MovieChat Forums > Confessions of a Shopaholic (2009) Discussion > By law bill collectors cannot harass you...

By law bill collectors cannot harass you like that

posted 14 years ago by artchickbecca
22 replies | jump to latest

I liked the movie and thought it was cute, but I have worked in the collections field for over 12 years and its against the law for him to harass and stalk her like that. If that was true she could sue the agency for 3 times her debt and probably press charges against him for slander. He wouldn't be able to come to her door or job nor would he have been able to use a cell phone to call her. I just wish the movie would have researched this more. That would have been the proper to pay off her debt and have it forgiven. Just thought I would vent.

Come with me if you want live

[–] missjnr 14 years ago

I was thinking that the entire time I watched this movie. I used to be a debt collector myself. I kept saying, "no! no no no no! he can't DO THAT!"

There were a few people at the agency I worked for that DID use their cell phone to call a person in debt. Needless to say, they lost their jobs.

------

"...It keeps them drinking that glass of water but never really tasting it"

[–] calileo87 14 years ago

I've read the entire series...and in book 2, Rebecca (already a regular on the Morning Coffee show as a finance guru) sees a news article about her being in massive amounts of debt. This destroys any chances of her keeping or getting another job and it also messes up her relationship with Luke. Since the movie is trying to combine three of the books, they had to do something drastic.

I agree with what you guys are saying (I've never worked in collections) and yes, they should have researched the collections process. However, they had to incorporate the humiliation in the story because that was a life-changing event for Rebecca.

[–] stevenackerman69 14 years ago

I think it was supposed to be funny that he kept doing that. It made her have to get into stickier situations. Maybe also, it was supposed to show us that these debt collectors ain't screwing around-they want you to pay your bills, which we all must do. They don't want to hear excuses.

[–] Eve_of_Destruction 12 years ago

they want you to pay your bills, which we all must do. They don't want to hear excuses.

However if skanks like B of A buy out your bank and take your minimum payment from $200 to $800/month which is impossible, then you have no choice but to not pay because you can't. I am not the only one this happened to thankfully.

[–] MrAleisterCrowley 14 years ago

Yeah, I think a lot of us thought the same thing when we saw this. He'd be fired and very likely sued for showing up at her place of employment. Absolutely illegal. Even the repeated harassing phone calls are illegal -- the collectors are only allowed to call a certain number of times per day and at certain times. He could never demand that she show up at his "office first thing in the morning" nor could he initiate "personal contact." I loved the book series and the silly changes the film for "dramatic" effect made really irritated me.

[–] Letmesleep07 14 years ago

The books series takes place in England, so maybe the collection laws are different there? That's the only thing i could think of considering they couldn't do that in the US?

[–] Kip-13 14 years ago

Debt collectors aren't supposed to do stuff like that, but they do it all the time. The fine is nominal, equal to Becky's debt. The FDCP Act is stacked in favor of the collectors, not the consumers. If she doesn't want him to call her at her place of business, or show up there, all Becky would have to do is say stop, but she never does.

[–] sazzrah 14 years ago

These events didn't happen in the book so, no. Also collection laws in the UK are likely similar to the US. Despite the fact they are not supposed to do things like this, you will find some do it anyway. If you know the law you can throw it in their face and they can't do anything. Debt collectors pray on people who do not know their rights.

[–] kay_cee_d 13 years ago

It doesn't make ANY sense for them to come to your place of employment or embarrass you so you end up losing your job. Well NOW YOU REALLY CAN'T GET A JOB AND CAN'T PAY THEM. Idiots.

I swear, if someone did that to me I'd be so incredibly pissed.

[–] everythinginmypocket 14 years ago

That never happened in the book. The movie is OK, but the books are far better. Why not just set it in England? And why combine 2 (or is it 3?) of the books into one movie? If they felt that the movie was going to be a flop because it's british, they should have just remembered Bridget Jones' Diary. Instead they pissed off a lot of the fans of the book.

