Changing phone number to stop collection calls?

[Mayfriday0529]

We keep getting collection calls for two people that do not live at our location. We don?t know even know who they are? I was thinking of calling the phone company and asking them to change our phone number. But I wonder if that would help with the problem or would be only a temporary fix?

We have had our current phone number for about 12 years. First at one house in the same town and then we moved to another house in the same town. Ever since moving to the new house the calls started. I usually call back the agency calling and tell them that no such person lives at this location. This stops the calls for a few weeks and then they start again usually from another agency.

Anyone know if there is any remedy to this besides changing the phone number?

Update 5/13/2008
I got a call yesterday from a 866 area code about 7:40pm. I picked up the phone and it was silent, after about 4 seconds a lady came on and asked for ?Julie?. I said she doesn't live here and she ask ?where she could reach her??. I then told her that meant I never heard of this person before and asked for who was she calling for? bank or agency?
The lady then started attacking me with questions, "If you don't know her why would you ask such a question?". I said because I want you to stop calling me for a person that doesn?t live here and I was about to explain my situation when she said "just say wrong number" and she hung up on me.

 

[Injury]

You might be able to have the phone company block any calls that require payment for their usage. Would be a lot easier.

Someone might actually be trying to scam you. If your phone company can't do anything, you might want to try to see if the FCC can do anything about it. I know it seems like it's going waaaaayyyy out there, but if it's that annoying that you'd consider changing your phone number, it'd be worth at least looking in to.

 

[Cuda1447]

Just give the collection agency that calls someone elses phone #

 

[SuperjetMatt]

Pay up

 

[Mayfriday0529]

Originally posted by: Cuda1447
Just give the collection agency that calls someone elses phone #

Can I say the person died? maybe that will stop the calls.

 

[George P Burdell]

Originally posted by: Jnetty99

Originally posted by: Cuda1447
Just give the collection agency that calls someone elses phone #

Can I say the person died? maybe that will stop the calls.

They'll ask for a death certificate. If you can photochop one up, go for it.

One option is to buy one of those devices that intentionally plays a "number disconnected" tone when people call. You could turn the device on every time the collectors call. Their computer will recognize the tone and remove your number from its list.

If you do get a new number, consider signing up for a GrandCentral number and sending that out to everyone. GC has excellent filtering and spam blocking.

 

[Vette73]

I thought there weas a rule that is you told them to stop calling they had to? That and if they did you can collet $$$ from them for breaking the rule.

 

[HannibalX]

Originally posted by: Jnetty99
We keep getting collection calls for two people that do not live at our location. We don?t know even know who they are? I was thinking of calling the phone company and asking them to change our phone number. But I wonder if that would help with the problem or would be only a temporary fix?

We have had our current phone number for about 12 years. First at one house in the same town and then we moved to another house in the same town. Ever since moving to the new house the calls started. I usually call back the agency calling and tell them that no such person lives at this location. This stops the calls for a few weeks and then they start again usually from another agency.

Anyone know if there is any remedy to this besides changing the phone number?

The next time the collections people call ask for the address of the company. Send them a letter stating that the person they are looking for doesn't live there and you are considering legal alternatives to stop their constant harassment.

They will stop.

 

[tw1164]

Don't change your number, they're the ones making the mistake.


Text

 

[Mayfriday0529]

Originally posted by: Marlin1975
I thought there weas a rule that is you told them to stop calling they had to? That and if they did you can collet $$$ from them for breaking the rule.

When they call you never really get an actual live person on the phone. You just get this recorded message about the person they are looking.
I write the phone number and usually call and tell them that the person doesn't live here. I don't know them and please stop calling.

Of all the times that I done this, i always get nice people, never any bad attitude. Most of the time the calls will stop in a few days. But i guess the company sells off the debt to another company the the cycle starts again in a few weeks.

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: Jnetty99

Originally posted by: Marlin1975
I thought there weas a rule that is you told them to stop calling they had to? That and if they did you can collet $$$ from them for breaking the rule.

