wrong number - collections calls

[Tom Earp]

Get their phone number first off before you tell them off.

Then tell them you will notify the proper authorities about the harassaing calls.

Notify your local phone company about what is going on. They can with your permission put a tap on your line.

[ForeverRoses]

I was getting these from a law firm in Arizona (and I am in Indiana). I finally called them back and they removed my phone number but not before they harrassed me about "Cedric" and if I knew him (they apparently thought I was lying about not knowing him). My husband's company has an attorney that works for them (in-house) so he ended up calling them on our behalf as well and cited some laws regarding telephone harrassment.

[PeppyGPhiB]

I would do a couple things...

First, I'd call the collection company back and talk to a supervisor. Pressing 0 almost always gets you to an operator. Confirm with them that it appears the debtor they're trying to reach has provided them (or their client) with a bogus telephone number, since you do not know the person and have had that telephone number in your name for X number of years.

Second, I'd call the company the collection agency is collecting the debt on behalf of, to make sure they have all of the above information, too.

Third, I'd order a copy of my credit report to make sure that no one has opened any accounts in my name. ESPECIALLY if I was getting a lot of calls like this, and from people looking for more than one person. This is how identity theft works.

[jitterbug13]

Originally Posted by 33girl

How on earth can anyone named "Buford" get credit in the first place? LOLLERS.

Originally Posted by ZTAngel

This is the South. It's amazing what people name their kids here. Nothing surprises me anymore.

One of my best friend's names is Buford (and he's a junior). And since he's lives in LA (near New Orleans), I doubt you would be getting calls for him. I can't speak for the other Bufords in the world.

[epchick]

EVERYDAY, I get calls at around 8:30 am and its always those automated "please stay on the line for a representative to speak to you" calls.

Seriously, if these companies don't even put in the effort to be a live person on the phone, I don't put in the effort to answer.

But I should, because I need to get these people to STOP calling everyday.

[texas*princess]

Originally Posted by epchick

EVERYDAY, I get calls at around 8:30 am and its always those automated "please stay on the line for a representative to speak to you" calls.

Seriously, if these companies don't even put in the effort to be a live person on the phone, I don't put in the effort to answer.

But I should, because I need to get these people to STOP calling everyday.

I used to get something similar... the recording would say if you are not -insert name- do not listen any further.

One time I actually did, and it was just an automated message saying to call a certain 1-800 number and I called them back, told them that person they were looking for was not at my number and I haven't heard from them again.

[pbear19]

I've never worked for an actual collection agency, but I have worked in an insurance collections department in the past. I know the calls are annoying, I do. But the collector is simply doing their job, trying to recoup from someone who owes a debt. Most people who are avoiding collectors will lie and say that the collector has the wrong number. So if the collector doesn't accept it at first, just give them some more information.

And as in any situation, the nicer you are to them the more likely it is that they will leave you be. I will fully admit that when someone was rude or abrasive with me it made me much less likely to cooperate with their request, especially since I had a style that I tried to be as pleasant as possible because I felt I was able to collect more of the debts when I was decent to people.

Not everyone who works collections is evil.

[ree-Xi]

Originally Posted by Tom Earp

Get their phone number first off before you tell them off.

Then tell them you will notify the proper authorities about the harassaing calls.

Notify your local phone company about what is going on. They can with your permission put a tap on your line.

Only law enforcement agencies can "tap" your phone, and it has to be for a very good reason.

Most phone companies do not allow blocking for these type of calls. Even if you WERE able to get their number, the calls are generated using auto-dialers that use hundreds, maybe thousands of different numbers.

The do not call list would not help you in this case because the number is presumably in databases thanks to the person(s) they are seeking. Chances are, someone else had your number at one point.

I have had this problem since we moved two years ago. "Sergio" - his real name - lived in the same town but his phone was disconnected. The standard time the phone company waits between reassigning phone numbers is 6-24 months, usually on the later side. Well, they gave us Sergio's number after 2 months. So we have had collectors, relatives, babymamas, kids, stores, and everyone else that Sergio knew, calling us.

We went to get my car tuned up one day, and the auto center had our number associated with Sergio, and you guessed it, he had bounced a check. We had to bring in our phone bill to show them that we had that number.

The best calls are the ones in Spanish. I speak about 3% Spanish, and I try to tell them that Sergio doesn't have this number anymore. I have been called "puta" more than once.

Good luck. The phone company told me our only option was to change our number, but seeing as we had just moved and given everyone our new number, we decided to deal with it.