Debt collectors have wrong phone number... MINE!

[sweeps]

How's this for irritating. I'm getting calls everyday from debt collectors who are looking for someone who apparently used to have my phone number. She must be pretty deep in debt because the calls come from all over the place. It doesn't matter how many times I say they have the wrong number -- they keep calling. I imagine they're thinking "Yeah right, wrong number my ---."

Any suggestions on how to eliminate these calls? Other than changing my phone number I guess (which is what I assume the previous person did to get these people off her back).

[greedy4chips]

Pay the debts! LOL

[sweeps]

Originally Posted by greedy4chips

Pay the debts! LOL

Tempting, but no.

[poundwise]

Originally Posted by Sweepsplayer

How's this for irritating. I'm getting calls everyday from debt collectors who are looking for someone who apparently used to have my phone number. She must be pretty deep in debt because the calls come from all over the place. It doesn't matter how many times I say they have the wrong number -- they keep calling. I imagine they're thinking "Yeah right, wrong number my ---."

Any suggestions on how to eliminate these calls? Other than changing my phone number I guess (which is what I assume the previous person did to get these people off her back).

Try saying something like this... link

If that doesn't work, then you may have to actually write the letter. If so, make sure you send it via certified mail.

[LuckyRobin]

We had this problem several years ago when we got our first phone number. We told them that one, that person no longer had that phone number and two, stop calling us, and three if they persisted in calling us they were breaking several federal laws regarding debt collecting and harrassment. Unfortunately, I don't remember the laws, but a little research should help you find them. You must tell them to stop calling, in those exact words, as they are not allowed to continue by law to call you if you have requested them to stop.

We also had this problem once with an address, getting all kinds of mail for the previous tenants, I was returning stuff to sender daily. The last straw was when someone showed up at our apartment at 2:00 in the morning, pounding on the front door to repossess a car from the previous occupant. Fortunately DH was home, I was several months pregnant and was scared half to death. What this person did was illegal, because repossession is restricted to certain daytime hours, at least in my state. We would have been within our rights to have him arrested for intimidation and violent threat making, disturbing the peace, harrassment, etc., even if we had been the people he was trying to repossess from, found out later from a police friend. Fortunately, DH scared him off just by threatening to call the cops. We got a letter from our property management company after that that stated we were not the previous tenants and a brief synopsis of the situation. We had few problems after that, but moved as soon as our lease was up.

[markio26]

last week an attorney from a law firm in va.. called us, asking if a person, we don't know lived with us and how to reach them.. we said no.. we have received 3 letters from them... so, i think the certified letter from our postmaster will hopefully take care of this..hth..

[lgslgs]

We had this happening for a person who had our number before 2002. He seems to have a lot of old debts in collection.

Fortunately they ask for the guy by name, and his new number and address are in the phone book. We ask them if they'd like it, and mention that he seems to get a lot of calls for creditors and we are glad to help put him in touch with the people he owes money to.

The creditors are usually surprised and quite appreciative - and always very pleasant. It has significantly decreased the number of calls we get for the guy. It also makes the occasional call we do get a lot more enjoyable.

Now if we can just stop getting all of the wrong number calls for Pizza Hut, the bank, the local garden center, Peewee, and Sandy someone. It's a small town with one phone prefix and a lot of people half remember the last 4 digits and start randomly dialing away. Ugh!

Lynda

[rduell]

Originally Posted by lgslgs

Now if we can just stop getting all of the wrong number calls for Pizza Hut, the bank, the local garden center, Peewee, and Sandy someone. It's a small town with one phone prefix and a lot of people half remember the last 4 digits and start randomly dialing away. Ugh!

Lynda

LOL! We get the same thing. Every once in a while someone will call and want to order a pizza. Our number is nothing close to the number we know they are trying to call, but it is an easily remembered number, so maybe that's why.

[Broken Arrow]

You could always do what I do. Cut off the landline phone entirely. No more phone bills. No more creditors calling. Two birds with one stone I say.

If not, you can always talk to your phone company about getting your number changed....

[Hot dog]

Evidently our number is close to the foot doctors We get calls all the time. they even leave messages. Once this old lady left a message she sounded like she was in such pain I felt so bad. My grandmother even called once and asked for an appointment

[sweeps]

Originally Posted by Hot dog

Evidently our number is close to the foot doctors We get calls all the time. they even leave messages. Once this old lady left a message she sounded like she was in such pain I felt so bad. My grandmother even called once and asked for an appointment

LOL... I'm not sure what is worse:
"I'm here to collect your debts. Pay up." or
"See I have this horrible fungus growing under my toenails..."

[tinapbeana]

Originally Posted by Sweepsplayer

LOL... I'm not sure what is worse:
"I'm here to collect your debts. Pay up." or
"See I have this horrible fungus growing under my toenails..."

HAAAAAAAAAHAHAHA! my parents number used to be the phone for house of lizards.... all kinds of strange calls coming to their house.

as for the creditors: explain the situation and get a mailing address from the rep on the phone. send a cease & desist letter and perhaps a photocopy of just one page of your phone bill showing your name and the number (blak all other info out if you prefer).

[PRICEPLUS]

Thanl goodness our number here does not recieve many wrong # calls. I feel for you folks who get tons of calls!

[vsjhoc]

I didn't think my name was common, but there are at least three of us in this city.

I got invited to a family reunion -- not my family.

I know when it's a wrong number when the caller says my name and then "uuuuhhhhhh" because the other 2 are African American and I am Caucasian and definitely sound like it on the phone.

What's worse: I've gone to the doctor and they pulled the wrong chart. The doc asked me "how are those hand tremors?" Huh? Also, they gave me the wrong medication at the drug store -- sorry to hear that one of the others is taking anti-depressants.

[tabbycat31]

Originally Posted by Broken Arrow

You could always do what I do. Cut off the landline phone entirely. No more phone bills. No more creditors calling. Two birds with one stone I say.

If not, you can always talk to your phone company about getting your number changed....

That's what I did and I love it. IF someone other than a friend, family member, or (potential) employer calls, then I inform them that this is a private cellphone, and to immediately cease all communication with me.

For those freebies that require a phone #, there is a phonesex hotline that has a local # to me that's advertised all the time. I wrote down that # and I put it on all mailing list signup forms.

[aurielle]

I've had our phone number for ten years. It used to be one number different from a local grocery store. I frequently got calls for that store. Then the store closed and sometime later a local law office got that old store number. Now I frequently get calls for the law office. AND I was getting collection calls for them about a office copier I think. Just so happens I am acquainted with the attorney (I also know his brothers) and run into him on occasion and I told him I get calls for him. Told him about the collection calls which he didn't know about (and swears is a mistake) and I gave him the contact info that was being left on our answering machine. The collection calls have finally stopped.

[rduell]

Originally Posted by tabbycat31

For those freebies that require a phone #, there is a phonesex hotline that has a local # to me that's advertised all the time. I wrote down that # and I put it on all mailing list signup forms.

[tabbycat31]

I once gave my phone #, and I was getting calls all the time from telemarketers at the most inappropriate times (ie while driving....... I am a HUGE advocate of not using a cellphone and driving at the same time because I was injured in a car accident due to the other driver's cellphone use).

I finally told the caller that this is a private cellphone on a do not call list and they stopped bothering me. That night, I saw the phonesex commercial, wrote down the #, and I put it on all the freebie forms. The only reason there are the freebies is that your information is worth more than the item that they're giving away.