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Cuzsis |
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Post subject: Debt Collection Calls, Advice Please!
 Posted: Jul 22, 2008 - 10:55 PM
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Joined: Oct 24, 2002
Posts: 4225
Location: Outer Space ;)
Status: Offline
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It has been nearly 2 years, 2 YEARS, since we have moved into our apartment. In that time we have received the usual calls for previous occupants that no longer live here. This is normal for the first 6-8months of a new apartment.
But! We are still getting calls from a collection agency for a guy. We've told them a couple of times that he doesn't live here and asked them to take us off the list. They say "Okay" and that's the end of the call. Mostly we just get machine messages on our message machine that we listen to and then delete. However, occasionally we get a call at an odd hour, like 8am or 7:30pm, non-traditional office hours.
Now, we have tracked this. My husband has made a couple of notes on when they called and he's asked to be removed, but as it's been so long over the course of this, the notes have been lost.
TODAY! They have called again! My husband got the call and asked them to take us off the list b/c this guy doesn't live here. The lady said "okay" and hung up.
I have started a new list and have it posted by the family calendar to make notes.
I was wondering, we've been pretty patient, but we're getting sick of answering phone calls that we shouldn't have to. Especially when we get the odd one during weird hours. 
They obviously aren't listening to us when we asked to be removed. I expect we'll get another call here again in a few weeks (they always let it go for a bit before calling back.)
What should we do?  |
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Debb |
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Post subject:
Posted: Jul 22, 2008 - 11:06 PM
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Joined: Feb 04, 2003
Posts: 3676
Location: 45°28' N 73°45' W
Status: Offline
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Put the complaint in writing, register the letter.
Here's the text:
Dear Accounts Receivable Clerk: or customer service etc.
We have received numerous collection calls for the previous occupant who has moved nearly one year ago today.
We have no forwarding address. We have notified you of this repeatedly. Therefore, please remove this number from your records and update your correspondent file accordingly.
We find these calls to be very distressful, coming at all hours of the day and evening and disturbing the peaceful enjoyment of our home.
Please confirm in writing that this is done within 10 days. We will consider continued calls from your company to be harrassment and will take every avenue available to us in order that we can live peacefully without these disturbing calls from your employees.
Please govern yourself accordingly.
or something like that. |
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Piglet |
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Post subject:
Posted: Jul 22, 2008 - 11:07 PM
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Joined: Apr 14, 2007
Posts: 165
Location: Colchester, England
Status: Offline
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Next time they call get a name and address date and time of the phone call, and write to them as well.
They obviously don't record what's said when they call so their records stay out of date. Putting it on paper should correct that. |
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Posted: Jul 23, 2008 - 12:15 AM
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Joined: Oct 24, 2002
Posts: 8429
Location: CA
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You write to them and you just left yourself open to a MAIL BARRAGE.... as well as mailing list sale of your address 
I let them call and leave the number they want you to call back, usually a toll free number...I then call and ask to speak to supervisor, do not talk to anyone lower...I tell them the person they are trying to track down has not had this number for over 2 years, either take me off the list and desist in your calls, or I will inform the Attorney General of Your Harassment...I have already informed At&T, (or whoever you use), and they are monitoring and accumulating a record of these calls.
It will stop...you may get a couple more from different companies...as they constantly sell debt collection accounts...just repeat..it will stop.
BE FIRM |
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Posted: Jul 23, 2008 - 12:34 AM
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Joined: Dec 12, 2005
Posts: 10597
Location: Never you mind where I'm at! You don't need to be knowing! Snoops!
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Screen the calls with your answering machine with the message on it clearly stating that " This is the ( insert your names here ) residence. If you're a bill collector trying to put the dun on so-and so( insert idiot's name here) then you're flat out of luck. Buh bye!" After about hopefully 20 times of that or God willing less, they'll leave you alone. And gripe to their representitive, too.   |
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Post subject:
Posted: Jul 23, 2008 - 12:50 AM
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Joined: Oct 24, 2002
Posts: 8429
Location: CA
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| I do not give out my name, nor repeat my phone number or give them ANY information about myself....the less information given to these agencies the better. I worked in Collections...the less said the better. |
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Post subject:
Posted: Jul 23, 2008 - 02:18 AM
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Joined: Feb 12, 2005
Posts: 10084
Location: I destroy my enemy when I make him my friend.--Abraham Lincoln
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| Plus, to add insult to injury, there is a new rash of scams going around. People calling to collect a bogus debt and trying to get info. Be careful. |
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Let's do it as a memorial to Joyce Mason
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Cuzsis |
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Post subject:
Posted: Jul 23, 2008 - 06:36 AM
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Joined: Oct 24, 2002
Posts: 4225
Location: Outer Space ;)
Status: Offline
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| littlestar wrote: | You write to them and you just left yourself open to a MAIL BARRAGE.... as well as mailing list sale of your address
I let them call and leave the number they want you to call back, usually a toll free number...I then call and ask to speak to supervisor, do not talk to anyone lower...I tell them the person they are trying to track down has not had this number for over 2 years, either take me off the list and desist in your calls, or I will inform the Attorney General of Your Harassment...I have already informed At&T, (or whoever you use), and they are monitoring and accumulating a record of these calls.
