Annoying Debt Collector Calls Unwarranted

May I suggest you do some research and familiarize yourself with the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA). You may have grounds to sue these debt collectors, especially if they're stupid enough to leave threatening or false statements on your answering maching.

Your answering maching is your "friend" here: if a debt collector leave a message on your maching you have irrefutable documentation of that call.

Thanks Jim. For now, they've luckily stopped calling me.

It also might be a good idea for those experiencing similar debt collector calls to keep a log: Write down each time a debt collector tries to contact you to create a comprehensive record. This will be helpful in case you do decide to take legal action in the future.

I've been getting debtor calls for over 4 years now for different people. I would like to know how i can sue the bastards because i can tell them "i'm not who your looking for" so many times without getting angry and when you try to explain they really could care less cause they think your lying. I have saved most of the messages on my answering machine, most from different debt companies but looking for the same person for the most part and to be honset my answering machine is getting a little full. So someone point me in the right direction please.

GG, I can imagine how frustrating 4 years of debt collector calls that aren't meant for you must be. If you're serious about taking legal action, I would suggest finding an attorney in your area who is familiar with the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA) and the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. Or change your phone number...

I've been getting collection calls like that on my biz phone for 4 different people - about one call per week. One of them previously owned the phone number (2+ yrs ago), but the others did not. None are/were employees. I am SO aggravated because the calls are from many different collectors and as soon as I tell one collector to stop calling, a new one calls. I DO think that these debtors are purposely giving false info. I'm starting to think my phone number is on some list out there - it is just too bizarre that I'm getting debt collection calls for FOUR people. Carrie, I'm taking your advice and I'm going to start keeping a log, but what then? How can I stop these calls? And thanks for this article - I was feeling very alone in this problem and now I see that I'm not.

Denise, Have you already told the debt collectors that you are not who they're looking for? If they continue to call after that, you can send them a letter stating that you don’t owe any money, or ask for verification of the debt. Under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, that collector must stop contacting you if they cannot provide verification of the debt. If that fails, consider hiring an attorney familiar with the FDCPA.

I get these calls too, but it's on my home/business line, so when waiting for an important callback I'll get some bill collector jamming up the line and causing me headaches. My name is Steve xxxx and that are usually looking for S**** xxxx - same last name, and same first initial. This is absurd since my last name is fairly common.

I've sent registered letters to a few of the collection organization to stop, but there are always new ones. There must be some way to stop this constant annoyance.

I have been receiving 2 calls a day at the same times for two years from NCO Financial Systems. They are recorded, slight variations in the messages. Non English speaking accents, both male and female. Sometimes leave a case no. and sometimes say they are looking for a name that is not mine, but variations on that same name depending on their ability to read and speak English. I returned the call a couple times and there was only a message recorder. No live voice. ATT can't block the calls because their number, 866-576-1447 is an 800 number. I filed a complaint with the Do Not Call Registry only to notice that they don't address your particular formal complaint, but use it if there are other complaints for the same company, but you never know if they checked out the company or not. I have had identity theft etc. before and not only is this annoying I have concern that there is something less evident, but fishy going on regarding my credit, myself etc.I have never had an unpaid bill or loan or any reason to be involved with a collection agency. For all the protections from the FCC etc. that we are promised, I cannot understand how hundreds and probably more of us have voiced our NCO complaints without them being shut down. They have a very authentic looking website. That may be part of why they get away with this. Does anyone have any updated help for this? Thanks.

nice comments left here...all very good info and good tits.

Ask to speak toa supervisor and make your ph number a CEASE calls.

Worked for me,

Cheers,

Ma Chod

The best thing you can do ask them to removbe your number and no more calls...CEASE calls..they HAVE to take your number out..BUT..

if some lowlife scum is giving out your number as their FAKE number not much you can do except to advise anyone that calls that it is a WRONG number and CEASE calls to this num...remember most of these places record their calls to protect THEM and if u CEASE calls and same dept calls they are in big trouble becasue they record their calls and you jsut caught them with their pants down!! $$$$$

Cheers,

Ma Chod