Expert: Ray A Miller - 10/29/2008

Question
I am a collector located here in Philippines. Our company is an outsource from one of the biggest banks in the US.I am a manager/ team leader of a 10 associates. Our main job is to escalate calls from agents whose customers cant pay. There was one day wherein all managers were asked to take calls and get 10 right party contacts for our managers to monitor how we collect. I was calling around 6 pm eastern time US. while doing my tasks and taking, i was not awre that it rang for 8 times and no cusotmer have picked up. i was unaware until my manager told me that there were 10 instances wherein i let the phone ring for more than 7 times as per our FDCPA guidelines. is that subject for termination? i dont have previous corrective action on the same issue or any FDCPA violation. just that time. Is it considered as harrassment and for termination? thanks

Answer
I train the FDCPA here at our agency and I have never read or heard of a limit of times you can let the phone ring before it is considered harassment.  Unless your agency has and internal number set, I do not know how any one could prove that you had committed an FDCPA violation.  As far as something being grounds for termination, that should be outlined in your company's handbook.  I wish you good luck with this situation.