anyone know how to stop collection calls?

[gaseousclay]

in the last 2 months i've been receiving calls on my cell from a collection agency. in most cases I don't answer if I don't recognize the number - this company masks itself by displaying the number '419' on my cell. the problem, I don't owe any money to a collection agency and the person they keep asking for is someone I've never heard of. I called the 800 number that was left by one of their agents and talked to them on 3 separate occasions. I told them that I don't know who the person is they're trying to reach and asked if they could please stop calling my number. each time I gave them my cell# and each time they told me they couldn't find it in their system.

i'm at the end of my rope here and don't know what recourse I can take. further investigation has revealed that they are called UCB (United Collections Bureau) and that they've had a string of complaints similar to mine. I looked at the BBB site but it didn't appear I could do anything through them. So, is there another agency I can contact regarding these calls? FTC? my guess is that UCB thinks i'm lying about my phone# and who I am and will therefore continue to call me. i'm sick and tired of talking to their representatives who claim ignorance when I tell them what's going on.

 

[tg16]

Your State Attorney General's consumer protection office can do it. I had a similar situation when I moved and got a new phone number. I made the complaint and it quickly stopped.

 

[wvu_law_dawg]

Your State Attorney General's consumer protection office can do it. I had a similar situation when I moved and got a new phone number. I made the complaint and it quickly stopped.

+1

I had something very similar to this happen to me. I was traveling across country and stopped at a Sheetz in Georgia. Someone asked to borrow my phone. That was the end of it, or so I thought.

About 2 or 3 weeks later, I began receiving calls from a collection agency. At first it was 1 or 2 calls every few days. Then it turned into 2 or 3 calls a day. They were looking for someone I'd never heard of before claiming the person had used my phone to call them. **Light Bulb goes off in my head** I spent the next 3 weeks trying t explain to them that they got burned because that person had just used my phone, and I was certainly not that person.

Longer story short, don't let people use your phone!!

 

[Bertilak]

Next time they call, be nice and ask to speak to a supervisor. It might be that the guy who first calls you has little power to do anything. I'm pretty sure that in the long run they don't want to waste their time on a non-productive lead. Or is that the way you got to the 800 number?

 

[castlecraver]

The "h" word -- "harassment" -- usually gets results. You may have to send a letter demanding that they stop and any further phone calls will be considered harassment. Filing a police report is the next step.

Funny thing is, even if you were the person they were trying to reach and you did owe them money, they'd still have to stop calling you if you demanded it in writing and provide substantiation of the debt and other correspondence via postal mail only.

 

[gaseousclay]

Your State Attorney General's consumer protection office can do it. I had a similar situation when I moved and got a new phone number. I made the complaint and it quickly stopped.

thanks. I contacted the attorney general's office this morning and will be filing a complain through them

 

[Obsessed]

Take a look at the Fair Debt Collection Practices act, which outlaws certain behavior by debt colelctors. If they're violating, it tell them, and mention that they might be liable to you for $1,000 as a result.

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre27.pdf

 

[Thebigspendur]

My situation was a little different but I started getting calls from some sales place and like, they would call 10x a day and when you picked up the phone it would automatically disconnect on their side. I found out who they were and one day I set aside some time (I'm retired) and just called them every 15 minutes for hours. I quickly got a call back from their security department wanting to know why I was harrassing them with calls. I told them I was returning the favor. They never called me again.

 

[Prince]

Reminds me of this:

[YOUTUBE]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Yor0jd33mow[/YOUTUBE]

 

[stobes21]

Take a look at the Fair Debt Collection Practices act, which outlaws certain behavior by debt colelctors. If they're violating, it tell them, and mention that they might be liable to you for $1,000 as a result.

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre27.pdf

+1. I agree that going through your state's AG's office should get it done, but if not ask for the mailing address of their legal department next time they call. Then send a letter (Certified) saying:

1. That the number they are calling is not the number for the person they are trying to collect on (be sure to provide the number).
2. That you have informed them of this multiple times.
3. They are in violation of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act by continuing to call you.
4. If the calls don't stop within 24 hours of the receipt of your letter you will seek full damages and attorney's fees available under federal and state law.

That should take care of it pretty quick. Record date, time, and name or employee ID number of every person who calls after that. If they don't stop take it to an attorney.

 

[raisindot]

I have never had a cell phone number that didn't somehow didn't receive at least 2 voicemails or automted calls a day from least 7 different collection agencies, banks, doctors, and other loansharks. And the guy they were asking for was always named Victor Reshnikslovkodiski.

Jeff in Boston

 

[Uncle Erik]

Use the FDCPA. Realize that, while aggressive, collection agencies are filled with morons. Don't expect to be able to reason or negotiate with them. You have to threaten them with a big stick if you want to get across.

First up, do your homework and find out where they are located and who owns them. Send that person a letter via certified mail, return receipt requested. Keep the letter brief and do not whine or blame. State your number, name and the fact that you are not the debtor. Further, that they've been calling you in error. Next mention that if they do not stop calling you, that you intend to sue under the FDCPA.