When they call you never really get an actual live person on the phone. You just get this recorded message about the person they are looking.
I write the phone number and usually call and tell them that the person doesn't live here. I don't know them and please stop calling.

Of all the times that I done this, i always get nice people, never any bad attitude. Most of the time the calls will stop in a few days. But i guess the company sells off the debt to another company the the cycle starts again in a few weeks.

Does not matter if it is a live person or not. Once you tell them to stop calling they usually have to stop unless they can prove the person has that number or some other narrow clauses.

 

[mrSHEiK124]

Get to a human, mumble something and get them to say "what." The break out with "SAY WHAT AGAIN?"

Detective John Kimble soundboards work too

 

[moshquerade]

Originally posted by: Jnetty99
We keep getting collection calls for two people that do not live at our location. We don?t know even know who they are? I was thinking of calling the phone company and asking them to change our phone number. But I wonder if that would help with the problem or would be only a temporary fix?

We have had our current phone number for about 12 years. First at one house in the same town and then we moved to another house in the same town. Ever since moving to the new house the calls started. I usually call back the agency calling and tell them that no such person lives at this location. This stops the calls for a few weeks and then they start again usually from another agency.

Anyone know if there is any remedy to this besides changing the phone number?

Is this the number that is calling you?
1-800-474-0201

http://forums.anandtech.com/me...ht_key=y&keyword1=call

 

[brandonb]

Jnetty99,

Your diagnosis is correct. I work for a collection agency. What sometimes happens is the debt is purchased to 3rd party debt "brokers". They then assign the debt to a collection agency for amonth, if they get no bites, they recall the account and assign to another collection agency, repeat for eternity.

If the collection agency gets a bad phone number, they are supposed to update the debt "broker" letting them know to erase the bad phone number so its not sent to the other agencies. But with alot of agencies, they don't bother with that programming because its something they don't consider important. (I am the programmer and I know our stuff does! )

Anyways, if you want to send me a PM with your phone number, I will scan our Database and see if your number appears, and we can take it from there. I work for the 2nd biggest collection agency in my state. But that doesn't mean we have any info on that number, but its worth a shot.

 

[sswingle]

Originally posted by: Injury
You might be able to have the phone company block any calls that require payment for their usage. Would be a lot easier.

Someone might actually be trying to scam you. If your phone company can't do anything, you might want to try to see if the FCC can do anything about it. I know it seems like it's going waaaaayyyy out there, but if it's that annoying that you'd consider changing your phone number, it'd be worth at least looking in to.

Uh... debt collection calls, not collect calls.

 

[Mayfriday0529]

Originally posted by: moshquerade

Originally posted by: Jnetty99
We keep getting collection calls for two people that do not live at our location. We don?t know even know who they are? I was thinking of calling the phone company and asking them to change our phone number. But I wonder if that would help with the problem or would be only a temporary fix?

We have had our current phone number for about 12 years. First at one house in the same town and then we moved to another house in the same town. Ever since moving to the new house the calls started. I usually call back the agency calling and tell them that no such person lives at this location. This stops the calls for a few weeks and then they start again usually from another agency.

Anyone know if there is any remedy to this besides changing the phone number?

Is this the number that is calling you?
1-800-474-0201

http://forums.anandtech.com/me...ht_key=y&keyword1=call

I don't think so. I'll have to check when I get home.

 

[DarkManX]

Originally posted by: Marlin1975
I thought there weas a rule that is you told them to stop calling they had to? That and if they did you can collet $$$ from them for breaking the rule.

that only applies to telemarketers and not collections.

 

[amdskip]

They were hammering me on my work phone for a while. I asked to speak with a manager and finally got a legit manager after like 20 calls and he apologized and removed me. No phone calls to follow thankfully

 

[moshquerade]

Originally posted by: Jnetty99

Originally posted by: moshquerade

Originally posted by: Jnetty99
We keep getting collection calls for two people that do not live at our location. We don?t know even know who they are? I was thinking of calling the phone company and asking them to change our phone number. But I wonder if that would help with the problem or would be only a temporary fix?

