How do I make a collections agency tell me who they are?

[politicat]

First, the bill is not mine. Someone gave my cell phone number as their own phone (probably trying to dodge just this situation). So I'm not getting the paper bills or the ding to my credit (I hope), just the calls.

They're calling 3 to 6 times a day, however, and since I'm NOT the person who owes the debt, they refuse to A) believe me when I say that I have no idea who X person is, b) take my cell phone off their lists, c) give me their mailing address so I can write them to demand they take me off their list, or d) identify themselves. I'm REALLY tired of it, and since it is a cell, they're eating into my minutes.

I wrote to my attorney general and gave them the phone number (the only data I have on the agency) but my state is in severe financial crisis, so I have no hope that the AG will be able to do anything about it. Reverse lookup on the phone numbers does not bring it up - I'm assuming a PBX.

I am getting stubborn about this - It's my phone number and I'm not changing it just to escape this misbegotten problem.

Any ideas?

[Nicole]

1. Try calling them back

Maybe they will answer the call by stating their name?

I did that once when I had a similar problem. Mine was from a debt for a person whose name is the same as mine so they looked her up in the phone book. She wasn't listed but I was.

[politicat]

2. Tried that....

The federal law says that they have to state their name and company within 60 seconds of the beginning of the call. Colorado Law says they can't violate any privacy and can't reveal themselves as a collections agency except to the person they're trying to collect the debt from. Major conflict there.

There is no way that I am volunteering any information to them, but the people I've tried to talk to so far won't give me their address without me giving them my phone number and address, SSN, etc. I have no idea who these people are, so the LAST thing I'm going to do is give them my data. For all I know, they're scamming me, trying to get me to give them my CC number, SSN or other identifying data.

I call them and they won't give me anything unless I tell them who I am, and since I don't have any reason to talk to them - other than to get them to stop calling me - they are not getting my information.

[Nicole]

3. Well that sucks

I don't have any other ideas. I hope you can get the name out of them, or someone, soon.

I wouldn't want to give them any personal info either.

[NMDemDist2]

5. did you google the phone number? I have had some luck with

that when getting oddball "survey" calls

:shrug:

just a thought....

[LaurenG]

6. What about someone like Tom Martino?

I don't know if he's still in Colorado or not but when I lived in there he was the one person who could get answers for stuff like that. Most cities have a Tom Martino like person who gets to the bottom of problems just like yours. They are usually affiliated with a TV or radio station.

[eleny]

7. My first thought

Martino is still here and has a radio show. He helped us once. That was when "Father" John was still living. We ordered a storage shed and the company never delivered it. John was on it and we got our deposit refunded. (We finally got a Tuff Shed instead and we're very happy with it, btw.)

[LaurenG]

9. Oh no, father John died?

He was a very nice guy. He came to the Dr. I used to work for there. He always brought in something for the staff. At Christmas he'd bring us each a Christmas ornamant. I'm sad about that.

[eleny]

10. Yes, he died some time ago

A very nice man.

[LiberalEsto]

4. See if you can block the phone number

Also, call the phone company and tell them you are being harassed.

[politicat]

8. T-mobile doesn't have any way to block.

That was my first clue that I might have a problem. If I still had qwest land lines, I could block it.... Sad, huh? The one that is a free per minute lets me block calls, while the one that charges me for minutes is the one that won't block.

(We're changing phone companies very soon.)

[Katherine Brengle]

11. If you have the number, get a lawyer to find out for you--

seriously--have an accountant or a lawyer or someone with the knowledge to deal with this kind of garbage takecare of it.

Otherwise, change your number I guess.

[Lisa0825]

12. Try the forums at www.creditinfocenter.com

http://www.creditinfocenter.com

If you can't find out by googling the phone number, post about it there. They have a lot of very knowledgeable people there, and if they don't know who it is, I bet they can help come up with a way to find out.

[ima_sinnic]

13. why answer the calls? can you put the ringer on vibrate

(so others won't have to hear it ringing endlessly) then just take the calls you want?
Also, as suggested, google the number (as opposed to reverse lookup). I have gotten at least a clue about unknown callers that way.

[politicat]

16. I don't have to take the calls, and don't....

And they have their own special ring that says don't answer unless I feel like being vicious. (Which has happened from time to time-- better to take out my mean streak on people I could care less about and who cannot harm me than on people I do like or who can harm me....)

But I'm even getting tired of getting the identified calls.

[Delphinus]

14. How about the Better Business Bureau?

Or, can you contact T-Mobile and tell them what's going on? I know when I've called I usually get kids, but they've been helpful. It's worth a shot.

[bperci108]

15. Try this:

If they're still calling you, tell them you are willing to pay and to let you know how much and who to send the payment to.

Then mail them a cease letter.

A cease letter is one that tells them to cease all further communication with you by mail telephone or otherwise. Let them know any and all violations will be reported and prosecuted. Under the Fair Debt Collections and Practices Act this is your right. (I think that's the right name...)

They cannot contact you except one further communication saying they intend to sue.

Mind you, this only works for third-party collectors. If it's the original entity that is owed the debt, they can keep harassing you (to a point, which is legally defined). In that case, either get a new phone number or have as much fun with them as you like.

Get gross, graphic and disgusting. At least that's what I've done in the past.... :evilgrin:

Or read up on the pertinent consumer law and sue their ass.

[sam sarrha]

18. just make a small payment of good faith.. monthly anything..

[zalinda]

17. I was getting calls from a collection company

who apparently got one of my credit reports and saw that there was a debt of $12,000 still owed and was charged off. The problem was that it was a mistake, as the debt had been paid 2 years ago. I am now in the process of getting it off my report.

I contacted the bank, and sure enough, it had been paid and they had no idea who it was who was calling me since they had their own company they deal with. I traced their number back to Houston, and informed the DA there that this company was calling me trying to collect a debt that had been paid 2 years ago, and that they had no business trying to collect.

The next time they called, I told them that I called the bank and they told me that not only had the debt been paid, but that they didn't work for the bank on collection. I also told them that I contacted the Houston DA to report that they were trying to scam people. I never heard from the again. It took me 2 months to get pissed off enough to figure out what had been going on.

Here is one thing that I've learned. If it is a legitimate debt, you will receive a statement in the mail. Tell them your attorney requires a statement before it can be paid. More than likely they will back off if they think lawyers will be involved. But, you MUST be dead calm when you say this. ANY weakness that they think they can find they will exploit.

When I was going through my financial troubles about 2 years ago, I was dealing with a ton of these guys. They will tell you ANYTHING to get you to pay. I finally went to a debt place and had all the debt negotiated down. It's all paid off now, so I'm okay. But, I do remember all the crap I had to go through with those collectors.

BTW, most of these companies are just lawyers offices. Many new lawyers have found out that they can rake in the money by doing debt collection. They buy a block of debt for $.10 on the dollar, and they start making the phone calls. Heard this on a NPR program and one of the lawyers was just laughing his butt off about making these calls.

zalinda

[sam sarrha]

19. error

[shrike]

20. If you're disputing the debt

According to the Fair Credit Act of 1980-something they cannot contact you.
When this happened to my husband, he quoted the Fair Credit Act and they backed off. Your harassers sound unscrupulous enough that this may not work, though. The other suggestions on this thread are very good ones. I especially like the one about the "written statement."