Next, keep track of their calls. Keep a written log and make notes (or recordings, if possible) of your conversations. Don't argue or mouth off. Your responses should be along the lines of "I'm sorry, you have the wrong number" and asking if they received your certified letter. Be polite.

If they keep calling, go to your county courthouse and sue them in small claims. The Court Clerk can guide you through the paperwork. Then pay the sheriff to serve the company. If it goes to trial, take your letter, return receipt and logbook of calls. You will (most likely) have an open and shut case where the judge will give you a chunk of cash. I think it's $1,500.

Also check with your state to see if it licenses or bonds collection agencies. If it does, file a formal written complaint. That usually gets the state to nose around their business, and possibly audit them or yank their license if they're bad enough.

Collection agencies are a real pain in the ***. I hate them almost as much as I hate insurance companies. Back when I practiced bankruptcy, I never hesitated to open up with both barrels on collection agencies. Don't be afraid to do the same - they deserve it.

 

[Wendy]

Take a look at the Fair Debt Collection Practices act, which outlaws certain behavior by debt colelctors. If they're violating, it tell them, and mention that they might be liable to you for $1,000 as a result.

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer/credit/cre27.pdf

You took it right out of my mouth. If creditors are not abiding by the FDCPA they can be fined individually, not the company the person calling you. I took classes on this about 15 years ago and it is very serious. Anyone working in 3rd party collections (which this would be) has to sign documents to abide by the rules. The rules are different if it is not 3rd party.

 

[MichaelG]

I keep getting calls from some call center - they always ask, "Can I speak with Melissa?" At first I thought it was an honest mistake and I politely told them A) my name (obviously) is not Melissa B) There is no Melissa at this number.

They kept at it - sometimes 10x per day. I started doing the same thing you did - I'd call them back and tell them I was calling back to bother them, since they had just called to bother me, after I'd told them not to.

They kept at it and I'd recognize the number before I picked up - I then would just start off by telling them "There is no %*&@$@! Melissa at this number! Stop calling it." Followed by a call back to them to tell them I was calling to bother them after they'd done the same.

I think they've finally tapered off. The weird thing is I still don't understand what they're trying to sell or how this model of "salesmanship" works for them. When I'd call back it sounded like some "work at home" type scam but the cold-callers never really pushed the product.

I don't get angry easily but those guys really got my goat.

My situation was a little different but I started getting calls from some sales place and like, they would call 10x a day and when you picked up the phone it would automatically disconnect on their side. I found out who they were and one day I set aside some time (I'm retired) and just called them every 15 minutes for hours. I quickly got a call back from their security department wanting to know why I was harrassing them with calls. I told them I was returning the favor. They never called me again.

 

[The Nid Hog]

My wife has just gone through this. At one point, she was getting a couple of collection calls a day on her cell phone from agencies who were after some dirtbag who defaulted on his Direct TV account. Talking to the collection agency supervisors accomplished nothing. We called Direct TV and talked to one of their customer service reps. After hearing our story, they forwarded us to a real person who took over our case. The volume of calls fell off dramatically, but the rep told us to call her back if it didn't stop entirely. Since there were still a few (all from different numbers) coming in, my wife called back again. Now they seem to have stopped completely. It was a pain, but it was nice to actually get some satisfaction for our complaints.

 

[kryptik]

Somehow Chrysler Financial got my cell phone number and started calling me for some guy named Robert. I told them multiple times that not only was I not named Robert, I didn't know anyone named Robert, and that never had and never would own a Chrysler product. They apologized, and I thought I was good. Then about a week later I started getting two and three calls per day from Mrs. X with Chrysler Financial. Finally, I started telling them my name was Robert, and that I dared them to try to get their car back. Then I would give them various bogus locations around my city where they could find their car if they were brave enough. Then, I got the lady to give me her fax number, so I could fax her a payment confirmation. I then used computer software to "fax bomb" her with all kinds of crap. I would call her phone number after hours and leave dozens and dozens of bogus messages from different people with different phone numbers. I also used her email address to subscribe her to every porn site I could find. Finally, she must have gotten the idea, because the calls just all of a sudden stopped. Moral of the story? Instead of getting upset about, I decided to have some fun with it. As an adult, I have very few opportunities to act immature and do juvenile stuff. I like to seize every one that comes along and milk it for all it's worth...

 

[koso]

Under the FDCPA, if you forbid them from calling you, they can't. Send the return receipt letter advising them that their only communication with you is to be in writing.

It makes me fume when these shady 'debt counselor' outfits run ads, part of their pitch being "We can stop the phone calls!"

Yeah. So can anybody. For the cost of a certified letter.

Check out creditboards.com for lots of great info on credit, and credit file repair.

 

[TimmyBoston]

The "h" word -- "harassment" -- usually gets results. You may have to send a letter demanding that they stop and any further phone calls will be considered harassment. Filing a police report is the next step.

Funny thing is, even if you were the person they were trying to reach and you did owe them money, they'd still have to stop calling you if you demanded it in writing and provide substantiation of the debt and other correspondence via postal mail only.

This would be my reaction.

Also, I would look into seeing how much money this individual owes, if it's a small amount, some collection agencies go nuts for sums as low as $20, if it is something like that, I'd consider sending them a money order just to get them off your back.