We have had our current phone number for about 12 years. First at one house in the same town and then we moved to another house in the same town. Ever since moving to the new house the calls started. I usually call back the agency calling and tell them that no such person lives at this location. This stops the calls for a few weeks and then they start again usually from another agency.

Anyone know if there is any remedy to this besides changing the phone number?

Is this the number that is calling you?
1-800-474-0201

http://forums.anandtech.com/me...ht_key=y&keyword1=call

I don't think so. I'll have to check when I get home.

well, they are a collection agency and they ask for someone other than me. so, it's something similar.

i keep getting calls still from them.

 

[brandonb]

Originally posted by: DarkManX

Originally posted by: Marlin1975
I thought there weas a rule that is you told them to stop calling they had to? That and if they did you can collet $$$ from them for breaking the rule.

that only applies to telemarketers and not collections.

Right. If you owe someone money, they have a right to call you and "harrass you" into repaying the debt.

Unfortunately when said people get the wrong numbers, it can be very annoying.

The unofficial rule with most collection agencies are though, if they get ahold of someone on the phone, they won't call back within 3 days. If all they get is answering machine/nothing, they might call up to 5 times per day.

So if you are being harrassed by a collection agency, the best thing for you to to is just answer the phone.

 

[Kaspian]

Originally posted by: Cuda1447
Just give the collection agency that calls someone elses phone #

Now thats funny, lol

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: DarkManX

Originally posted by: Marlin1975
I thought there weas a rule that is you told them to stop calling they had to? That and if they did you can collet $$$ from them for breaking the rule.

that only applies to telemarketers and not collections.

Nope it does apply to debt collections. It falls under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (aka FDCPA),



OP here is what i was thinking of that makes their calls illegal from the link above.

Prohibited conduct
Contact after being asked to stop: contacting consumers in any way (other than litigation) after receiving written notice that said consumer wishes no further contact or refuses to pay the alleged debt, with certain exceptions, including advising that collection efforts are being terminated or that the collector intends to file a lawsuit or pursue other remedies where permitted


So get a address and write them a letter saying not to contact your number. Send it certified.

AND...

Aggrieved consumers may also file a private lawsuit in a state or federal court to collect damages (actual, statutory, attorney's fee and court-costs) from third-party debt collectors. The FDCPA is a strict liability law, which means that a consumer need not prove actual damages in order to claim statutory damages of up to $1,000 plus reasonable attorney fees if a debt collector is proven to have violated the FDCPA.

 

[Vette73]

Originally posted by: brandonb

Originally posted by: DarkManX

Originally posted by: Marlin1975
I thought there weas a rule that is you told them to stop calling they had to? That and if they did you can collet $$$ from them for breaking the rule.

that only applies to telemarketers and not collections.

Right. If you owe someone money, they have a right to call you and "harrass you" into repaying the debt.

Unfortunately when said people get the wrong numbers, it can be very annoying.

The unofficial rule with most collection agencies are though, if they get ahold of someone on the phone, they won't call back within 3 days. If all they get is answering machine/nothing, they might call up to 5 times per day.

So if you are being harrassed by a collection agency, the best thing for you to to is just answer the phone.

WRONG!!! In fact there are laws in place, Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (aka FDCPA).

In fact doing any type of "harrass"ing as you put it can cost $1000 per viloation. And coming from someone that works in the field i think that says a lot of why this law was passed.

 

[brandonb]

Originally posted by: Marlin1975

WRONG!!! In fact there are laws in place, Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (aka FDCPA).

In fact doing any type of "harrass"ing as you put it can cost $1000 per viloation. And coming from someone that works in the field i think that says a lot of why this law was passed.

FDCPA was left ambigious, Marlin.

The word "harrass" means anything, and was left open for debate. Harrassment to an agency might be calling every 5 minutes, to someone receiving the phone calls, harrassment could mean once a month.

