Collection company still harassing after I tell them Im not who they are looking for

[Keira1387]

As the tittle says I keep getting collection calls for the same guy. I don't know who he is, but I get collection calls for him pretty often. I got one this afternoon.

After him asking me probably 10 times if I would put "joe" on the phone, and me explaining I have never met "joe" he asks if I can get a message to him! In my best stern voice I told him one last time I do not know joe and do not call this number again. Well, you guessed it... They called! Then argued about calling, while I was looking at my call log.

So I would like to be prepared if they do call again. Can someone please tell me the name of the organization like BBB that they are regulated by? I Want them to know that I mean business. TIA!

 

[jenrose66]

As the tittle says I keep getting collection calls for the same guy. I don't know who he is, but I get collection calls for him pretty often. I got one this afternoon.

After him asking me probably 10 times if I would put "joe" on the phone, and me explaining I have never met "joe" he asks if I can get a message to him! In my best stern voice I told him one last time I do not know joe and do not call this number again. Well, you guessed it... They called! Then argued about calling, while I was looking at my call log.

So I would like to be prepared if they do call again. Can someone please tell me the name of the organization like BBB that they are regulated by? I Want them to know that I mean business. TIA!

My mom had that problem, it's common with cell numbers, I think, because the numbers get recycled...anyway, they called multiple times a week for over a year and nothing helped. I answered for her one day and told them they were harassing us and the person in question no longer owned the number, they said they would note this person's account and she never got another phone call.

 

[MSSANDRA]

If its the same # everytime, simply block the # from your phone. They will get a recording that this number will not accept this call. Had to do it a few times for different reasons.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

Mention both Fair Credit Reporting Act and the Federal Debt Collection Act and that it is your intention to report them to the Federal Trade Commission for violations of both of them.

 

[AprilsZoo]

Mention both Fair Credit Reporting Act and the Federal Debt Collection Act and that it is your intention to report them to the Federal Trade Commission for violations of both of them.

First, politely ask them for their name and number and who they work for, just like you are taking a message ( don't say you are taking one just ask for the info). Then repeat what you've told them before (you don't know the person, etc) then say what Cheshire Figment suggested, using their name.

This gets their attention so much more effectively, because then they know you actually have info to report!

 

[dougsmom98]

I would get calls for my sister because she has bad credit. I told the bill collectors that I had no way to get ahold of her, I wanted them to take me off of their list, and not to call me at this number ever again. That seemed to work, but I may just be lucky.
Good luck.

 

[MomToOne]

I've had my home phone number for over 7 years now, and I am STILL getting collection calls for the person who had the number before me.

Next time they call, DO NOT engage in ANY conversation with them beyond the following: "That person is not at this number and I do not know who that person is. Please remove my number from your database. If you call again, I will be notifying the state attorney general and anyone else I can think of." If you are feeling charitable, you can then wait for their gruff "fine" and hang up. Otherwise, just hang up yourself after your statement.

Keep a piece of paper by the phone so you can record the numbers they are calling from, and the date/time they called. (I'm assuming you have caller id) Then follow through on your threat. If they call a second time, tell them "I asked you on [date] at [time] to remove my number from your database because you have the wrong number. Since you obviously have not done that, I will now report you to the attorney general and other parties. Have a nice day." and hang up.

Then get ready to do it all again a few weeks later - because even if this one collector stops calling, they will just sell the debt again to someone else, and the new company will start calling and you'll have to do it all over AGAIN.

Over time you get to be pretty good about it and they get the point after the first call Most even remotely ethical collectors will remove your phone number after that first call.

 

[lilpig]

I get phone calls for a Cassandra. It has been 6 years now, at first they didn't believe me. But once I took the information down and each time they called said " I spoke to so and so on such and such date and informed them" it stopped, for a bit. Part of the reason I think it still happens is because Cassandra likes to use the number still sometimes..or its different bills that come due. After keeping track, most have been very kind and said they were sorry.

 

[disneychrista]

There is no Mr. Smith at this number, please remove it from your database. **CLICK**

 

[Colleen27]

First, politely ask them for their name and number and who they work for, just like you are taking a message ( don't say you are taking one just ask for the info). Then repeat what you've told them before (you don't know the person, etc) then say what Cheshire Figment suggested, using their name.

