How can I stop these annoying phone calls?

Question

I have only had my phone number for 6 months. The previous owner of this number evidently did not pay her bills. Now her bill collector calls me thinking I am her. I have informed them that I am not who they are looking for. They have been calling me nonstop. Sometimes multiple times in one day. I have considered changing my number, but it angers me to think that it will come to that. I have even contacted the company explaining the situation. That has not worked. Any suggestions are appreciated.

Answer 1

It would be futile to change your number, because most likely the same thing can happen again. Once a telephone number is disconnected it sits in a "bin" for 6 months before it can be used again, to reduce such problems as you are having with your new number. But unfortunately the bill collectors who are trying to contact the last person who had the number prior are the worst. When they call, advise them this is your new telephone number, and that if they call anymore you will report them to the Annoyance Call Bureau. That should get there attention. There is a feature on home phones called "Call Trace". To use this feature-you hit * and 2 numbers after a harrassing call has come to your number. If you have Qwest, after you hang up the phone from that call, you would then pick the phone up again dial *57, then that call gets registered with the Annoyance Burea, but for them to be able to investigate you have to do *57, 3 seperate times, so they know it is serious and are just not playing games. There is a charge for the 3 traces, but if you will get it credited back after 3 times. They can get severly fined for harrasing innocent people. Also make sure you register your new number with the DO NOT CALL Registry to help stop sales calls, you can do that at www.donotcall.gov Now something important to remember about this, it takes 31 days for you to be registered, after that if you receive a sales call, you need to go back to that site and file a complaint against the company that called you, so the government can know that they are breaking the law, because if you don't file a complaint, the government has no way of knowing. Hope this all helps you :)

Answer 2

1

Answer 3

All calls like this originate from outside the UK. If you have number display (not caller ID which is something entirely different) it will show as " out of area " the simple answer to these is to just not answer. Up to 18mths ago I used to get an average of 20 calls a week so I just ignored them. Now I only receive about half a dozen in a month.

Answer 4

Since they wont listen to reason, have fun with them.

1. Promise to pay any amount they propose in a payment plan. Better yet, offer to pay even more than they ask for.

2. Ask for increased credit limits or if you can move account balances around.

3. Tell them you sent in the payment weeks ago and that you have so and so's signature on the postal receipt. When they say that person doesn't exist. tell them your guessing at the name because the persons hand writting is so terrible.

4. Tell them you dispute some of the charges and want an investigation. You'll pay up when it's to your satisfaction.

5. Tell them to go ahead and garnish your wages, tell them you dare them to do it, you double dog dare them.

ANYWAY, MAKE EM PAY FOR HARRASSING YOU.

Answer 5

I have the same exact problem. I know that what you need to do is keep a log of the date, time, and who the caller is, if you already know, then just write it down. Also document who they ask for.
Then, call your phone company, tell them the problem, and let them know that you have a months worth of documentation and that you want them to do something about it.
They will.

Answer 6

Get an answering machine and screen ur calls. Tell ur friends and family to say who they are on it and you will answer if it's them. After awhile they give up. They have to.

Answer 7

you can put a block on your phone. i enter a code listed in our phone book and i enter the phone number that is bugging me. now they can't get thru.