BCSnob
Middletown, MD
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Joined: 02/23/2002
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We recently moved (July 1) and had to get a new number.
Since day 1 with this number we have been receiving automated/recorded debt collection calls for previous owners of our new phone number. When we are home and received these we would work through their phone systems to either select having our number removed or talk with a real person to inform them this number is no longer associated with the person they are trying to reach.
After getting repeated calls from the same number we called our phone company and they made a courtesy call to the worst offender. Within 48 hrs that company called again. My wife waited to talk with a person who said they had no record of ever calling our number before which is BS based upon *69. The company (actually same phone number) was informed we would be contacting the State's Attorney General’s Office to file a complaint. The company rep assured us our number would be removed from their calling list (yea right). Of course the debt collection Co. will not provide us with their business name.
My wife called the AG's office and was informed that unless the debt collection agency provided their business name there was nothing the AG's office could do.
So now after enduring all the BS from these debt collection robocalls we have to change our number, inform all our contacts, buy new dog IDs, and possibly endure the wrong number manure again.
Mark
BTW our only debt is our house and it was owner financed
* This post was
edited 11/19/09 10:42am by BCSnob *
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downtheroad
Puget Sound
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Once again the screw up of someone else (the guy who didn't pay his debts) affects the innocent.
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BCSnob
Middletown, MD
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My wife googled several of these numbers and got many hits on the web. There were lots of complaints but never any company names.
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sonicsix
Jerry n' Cynthia
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Next time they call, start off by saying that the call is being recorded (even if it isn't). Take notes of times and dates of any calls and what was said. Set your phone to not accept blocked numbers.
Even though you are not the one who they are looking for, tell them that you are familiar with the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act and that any further communication from them must be in writing. Tell them you understand that the law requires that you notify them in writing about this and that you need an address to send it to. They are mandated by law to comply.
Google the address they give you and you'll get a company name for the DA.
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joanne0012
Boston, MA
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BCSnob wrote:... Of course the debt collection Co. will not provide us with their business name. ... My wife called the AG's office and was informed that unless the debt collection agency provided their business name there was nothing the AG's office could do.
...
So next time they call, just pretend that you're the guy they're looking for, tell them you just won the lottery and want to make things right, and ask where to send the check. Or tell them that the guy they're looking for has died. Or just hang up. Or set down the phone and walk away. Or hand it over to a visiting toddler. Or tell them about your aches and pains and ask for medical advice.
Or give up the landline instead of getting a new number. A couple of months ago, the CDC announced that there are now more US households with a cell phone and no landline (20%) than with a landline and no cell phones (19%). I haven't had a landline in many years, and don't miss it at all.
Well, that's not exactly true: when I moved 2 years ago, the introductory package deal for landline, cable TV and internet was cheaper than just getting the latter two, so for a year I had a landline. But after a couple of annoying calls I just turned off the ringer on the phone; it was still there for emergencies but never needed.
* This post was
edited 11/19/09 11:12am by joanne0012 *
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Admin
Channel Islands Harbor, Ca.
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Joined: 06/20/2000
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I've posted this several times but I'll do it again.
Get a "Telezapper"
It stops computer generated calls cold and sends back a "disconnected" dial tone.
www.telezapper.com
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DeepLiquid
Illinois
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joanne0012 wrote:BCSnob wrote:... Of course the debt collection Co. will not provide us with their business name. ... My wife called the AG's office and was informed that unless the debt collection agency provided their business name there was nothing the AG's office could do.
...
So next time they call, just pretend that you're the guy they're looking for, tell them you just won the lottery and want to make things right, and ask where to send the check. Or tell them that the guy they're looking for has died. Or just hang up. Or set down the phone and walk away. Or hand it over to a visiting toddler. Or tell them about your aches and pains and ask for medical advice.
Or give up the landline instead of getting a new number. A couple of months ago, the CDC announced that there are now more US households with a cell phone and no landline (20%) than with a landline and no cell phones (19%). I haven't had a landline in many years, and don't miss it at all.
Well, that's not exactly true: when I moved 2 years ago, the introductory package deal for landline, cable TV and internet was cheaper than just getting the latter two, so for a year I had a landline. But after a couple of annoying calls I just turned off the ringer on the phone; it was still there for emergencies but never needed.
Same thing is happening to my moms cell phone. She's had the number for about a year and a half (and has no debts), she gets 4-5 calls a day. She googled up the number and there were hundreds of hits, all saying people have tried everything but the law can't (won't) do anything. Looks like we'll be changing her cell number pretty soon.
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BCSnob
Middletown, MD
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joanne0012 wrote:So next time they call, just pretend that you're the guy they're looking for, tell them you just won the lottery and want to make things right, and ask where to send the check. Or tell them that the guy they're looking for has died. Or just hang up. Or set down the phone and walk away. Or hand it over to a visiting toddler. Or tell them about your aches and pains and ask for medical advice. This may be fun for the first few times but when you're getting 1-2 calls every day it will soon get old.
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BCSnob
Middletown, MD
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Joined: 02/23/2002
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Admin wrote:I've posted this several times but I'll do it again.
Get a "Telezapper"
It stops computer generated calls cold and sends back a "disconnected" dial tone.
www.telezapper.com Will this affect DishNetwork when their system tries to call into the box? Whenever our phone line is out of service for a few hours (at the wrong time) we get a message on the TV screen during dish start-up stating to avoid monthly service fees make sure your system is connected to a phone line.
It will not prevent debt collectors from manually calling everyday and not taking us off their call list. Clearly, telling them that we are not the person they are trying to collect from had no effect.
* This post was
edited 11/19/09 01:02pm by BCSnob *
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CatandJim
Tulsa, as in Oklahoma
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Joined: 08/23/2004
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I had the same thing happen with a cell phone number... I feel your pain. I told them countless times that I wasn't Mary so&so and that I would be glad to give their company information to the attorney general if they didn't stop harassing me. The calls slowed down but did not stop.
I finally called my cell phone service provider and asked to change my number and told them why. I use my cell phone for work so that would have been a hassle but I was ready to do it. Come to find out the person who had my cell # before now had a new number with them. The supervisor who returned my call said they called her and told her that if the debt collectors kept calling her old number that they would cancel her service. It took a few weeks but the calls stopped.
There are no easy answers to getting such calls stopped Mark, I hope you succeed.
Cat
(Jim just reads the forum once in a while)
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