This gets their attention so much more effectively, because then they know you actually have info to report!

This! We have been getting calls for two years from various collection agencies looking for the people who had our number before us, and this is the only thing that has helped. Telling them to take our number out of their database didn't work - each person would claim they would make a note of it, and the next one calling "had no record" of any such request. But getting the company name, rep name, and contact number before demanding they stop contacting us did the trick for all but one particularly obnoxious company with an auto-dialer/recording and "press one to speak with a customer service rep" who always seems to be named Steve and never speaks much English. That one we're still just ignoring/hanging up on.

 

[AZMermaid]

This happened to us when we bought a foreclosure. Even though we had transferred our old phone number that we had for 10+ years, it was now linked to the address. At some point I stopped answering the phone but the machine would still go off. I had a colicky baby at the time and it was awful. So, I started answering and most of the people would ask for the old owner (and his adult children who also lived here and apparently never paid a bill) and then not call back when I explained. But there were 2-3 who were relentless. They called like 5 times a day. I ended up making a list of the companies and threatening to report them. The worst was a company who asked me to ask a neighbor if I knew how to contact the old owner. Uh. No. Then a company refused to give me their name because of privacy law. At that point I blew up "You mean you can call me 5 times a day but you can't tell me who you are?" I demanded a supervisor at which point he hung up on me- but never called back. We ended up getting rid of the landline over the whole thing.

We also have had personal visits from the IRS looking for these people. I never would have thought of this as a side effect from buying a foreclosure!

 

[Keira1387]

Thank you everyone for the replies! I think thats a great idea to sound like I'm taking a message. That way I can make sure I have all the info I need incase I need to report them. The final straw tonight was when the women basically called me a liar. I have the tools now to stop them from calling. Thanks again!

 

[T. Lynn]

I keep getting collection calls for my ex husband and I left him back in 2009. They keep telling me they leave a message for him and he doesn't return their calls.

Um, exactly why do I care cause I'm no longer with him and it's NOT my debt? I tell them to remove my name & number from their system (as sometimes it's the same company). Then I say "good luck getting your money" and hang up. It does get frustrating though!

 

[Laurawill]

I am frustrated about one that called me the other day and asked for someone with my name. Then he said to verify your identity what are the last 4 of your ssn. I told him he called me, I had no business with his company and I wasn't giving him jack. Then he said okay he would verify with my birthdate. I again repeated that I had no clue who he was, had no business with him etc. Then he asked if my ssn ended with ****. I told him it did not. Turns out it was collections for a Chrysler Town & Country they want to repo. This has been going on for nearly 3 years. We have been getting calls on it for years, but I have never had anyone be so rude in demanding my personal information.

 

[NYCDiane]

Mention both Fair Credit Reporting Act and the Federal Debt Collection Act and that it is your intention to report them to the Federal Trade Commission for violations of both of them.

First, neither of these would apply in any way to the OP. These laws protect the debtors, not third parties who are getting phone calls looking for a debtor.

Second, it's called the FAIR DEBT COLLECTIONS PRACTICES ACT, not the "Federal Debt Collection Act".

Anyway, the best thing the OP can do is:

Keep a log of every single call she gets: Date, time, number they're calling from, who they ID themselves as, who they ask for, her response to them

When they call, demand that your number be removed. Ask for their address so you can send them a letter demanding that your number be removed.

Send them a letter.

If the calls continue, contact the FTC (Federal Trade Commission) as well as the FCC (Federal Communications Commission). You can also contact the attorney general in your state as well as the state where the debt collection agency is located. You might also consider contacting a conusmer's rights attorney and filing a lawsuit.

Blocking their phone number won't help. They're calling from a call center and have many ways of getting around that. They have countless phone numbers they can use to call.

Good luck!

 

[J/T Gramdma]

I had this problem with my daughter's bad credit. they called and called for about 2 years. Finally I noticed a car sitting in the cross st that was there about 5 days. I guess to see if she still lived here[she did not]. After that the calls all stopped.

 

[j's m]

I had one call to ask me to give a message to my next door neighbor.
I knew they were having severe financial problems, since they lost their business, but I wasn't about to get involved.

I told the caller I didn't know them and fortunately they never called back.