when someone gives out your number..

[D22369 0]

I have some dumbass who apparently has given his credit contact as my phone number - and it doesnt seem that he likes to pay his bills.... I am being called daily by collection agency's who will not quit calling - I also got called by the procecuting attorneys office who was also looking for him but they at least were reasonable when I explained that this isnt his number and they havent called back.

I cant block the agency's number
is there a way to force the collection company to cease calling?

Roy

They say I suffer from insanity.... But I actually enjoy it.

[Heatmiser 0]

When they call, act interested and act as if you want to help. Get as much info as possible (name of firm, hours of operation, who to call back, phone number). Then, using this information, call back and politely ask that they not call again. Document with whom you spoke, date and time. Let them know that you aren't their party, you do not know him and that's it.

Should and if they call again, file a complaint with the telephone company as well as the Better Business Bureau. Also, they'll then be in violation of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, subject to suit (by you) and you could actually end up collecting money for your agony.
Source(s):
Retired Ford Credit
www.ftc.gov

Copied and pasted from Yahoo answers, but seems reasonable.

What you say is reflective of your knowledge...HOW ya say it is reflective of your experience. Airtwardo

Someone's going to be spanked! Hopefully, it will be me. Skymama

[captain1976 0]

Roy,

Most collection companies violate the Federal Fair Debt Collections Practices Act. They are out of control criminal organizations since they simply ignore the laws. In Minnesota they finally shut a couple of these down and criminally charged the owners, but most States do nothing.

I had a similar problem years ago and I had a fax broadcast system at the time. I simply programmed their toll-free number into the program and had their number dialed about 2800 times throughout the day. I then called and told them what I was doing and they immediately removed my number.

Speaking with them nicely doesn't work that often as these people are really garbage and have no regard for anyone.

Another tactic which is really fun as I used to use it for unwelcome sales calls: Keep a smoke detector by the phone, tell the person to hold on and put the mouthpiece on the unit, push the button and they always hang up. I use to look forward to them, they were so much fun.

One more which is fun. Pretend you are the party they are looking for and tell them that you discussed this debt with your wife and decided to take a nice vacation with the money you were going to send to them.

Good Luck

You live more in the few minutes of skydiving than many people live in their lifetime

[ltdiver 3]

I had a similar experience years ago, except the perp gave my work number and complete name for the purchases they were doing.

Collection agency started calling me at work! After weeks of them hounding me the secretary knew their agency name and would hang up on them for me and not even page for me to come to the phone.

One day that secretary wasn't at work and their call got through. I threatened a harassment lawsuit. They backed off. Next call that came in was from them and they were falling all overthemselves apologizing that the SS# listed didn't match the (my) name.

Haven't heard from them since.

Don't tell me the sky's the limit when there are footprints on the moon

[D22369 0]

thanks everyone for the replies, I also got a pm saying to send a certified mail to them - am gonna give everything a try
you guys rock!

Roy

They say I suffer from insanity.... But I actually enjoy it.

[shropshire 0]

Send the Debt Collection Agency a Bill for your time that they are wasting and if they don't pay, set a debt collection agency onto them.

(.)Y(.)
Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome

[Nutz 0]

What about when the deadbeats are your kids - and you have no way to contact them - and if you did they wouldn't call the assholes back anyway. I tried explaining it to them but they don't get it. I just quit answering.

"Don't! Get! Eliminated!"

[MikeJD 0]

Shouldn't do you any harm if all they have is a phone number, but next time they call I would definitely try to find out what address they have for the defaulter - i.e. make sure it isn't yours (but under no circumstances tell them what yours is!)

If they do also have your address, then you could end up with a completely screwed credit rating, or worse, through no fault of your own. In that case it's better to resolve the issue fully rather than just trying to stop the phone calls.

[livendive 8]

Have fun! We had one of these collection agencies filling up the voicemail for the school so prospective tandems couldn't leave messages. Erin called them and set them straight.

Blues,
Dave

"I AM A PROFESSIONAL EXTREME ATHLETE!"
(drink Mountain Dew)

[anthonyfellows 0]

JFC ... GOOGLE!

Several years ago I had the same issue and found that even a make-shift C&D letter with words that popped out of my head did the trick.

For weeks I was getting calls on my cell phone about a big screen tv that had been rented/purchased from one of those rent to own stores. I was 16 years old at the time. I was only dreaming that I had a fifty-some inch television for my pimp-room at the time!

Serious relationships turn into work after a few weeks and I already got a fucking job :)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
H.A.F. = Hard As Fuck ... Goddamn Amateurs