I had a massachussets law firm call me today and ask me to leave a message with a neighbor in my Condominium complex. I don't know this neighbor but I was given her name and unit number. The woman I spoke with said she needs to reach this person and asked me to give this neighbor the message. After a search on the internet I found this is a collection law office. Is it legal for them to do this? I would've have thought they had to go through a law office here in my state and pay for the service. But then I don't know the law.
2006-10-02 10:54:17 · 10 answers · asked by hardatwork 2 in Business & Finance ➔ Credit
Yes, I heard of this. Thier tactic is to embarrass your neighbor into paying her debt. Some collectors will even knock on your door and ask you to give the neighbor very specific messages such as, "You owe so and so $15,000 and we have not been able to contact you so can you please...". I used to work for a collections agency. They try all types of techniques
2006-10-02 10:59:56 · answer #1 · answered by SmartyPants 5 · 3⤊ 0⤋
They shouldn't have identified themselves as a law firm. Sometimes the name of the company makes you think it's a law firm. I was a collector years ago and we had a program that would give us the closest 10 neighbors, and 10 people with the same last name in that city. It's embarrassing for a persons neighbor to give them a message like this. You wouldn't believe how they get this info. When you send in your warranty card for a new electronic, those companies sell your info anything that you can think of, collection agencies do. It really doesn't pay to pay the phone company to make you number private, they'll get it if they want to.
2006-10-02 11:27:16 · answer #2 · answered by NETTA M 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is legal i also used to do collections, (that dosent mean i felt it was right to harass people, and we were forced to do just that) however once she calls again, and she will. if you tell her that you do not know the person she is looking for, and that you refuse to do her job for her and go hunting for them, to stop calling your home and that you are taping the conversation. She will have to stop, because her company can be sued, this has happened before and that's why they have those new telemarketing laws. if u want some extra cash u may want to get a recorder. whatever u do, dont tell her u spoke with the person there looking for or she will put your number permanetly in her computer as a contact and u could be harrased for years.
2006-10-02 11:08:20 · answer #3 · answered by tracystacy 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
This is not only tacky it is NOT what a legitimate law office would do.
IF you have caller i.d. and you have this law office's number, simply head to your county attorney and hand it over to them. They can call this law office and advise to NOT bother you again on a matter that does NOT involve you.
Shame on them for putting you in the middle and HOW embarrassing for the neighbor IF they are good citizens !! (( but then anyone involved in collections is shady in my opinion))
2006-10-02 11:57:14 · answer #4 · answered by Kitty 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It's a collections attempt. No. It's not legal. It's harassment and goes against the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. You should let this neighbor know immediately so she can file a complaint against this collector and possibly file a lawsuit against them so they have to pay her rather than her paying these criminals.
2016-07-28 04:24:36 · answer #5 · answered by Big Mouth 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
If they identified themselves as a collector, or gave any other personal info about the neighbor, it's illegal. If it was just a "give her this name and number, it's legal, BUT...it might not be legal for you to call them back and give THEM any info about her (she wasn't home, she doesn't live there anymore, here's her work number, etc.).
Best idea: tell them you do not know her and tell them not to contact you anymore about this matter. If they call you again after that, it's illegal.
2006-10-02 11:00:45 · answer #6 · answered by LisaT 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Why should you do their work? This is a trick because the majority of us will do what they ask because we are nice. Ignore it-if they phone you again, tell them not to bother you or your calling the police. Your neighbor is aware what's going on.
2006-10-02 10:57:56 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Strictly a collection agency ploy. Unfortunately it is legal. I used to be one of those folks and you wouldn't believe some of the things I have seen done. All they are looking for is verification of residence.
2006-10-02 10:56:36 · answer #8 · answered by Letsee 4 · 1⤊ 0⤋
NO, this is not your job. The collections agency needs to come out and deliver the notice. Don't intervene, this has nothing to do with you.
2006-10-02 11:02:07 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't care if its legal for them to ask. You have no legal obligation to help them contact anyone. If they call back, tell them to do their own legwork.
2006-10-02 13:49:37 · answer #10 · answered by STEVEN F 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