It was open to debate, there is nothing in the FDCPA which has any concrete rules, such as "You can only call once every 3 days." It just says they can't be "harrassed." Since it is not defined, there is no way to legally prosecute someone for the FDCPA violations. It's feel good legislation. Collection agencies can get off on technicallies every single time. And yes, coming from the industry, I know more than you may think. There is only 3 laws which are concrete in the FDCPA. Those 3 being:

1) If someone asks you not to call them at work, you can't.
2) If you write a cease and desist letter, they can't call you at home.
3) You can't threaten them (legally, sue them, garnish their wages, lein on their house) them if you had no means/intention in doing so. Most FDCPA violations are in this area. I've heard trainers in my company telling debtors that their kids won't get health insurance again in the future because of the debtor did not pay their current medical bill. That is a violation. But most companies ignore the FDCPA because this person is not likely to call the attorney general or to even prosecute. I think theres about 1 violation per year at any given collection agency, and to be honest, they make more money violating thwe FDCPA than paying out that 1 single violation per year.

That being said, if you write a cease and desist, you are basically telling the collection agency you are the one responsible for the debt and they found their "person." This won't stop phone calls, and will likely increase them, as it will be marked in the system as "a valid phone number for the debtor." It may even be written to the persons credit report as a valid number (the debtors) so if this person ends up in collections somewhere else, Jnetty is likely to get MORE calls!!!

 

[Vette73]

^

Its a lot more then 3 things...


Prohibited conduct
The Act prohibits certain types of "abusive and deceptive" conduct when attempting to collect debts, including the following:

Hours for phone contact: contacting consumers by telephone outside of the hours of 8:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. local time[2]
Contact after being asked to stop: contacting consumers in any way (other than litigation) after receiving written notice that said consumer wishes no further contact or refuses to pay the alleged debt, with certain exceptions, including advising that collection efforts are being terminated or that the collector intends to file a lawsuit or pursue other remedies where permitted[3]
Causing a telephone to ring or engaging any person in telephone conversation repeatedly or continuously: with intent to annoy, abuse, or harass any person at the called number.[4]
Contacting consumers at their place of employment after having been advised in writing that this is not acceptable[5]
Contacting consumer known to be represented by an attorney[6]
Contacting consumer after request for validation: contacting the consumer or the pursuing collection efforts by the debt collector after receipt of a consumer's written request for verification of a debt (or for the name and address of the original creditor on a debt) and before the debt collector mails the consumer the requested verification or original creditor's name and address[7]
Misrepresentation or deceit: misrepresenting the debt or using deception to collect the debt, including a debt collector's misrepresentation that he or she is an attorney or law enforcement officer[8]
Publishing the consumer's name or address on a "bad debt" list[9]
Seeking unjustified amounts, which would include demanding any amounts not permitted under an applicable contract or as provided under applicable law[10]
Threatening arrest or legal action that is either not permitted or not actually contemplated[11]
Abusive or profane language used in the course of communication related to the debt[12]
Contact with third parties: revealing or discussing the nature of debts with third parties (other than the consumer's spouse or attorney) or threatening such action[13]
Contact by embarrassing media, such as communicating with a consumer regarding a debt by post card, or using any language or symbol, other than the debt collector?s address, on any envelope when communicating with a consumer by use of the mails or by telegram, except that a debt collector may use his business name if such name does not indicate that he is in the debt collection business [14][15]
Reporting false information on a consumer's credit report or threatening to do so in the process of collection[16]

That being said, if you write a cease and desist, you are basically telling the collection agency you are the one responsible for the debt and they found their "person." This won't stop phone calls, and will likely increase them, as it will be marked in the system as "a valid phone number for the debtor." It may even be written to the persons credit report as a valid number (the debtors) so if this person ends up in collections somewhere else, Jnetty is likely to get MORE calls!!!

Not if he writes a letter saying XYZ person doe snot have this number I, bob, have ti now please do not call again. If they call again they will be breaking the rule and he can sue for up to $1000 for each call.

Please stop spreading FUD.