Your clients have been ignoring the calls they’ve been getting from the collection agencies because three credit cards are overdue.
At the first meeting when they stepped out at the first meeting, they only told you about 2 overdue credit cards on which they were joint account holders.
The other one belongs to her only and he never knew about it until he picked up the phone when the collector called.
When he demanded the caller tell him what the call was about, the collector explained it. He was furious.
They also have 2 unauthorized charges on their joint Visa card. He is super upset, because from his point of view, it’s all her fault.
He thinks she should deal with all the creditors.
She asks you to call the creditors for them. She says she freezes and cannot cope. He refuses to be involved.
He won’t come to the meetings about their joint, and her individual credit cards.
Explain the step-by-step guidance you would give both of them to help them be proactive on the issues below.
You must also arm them to handle the creditor’s tactics.
1. Are the following acts by the aggressive collector on their past due joint credit card permitted?
Explain.
(a) The collector said to her, "There are severe consequences to the failure to pay. You know we can ruin you!"
(b) The collector also calls him at the office twice a day and leaves messages such as, "It’s urgent that you call me," with his co-workers.
(c) The collector called his HR office to confirm that he was still working there.