I can just ignore debt collectors right?

[Sukhoi]

I'm in corporate-provided housing with a phone number that isn't in my name. Some debt collector keeps leaving a computerized message on my answering machine saying to call about a debt. Obviously it's for whoever had the number before me. I can just keep erasing the messages, right? I don't feel like arguing with someone on the phone there that I'm not who they want.

 

[KLin]

They're going to keep calling and calling and calling and calling, etc. etc. etc. Until you tell them the person no longer lives there.

 

[Mr Incognito]

Well if you ever want it to stop then call and tell them that the person moved. I would get very annoyed by constant computerized messages.

 

[Alone]

Sounds almost like throwing out someone else's mail. I think you might have to notify someone.

 

[jlbenedict]

Debt Validation

http://www.creditboards.com


If its truly not yours, answer the phone and tell them to stop calling

 

[TheNinja]

Tell them the check is in the mail.

 

[Sukhoi]

Oh I never have to answer it. The call always comes while I'm at work.

Next week I leave for almost a 2 week vacation so if they're still calling after that I'll call them. I have a digital answering machine so it's not real hard to hit "Play - Erase". Certainly faster than calling them.

 

[Platypus]

Debt collectors don't believe you if you tell them that person doesn't live there anymore.

 

[jpeyton]

I used this method to stop their calls: Text

Another option is to download the full blown "this number has been disconnected or is no longer in service" message, available here for multiple carriers.

Either way, their predictive dialers will stop calling your number after a day or two.

 

[d3n]

Originally posted by: Alone
Sounds almost like throwing out someone else's mail. I think you might have to notify someone.

Heh, I missed the federal law protecting Telemarketer spam.


Last year I kept getting mail and notices served to my new home (not forwarded) about a former house that had not taxes paid on it. In that case it turns out that the new owners were never getting the bill. The new title had never been filed with the state by the title company. We called the title company a few times but they were worthless and would not do it. The buyers picked em so we said screw it after getting some advice from a real estate attorney we know there.

Eventually we were told the house was slated for auction. We had a Spanish speaking neighbor in the old neighborhood try and go over and explain things. I am not sure if the house was auctioned or not. In that case all of the collections people at the county and state could care less that the people actually responsible had never received any notice.

 

[Sukhoi]

Originally posted by: jpeyton
I used this method to stop their calls: Text

Another option is to download the full blown "this number has been disconnected or is no longer in service" message, available here for multiple carriers.

Either way, their predictive dialers will stop calling your number after a day or two.

Hahhaha I may have to do that, thanks.

And Platypus that's exactly why I haven't bothered to call. Though I haven't been in a good argument on the phone in a while...could be fun.

 

[compuwiz1]

Keep a watch on your credit report, now that they are contacting you. I would not be surprised if they entered a collection on your report. If not caught right away and disputed, they may soon sell it off to another collector, who will put yet another collection on your report.

 

[NL5]

When I was younger (19), we had a new phone number that apparently belonged to someone with a LOT of delinquent debt. We got so sick of telling them they were no longer at this number, that, for fun, we started saying they were in europe for a month, and we were house sitting. From there, the story got more elaborate. It was great screwing with them. Good times.

 

[PingSpike]

Originally posted by: KLin
They're going to keep calling and calling and calling and calling, etc. etc. etc. Even if you tell them the person no longer lives there.

Fixed.

 

[Sukhoi]

Originally posted by: compuwiz1
Keep a watch on your credit report, now that they are contacting you. I would not be surprised if they entered a collection on your report. If not caught right away and disputed, they may soon sell it off to another collector, who will put yet another collection on your report.

Good idea, I'll get one of the free reports in a couple months. I am 99% sure they are calling for someone that had this number in the past. But I have used the number for my credit card and a couple other things, so it is possible for it to be linked to me.

 

[Pacfanweb]

Originally posted by: compuwiz1
Keep a watch on your credit report, now that they are contacting you. I would not be surprised if they entered a collection on your report. If not caught right away and disputed, they may soon sell it off to another collector, who will put yet another collection on your report.

How would they put anything on his credit report if he simply has someone's old number?

If he wasn't their customer in the first place, they don't have his SS#, and therefore can't put anything good or bad on his credit report.


And I'll second that they probably won't believe you're not the other person. I've had my cell phone for work for over 3 years now, and at first I was getting killed with collection calls for the previous owner. (I bought the business and the number came with it)
Over time, it's slowed down, but every few months, I guess someone in the collections dept. looks at the old contact info and starts calling me again.
Eventually I'll answer it and tell them I'm not the dude they're looking for. Lots of times I've done this, and a few of the collectors have questioned me further, obviously skeptical that I wasn't the person they wanted.

But there's no way they could put anything on my credit report. I've never done business with them, and they have no way of getting my SS#. Who's going to give it to them...ME? Yeah, right.

 

[FoBoT]

they have to contact the real person by mail anyway, not just by phone