Is this legal?

[cinmell]

I received a call from an 800# asking if I know my neighbor "Mary Smith." I said no. The person then said well they live at #26 "name of my street." I said no I don't know that person.

Obviously it was a collection company. Is it legal to call neighbors to try to get in touch with you? Not only did she ask if I knew the name, she proceeded to tell me which number on my street this person lives.

I know which neighbor lives at the address but I don't know her or her husband personally, we just say hi how are you type of thing. They are a sweet elderly couple and I can just imagine how embarrassed they would be if they knew neighbors were receiving calls about them.

 

[Belle0101]

I'm not sure if it's legal or illegal but it's not the first I've heard of collection companies doing that.

I don't know, I guess they think this will embarrass the people into paying.


ETA: Did a little Googling and apparently so long as they don't say it's for a debt they can call.

Watch this video to see how funny debt collectors think it is to call your neighbors and relatives when trying to collect a debt. The debt collectors admit they do it to embarrass you.

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

Yes, it is legal...

 

[Praying Colonel]

I received a call from an 800# asking if I know my neighbor "Mary Smith." I said no. The person then said well they live at #26 "name of my street." I said no I don't know that person.

Obviously it was a collection company. Is it legal to call neighbors to try to get in touch with you? Not only did she ask if I knew the name, she proceeded to tell me which number on my street this person lives.

I know which neighbor lives at the address but I don't know her or her husband personally, we just say hi how are you type of thing. They are a sweet elderly couple and I can just imagine how embarrassed they would be if they knew neighbors were receiving calls about them.

Any debt collector communicating with any person other than the consumer for the purpose of acquiring location information about the consumer shall—
(1) identify himself, state that he is confirming or correcting location information concerning the consumer, and, only if expressly requested, identify his employer....

http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/uscode15/usc_sec_15_00001692---b000-.html

 

[cinmell]

Any debt collector communicating with any person other than the consumer for the purpose of acquiring location information about the consumer shall—
(1) identify himself, state that he is confirming or correcting location information concerning the consumer, and, only if expressly requested, identify his employer....

http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/uscode15/usc_sec_15_00001692---b000-.html

The woman didn't give her name or the name of the company she is working for.

Yes, it is legal...

I can't believe they are allowed to do that. This is the 3rd time this week I received a call from this number. On Monday they hung up when I answered. Yesterday when I answered they said sorry, wrong number. Today is when they asked for the neighbor.

I usually ignore 800#'s but for 5 1/2 years I've been receiving calls from collection agencies and lawyers for some woman. I answer to tell them wrong number, I don't know Brenda, take me off your list. I just assumed this was for her too.

 

[LuvOrlando]

-

 

[Praying Colonel]

The woman didn't give her name or the name of the company she is working for.

According to the statute, she only has to give the name of her employer if you specifically request it.

Also, there's the possibility that the person isn't a debt collector as defined by the FDCPA. She may be working for the original creditor, or it may be some other type of background check not being performed by a debt collector. If that's the case, then the FDCPA doesn't apply.

Of course, there's always the possibility that the woman is a debt collector and is violating the statute by not giving her name. Debt collectors have been known to violate the FDCPA from time to time.

 

[cinmell]

I'd send a letter to the AG but I would definitely not bring it up to the couple. If they are in trouble they already know about it and dumping it in the open like that seems cruel to me.

Oh I would never say anything to the couple, ever!

 

[PaddingtonBear]

I've received calls like this for a neighbor. Its not illegal, just rather scummy.

When they ask if I know Neighbor X a Address Y I will generally ask who wants to know. Once they identify themselves, I will ask why they want to know. Then we play along from there. Depending on my mood I might shout something about moneylenders in the temple and then hang up, or I might invent a very, very long and verbose story that involves a wedding of a cousin of a cousin to a third uncle and her battle with cancer as she tries to get an advanced degree in the biosciences while learning to juggle on her trans-contiental European vacation, and when I come to the end I might say, isn't that something? Her name is Margaret too, but last name is Doolittle, not the Margaret your'e looking for. Sorry I can't help.

 

[aprilgail2]

I was getting calls like that for neighbors a few years back- I finally asked them to please have their collection agencys stop calling my home number. I guessthey must have paid up after that because I got no more calls LOL. No way am I fielding calls for deadbeats and not calling them on it!

 

[BCDisneyFanatic]

I've received calls like this for a neighbor. Its not illegal, just rather scummy.

When they ask if I know Neighbor X a Address Y I will generally ask who wants to know. Once they identify themselves, I will ask why they want to know. Then we play along from there. Depending on my mood I might shout something about moneylenders in the temple and then hang up, or I might invent a very, very long and verbose story that involves a wedding of a cousin of a cousin to a third uncle and her battle with cancer as she tries to get an advanced degree in the biosciences while learning to juggle on her trans-contiental European vacation, and when I come to the end I might say, isn't that something? Her name is Margaret too, but last name is Doolittle, not the Margaret your'e looking for. Sorry I can't help.

I'm going to have to try that one. Thanks for the laugh.

 

[ChrisFL]

I've received calls like this for a neighbor. Its not illegal, just rather scummy.

When they ask if I know Neighbor X a Address Y I will generally ask who wants to know. Once they identify themselves, I will ask why they want to know. Then we play along from there. Depending on my mood I might shout something about moneylenders in the temple and then hang up, or I might invent a very, very long and verbose story that involves a wedding of a cousin of a cousin to a third uncle and her battle with cancer as she tries to get an advanced degree in the biosciences while learning to juggle on her trans-contiental European vacation, and when I come to the end I might say, isn't that something? Her name is Margaret too, but last name is Doolittle, not the Margaret your'e looking for. Sorry I can't help.

Thats awesome!