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Seems instead of harrassing you; it's the 'Scarlet Letter' approach!
Over a year ago my elderly neighbor told me of this practice and I discounted it, as it doesn't seem legal.

Today I get a call at 10:20am Central time from (on ID as:) 972-555-1212! She introduces herself as an Investigator from Wasau County. She asks if I know 'so and so'. I asked her who this is, she gives me her name as Sandy Stone. She asks me if I know 'so and so, my neighbor' and speals off addresses. She claimed it is not collections. Private investigator? She hedged, it's Global Investigations Services out of Dallas Texas! They (the company) call neighbors or others in the general vacinity of their 'target of investigations'. She asked if I knew 'so and so, aforementioned neighbor's girlfriend', does he still drive a 'colour and make of car'! Left phone # of 18003814640x205 for me to tell neighbor! 'Scarlet Letter' my neighbor and me be the 'bad guy'? WHAT?!

2007-01-19 05:40:34 · 6 answers · asked by ganymedesgoblet 2 in Business & Finance Credit

My question isn't about what I should say or not say. It's about 'it's none of my business to get into my neighbors business... and this company isn't paying me to be their gopher nor do I wish to be. There is something inherently wrong with this practice of imposing upon neighbors in the guise of 'law enforcement field professional'. Shall I add that in 'my neighborhood' we 'got them drinking gun toting men'? The 'Scarlet Letter' was 'A' for 'adultry'... I used it in reference to the 'classic story of same title'... 15th century public shame. It's not my business; it's thiers and their debotors. Perhaps I should post to a legal forum.

2007-01-19 07:51:37 · update #1

6 answers

If you dont want to get into it with them, say you dont know them.
What they did is legal, while Sandy probably works for a collection agency or a company that contracts to them, she is not collecting a debt. She is looking for the person who owes for the collectors to do their job. So she can say she is an investigator.
Anyhow, I think you should tell that girl the message. Who knows if its really about a debt. Maybe she was written into a will and the executor is looking for her. Its possible

2007-01-19 09:22:09 · answer #1 · answered by Michele 2 · 0 0

These people are probably Debt collectors. Posing as someone they're not is illegal...however, it is also illegal to disclose a debt to a third party. It is legal to contact other people in order to try to reach a debtor, but they can only contact each party once unless they have reasonable cause to believe an additional call will produce information that wasn't received the first time. They are not allowed to say they are debt collectors...but they can't say they're not. Your best bet is to take a message, refuse to divulge any information, and give the message to their neighbor.

2007-01-19 06:26:04 · answer #2 · answered by oj 5 · 1 0

wow this is a new one now, i have heard IRS, FBI, City government now a PI. this is very illegal, i know of a case that a collector represented himself as an IRS agent contacting a persons parents looking for them. All of this was recorded and turned out to be a collector. This small out fit got there license trown out in that state, a huge fine that payed a 10k settlement to the parents, This also ended up closing that agency down. Keep that recording, if you want to get real nasty, contact the nearest consumer rights attorney they will take care of this and you could be awarded damages for your time and pain.

2007-01-19 14:04:42 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0 0

Never give any info on the phone about yourself or anyone else! You should let your neighbor know this has happened. They can contact them and let them know to stop this immediately! It is against the law. Your neighbor needs to let them know if it continues they will bring suit against them. I wouldn't stand for this. Reputable persons would not use this tactic. There are legal ways of getting information on a person. Most things are made public, i.e. the car you drive, license #, etc. If they call again, have your local police station number and give it to them to call!

2007-01-19 07:29:18 · answer #4 · answered by Rea 3 · 0 0

I have been working with a credit card settlement place. I had collection agents harassing my in laws looking for me. It has stopped since I filed complaints with the Better Business Bureau, My state attorney general and the FTC...of course I got no money but they all said "Oh they were not doing anything wrong" after the debt collector faxed letters to everyone saying "we followed rules" WRONG they were verbally abusive to my in laws.

I was told by the Debt settlement representative that if you offer to take a message for someone, they can call back. So never offer to take messages. Just say dont know them and hang up.

My in laws never offered to take messages...they just harrassed them and bullied them. But my mother in law is tough and never gave in. God Bless HEr!

2007-01-19 17:29:51 · answer #5 · answered by Kris 3 · 0 0

There are skip tracing companies that gather information to sell to collection agencies. They can leave messages to get calls back.
So yes, it's legal.

PS - if you pay your bills you don't have to worry about those pesky old bill collectors.

2007-01-22 12:40:38 · answer #6 · answered by siren381 2 · 0 0

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