My husband and I have separate credit and each have two credit card accounts. Since American Express recently lowered limits on their credit cards, not just ours, due to the economy, this lowered our FICO score which lost us on business line of credit. We are self-employed and have been since early 1999 prior to the issuance of the credit card accounts. Just this month we had to make a decision whether our funds would be more wisely spent, mortgage, auto loans, utilities and office rent or credit card payments. We did not elect to submit funds to Washington Mutual.

Just three days after becoming late, we started receiving numerous telephone calls every day from WaMu's representatives in India with such names as Ben, Alex, Jeffery, etc. It was apparent that they were reading from cue cards and had no comprehension of the English language. We tried to explain the situation, and requested that a representative from the US contact us to no avail.

We then turned our attention to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and became educated.

Pursuant to 15 USC 1692(b), Section 805(c): If a consumer notifies a debt collector in writing that the consumer refuses to pay a debt or that the consumer wishes the debt collector to cease further communication with the consumer, the debt collector shall not communicate further with the consumer with respect to such debt. The section further indicates that additional communication can only be accomplished in writing. Further Section 806 deals with instances of harassment or abuse in causing a telephone to ring or engaging any person in telephone conversation repeatedly or continuously with intent to annoy, abuse, or harass any person at the called number.

We attempted to obtain a fax number to provide WaMu with written notice and were told there were no fax numbers, not even to their legal department. Our letters will be mailed today indicating notice of no further telephone calls or the matter will be turned over to an attorney for swift action. If the telephone calls don't stop we intend to commence a class action lawsuit in violation of the Federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.