[–] dragoncane 14 years ago

It was two years ago, on Good Friday, I answered the phone since I was not at work that day. This particalar debt collector had been calling our house at all hours of the day and night and weekends, but never left a message. And the few times we had answered, there was never anyone there. So frustrating. Anyway, again, there was no one there, but I called the number back, determined to end it once and for all.
A woman answered. A very rude, rude, RUDE woman. She was looking for my husband's brother. All that time they spent calling our house and it wasn't even us (which we knew, because we are very diligent) she wanted.
Well, I told her, that person doesn't live at this residence. She got very HATEFUL with me and said, "Maam, if you could just stop trying to cover for your son, and put him on the phone, that would be great." I responded that my son was only 9 years old, so I doubt that is who she was looking for. Then, she hung up on me. EXCUSE ME!!!! I was P!SSED!!!
I called back, and she gets back on the phone, and I never lose my cool like I did, but I sure let her have it. She ended up apologizing by making excuses about the things she had to listen to all day. So I asked, "Did I yell at you? Did I curse at you?" She said "no." All I did was try to explain that it was my brother-in-law she was looking for in a calm manner. She was the one who was hateful from the beginning and then HUNG UP ON ME.

A few years before that, we had another one that kept calling, looking for my husband's ex-wife. It was around 9pm that night I answered, tired of the phone calls. The man that night was very nice. And when I told him it was my husband's ex-wife he was looking for, and that I was in no way her, he kindly said he would make a note of it by our number and we never heard from them again. He didn't snap at me or hang up. In fact, he apologized to me for being bothered by him for an ex-wife's problems.

[–] AuroraGoryAlice 14 years ago

I have a pretty large amount of debt, and several inactive cards and I can definitely agree that though it may be illegal, they DO it. I've had them call my cell, my house, my PARENTS houses (I'm 27 that really doesn't seem right) and my WORKPLACE. Not to mention I've had them scream and yell at me and threaten me so badly that I've gotten off the phone literally in tears. I think it takes a "special" kind of person to really be that offensive. And they all seem to be in debt collection.

On the other hand, I did have one woman who was extremely helpful and assisted me in settling a good portion of my debt. On on card. But that was one person throughout several companies and several years of this. Being in debt sucks, but it doesn't help when they make you feel terrible about it.

Spandex is a privilege, not a right

[–] StarStruckAmFay 14 years ago

Im 27 and in alot of debt too, a credit card i did have they were relentless! they called my dad, and even showed up at my grandparents house, with papers saying they are suing me! How in the world did they find out my grandparents name and address?!! Well i almost have the stupid thing paid off,but they still call about 5 times a day, send me letters and email me! its annoying! I still have a few more to pay off, but im NEVER getting a credit card again.
PS I loved this movie, watched it last night on netflix! :)

Not all who wander are aimless~ Kirsten Dunst

[–] SavannahNights 12 years ago

She got very HATEFUL with me and said, "Maam, if you could just stop trying to cover for your son, and put him on the phone, that would be great." I responded that my son was only 9 years old, so I doubt that is who she was looking for. Then, she hung up on me. EXCUSE ME!!!! I was P!

I had to deal with a bill collector like that, I have actually had two hang up on me. I don't know if the phone company made a mistake or if someone stole my identity but a collection agency contacted me over a phone bill that wasn't mine. The bill collector was completely obnoxious and rude, she hung up on me after I finally got sick of her calling me a liar and yelled, I'm not lying you b**ch. One of her co-workers also hung up on me when I called back even though I wasn't rude with him.

After I gave the collections agency the police report info I filed in case I was a victim of identity theft, I told them to never contact me again and that if they did or ruined my credit rating, I would sue.

[–] dagaul101 13 years ago

It's nice to know, but the stalking was what set her for a great fall after dishing out monetary adviceSource:Confessions of a Shopaholic - Movie Reviewhttp://moviereviews.noskram.com/2009/09/movie-reviews-for-confessions- of-a-shopaholic

[–] jejozi 12 years ago

Yes, the FDCPA outlaws those practices, but that doesn't mean it doesn't happen.

This will be the high point of my day; it's all downhill from here.

[–] jejozi 12 years ago

Or disclosed her debt to a third party.

This will be the high point of my day; it's all downhill from here.