are unable to enforce the debt unless they get a court judgment before the six year mark.

His lapse in debt may be recent on an account that was opened when he still had my phone number.

[Mondestrucken]

I can't be the one to tell them "go away" Boss M has to be the one to tell them, or I would

Well, then does she realize that all she has to do is pick up the phone and say, "Do not call me at work."

My sister is a collector, and yes, if told not to call at work, they must stop.

[PepperElf]

Well, then does she realize that all she has to do is pick up the phone and say, "Do not call me at work."

That's what I'm wondering... has the boss told them to not call her at work?

Because... if she hasn't told them that... she's basically using Treasure as a human shield. It could be that the boss is actually using this system to completely avoid talking to the collectors. The problem is... Treasure ends up being the one taking most of the heat from the calls which is entirely unfair.

[telecom_goddess]

There was a time when I had collectors calling ME at work and I told them repeatedly to NOT call me there and they still did it anyway. It didn't stop them.

Now I have what sounds like two collectors calling me at home when I have everything in a debt consolidation plan. And I have been hounded by two seperate collection agencies over a debt that went to a mediation and that got DISMISSED!! I no longer owe and had to tell two companies that and send them the court documents.

Fuck.