Debt collection is something that everyone has to deal with. Case in point: a debt collector once left a message on my mom’s answering machine, where I had not lived for eleven years. My credit report was squeaky clean—I checked—but apparently there is another Sam Glover out there with worse luck.
Whenever you get a message from someone about “an important business matter,” it is most likely a debt collector trying to get in touch with you. When this happens, you should return the call, but be careful. If the debt is not yours, you want to avoid further calls, not to end up in the debt collector’s Rolodex.
When you call back, use Skype, a pay phone, or caller ID blocking. The debt collector may not believe you when you tell them you are not the person they are looking for, and you do not want to give them an easy way to keep bugging you. It is a good idea to record the phone call, if you can.
The debt collector should attempt to determine whether you are the person they are looking for. They may ask if you have ever lived at a certain address or had a certain phone number. If you are not the person they are trying to contact, this should clear it up. Ask them to remove any information that is yours from their account. Do not give them any information they do not already have.
If you are the person they are trying to call, take careful notes, and record all conversations. Get the collector’s address or fax number, and follow up your phone call with a written request for verification of the debt. Once you have the evidence in front of you, you should contact a consumer rights lawyer to help you figure out how to proceed.
(photo: http://flic.kr/p/FLc5q)
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I have many debt collectors calling me looking for the people who had this phone number before me. It’s been almost 2 years now that I’ve had this number. They call day and night. Have even threatened me. Is there a legal way I can stop the people they’re looking for to stop giving out my number as their own? My number still shows up on Whitepages.com as being theirs, even tho I registered my number with them.
Thanks for any info that might help stop this. I’ve blocked almost my limit of calls.
Need to do something to stop this.
Are you sure the previous owners are still giving out your number? It can take years for numbers to work themselves out of all the various records in which they appear.
A collector keeps calling our home for someone who does not live here. The message goes like this: We are calling for John Doe* if you are this person please stay on the line, if you are not this person please hang up immediately, or if you want this number removed please press zero.” So I press zero and the recording continues “you have agreed you are John Doe*, please call MST Financial Services….” number etc. given.
Their message is extremely misleading! I have not called their number yet and not sure how I will proceed.
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