It will stop...you may get a couple more from different companies...as they constantly sell debt collection accounts...just repeat..it will stop.
BE FIRM |
Wow...I wouldn't have thought *not* to write a letter... thanks.
Now, my husband did try to call back and talk to them and was on hold for over 45 minutes. He eventually had to give up and continue with the day, I hope that's not standard b/c it's going to be tough carving out that much time during regular business hours to talk to them if that's the case.
I will call CenturyTel (our phone company) and tell them we are getting these calls.
Now if we're still getting several more of these calls after we talk to them and CenturyTel is aware of it. At what point (or is there even a point?) do we go to the courts and tell them to "Knock it off!"
Or are we just expected to put up with it? |
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Cuzsis |
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Post subject:
Posted: Jul 23, 2008 - 06:37 AM
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Joined: Oct 24, 2002
Posts: 4225
Location: Outer Space ;)
Status: Offline
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| SMB wrote: | | Plus, to add insult to injury, there is a new rash of scams going around. People calling to collect a bogus debt and trying to get info. Be careful. |
Eesh!  |
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Cuzsis |
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Post subject:
Posted: Jul 23, 2008 - 06:38 AM
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Joined: Oct 24, 2002
Posts: 4225
Location: Outer Space ;)
Status: Offline
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| angel wrote: | | Screen the calls with your answering machine with the message on it clearly stating that " This is the ( insert your names here ) residence. If you're a bill collector trying to put the dun on so-and so( insert idiot's name here) then you're flat out of luck. Buh bye!" After about hopefully 20 times of that or God willing less, they'll leave you alone. And gripe to their representitive, too. |
Unfortunately they've gotten smarter. These days it's an automated debt collection call.  |
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Post subject:
Posted: Jul 23, 2008 - 07:31 AM
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Joined: Feb 12, 2005
Posts: 10084
Location: I destroy my enemy when I make him my friend.--Abraham Lincoln
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| Cuzsis wrote: | | angel wrote: | | Screen the calls with your answering machine with the message on it clearly stating that " This is the ( insert your names here ) residence. If you're a bill collector trying to put the dun on so-and so( insert idiot's name here) then you're flat out of luck. Buh bye!" After about hopefully 20 times of that or God willing less, they'll leave you alone. And gripe to their representitive, too. |
Unfortunately they've gotten smarter. These days it's an automated debt collection call. |
We got one of those calls one day. I ignored it because they were talking about a debt for a mortgage on our house. A few days later, we got the same type of call. This time, I called the number. It turns out they were looking for someone who had had that phone number before I got it. They were polite and took our name off their list because we haven't gotten anymore calls. I am laughing because our home is fully paid for so no mortgage. |
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Let's do it as a memorial to Joyce Mason
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Post subject:
Posted: Jul 23, 2008 - 05:26 PM
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Joined: Dec 09, 2002
Posts: 13927
Location: second star to the right
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| Is changing your number and making it private an option? |
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rdb |
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Post subject:
Posted: Jul 23, 2008 - 06:06 PM
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Joined: Oct 13, 2005
Posts: 818
Location: Lakeland Florida
Status: Offline
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Are you on the "Do Not Call!" list?
If so-
If they call a second time after being informed that they have the wrong people, they are in violation. You can sue them.
You need to let them know that you're on the Do Not Call list during their first call, however. I've heard of collection agencies being sued for this sort of call. Once they've been notified- that name is supposed to be OFF the list- and it's also NOT supposed to be passed on (sold to a different company). |
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Cuzsis |
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Post subject:
Posted: Jul 24, 2008 - 07:03 AM
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Joined: Oct 24, 2002
Posts: 4225
Location: Outer Space ;)
Status: Offline
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| rdb wrote: | Are you on the "Do Not Call!" list?
If so-
If they call a second time after being informed that they have the wrong people, they are in violation. You can sue them.
You need to let them know that you're on the Do Not Call list during their first call, however. I've heard of collection agencies being sued for this sort of call. Once they've been notified- that name is supposed to be OFF the list- and it's also NOT supposed to be passed on (sold to a different company). |
Yes! We are on the "Do Not Call List" - and I will double check to make sure that's still kosher.
Okay, we'll call our phone company, talk to whatever state agency that handles this sort of thing. And start telling every caller that we are on the "Do Not Call List."
I do not believe the number for the agency comes up when they call. Do we have to keep track of every seperate agency that may call us? Or if we tell one person, are we clean? |
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rdb |
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Post subject:
Posted: Jul 24, 2008 - 04:39 PM
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Joined: Oct 13, 2005
Posts: 818
Location: Lakeland Florida
Status: Offline
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You'd have to keep track of the agencies.
They are required by law to tell you who they are and who they represent. If they don't, they are likely scammers. |
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