Creditors have wrong number?

Question

I have a certain creditor calling my phone number and looking for a person I have never heard of. I guess it was the person that had this number before me. I have spoken to at least 5 different people from this company and asked them to stop calling me. They call at all hours of the day and night. I'm fed up with this! Any suggestions on how to stop this?

Answer 1

When they ask for the person, say "may I help you?" without saying you're not the person. Make sure you get the person's name and company. When they start discussing debt specifics write it all down, let them go on for a while, then repeat back the name and company, the original creditor, and a couple debt specifics, and tell them that they have been advised in the past that they are calling the wrong number and are now being reported to your state Attorney General for possible violation of the Fair Credit Act for knowingly discussing confidential credit or collections information with the wrong person. Write down your exact words, and their exact response. Then, try to get through to a supervisor (if they haven't hung up) or call the company's corporate office during working hours, or better yet someone at the original creditor's offices if it's something like a retailer or hospital. I've found that collection agents on commission are lazy and generally thumb their nose at the law, but when confronted with the prospect of a job-threatening complaint, will generally correct something like this. They're generally foul, nasty people who deal with people lying to them all day long, and assume that you're lying to them as well.

And, if none of this works, go through the same steps and go ahead and file a formal complaint with your state Attorney General and the Better Business Bureau against the agent, the company he or she works for, and the original creditor. If nothing else, hopefully it'll stop the phone calls.

Answer 2

Yes. Next time they call keep them on the phone long enough to get the name and address of the company. Send them a certified letter telling them they have the wrong person. It might be helpful to include a copy of a phone bill showing name and phone number, obviously mark out anything you don't want them to see. Include in the letter a demand to cease and desist from any further contact. By federal law they have to stop upon demand. If they do not they know they can be sued for harrassment. Thay should put an end to it.

Answer 3

A good way is to use CALLER ID. if you have this feature on you phone --You'll know who it is as the phone rings. Just don't anwser. Another good way is get the UNLISTED FEATURE. This is a feature that keeps your phone out of the phone book and a person that calls long distance or out of your area code will go straight to your anwsering machine. This feature sometimes includes the *82 feature. If the person that is out of area code and doesn't dial *82 before they dial your number they go staight to an anwsering machine/ you can awser or not. The other is called VOICE MAIL. Who ever calls go straight to the VOICE MAIL. YOU SHOULD CALL YOUR TELEPHONE COMPANY.They are very helpful. I had the same problem and my phone was suppose to be unlisted. Thats the problem when you get a new number.....The phone company can not and will not guarrantee that the number is unlisted. It took 3 years for them to stop calling. I really got fed up and went to the police department and filed phone harrassment charges against the company. After that .....NO MORE CALLS FROM THEM...I would suggest you tell them thats what your going to do--FIRST--Either way --I wish you luck.

Answer 4

Do you have caller ID? Next time they call you state to them that you have already told them that they had the wrong number. Also tell them that if they don't stop calling your number, that you have their phone number and their company name and that you will report them to the Better Business Bureau or your local law enforcement agency for harassment.

Answer 5

Call the BETTER BUSINESS BUREAU. Tell them you have tried to get this resolved. Show them proof this person does not live with you.If you have caller Id. just don't answer the phone. I do that all the time with people I don't want to talk with.

Answer 6

You find out their address.
Then send a certified letter telling them to 'cease and desist'.

Also, check the laws of your state online, about collection agencies.

Answer 7

Change your number!
Otherwise write them a letter and/or ask to speak to the senior manager in their office and insist that they leave you alone.

Answer 8

Block the phone number(s).

Answer 9

contact the public service comission and report them. you are being harrassed