I'M getting debt collection calls disguised as job offers for my Housemate...

[LillFilly]

Twice in the past couple of weeks I've gotten a call from a woman who calls herself 'Taquilla (yes, that's spelled right)' from 'SMS' regarding 'a job opportunity' and she 'wants to verify the education level of my housemate.' She says he used me as a reference and it's very important and involves paperwork that must be submitted soon. The first time she gave me his number and I verified it was current, and texted the housemate myself to give him the message; he IS looking for a job, and I assumed he used me as a reference - he has before.

She called again about a week later saying that she had to hear from him by tomorrow and he still hadn't called; same woman, same number. I talked to the housemate that evening and he said he had looked-up the phone number and name and that it was a debt collection agency trying to collect on a student loan he didn't owe anymore, and he has no clue how they got my number because he's only used me as a reference on a few job applications years ago which was long after getting those student loans. He said he forgot to tell me it was a collection agency because he didn't think she'd call back.

I love getting sucked into this sort of crap. I hope they don't try to come after me just because I live with the guy!

[Soulstealer]

I'd get their information. I'm pretty sure debt collectors aren't allowed to lie about the reason for their call.

[Food Lady]

They aren't. They also aren't allowed to tell you the reason for the call, so that's why they're lying. I've been through all this junk before.

[eltf177]

For _years_ I've been getting calls on my land line at home with messages for a James Cheatwood about "important financial matters" from various companies. The callback numbers were always long-distance so I just ignored them.

Recently I've gotten two calls on my answering machine from a new source which states the message is "personal and private" and there's a delay for you to hang up if you're not the person they are calling (they seem quite serious about this). Then it states they're a debt collection agency. This proves all these calls from all these companies all these years were from debt collectors, which is what I had suspected all along.

The weirdest thing is that this latest company mentions his address which is about 40 miles south of me and in a different area code. One would think a quick check would prove this number won't get him unless they think it's either a business number up here (unlikely due to my message and the fact you can't ever reach a person; you _have_ to start to leave a message for me to know who it is before I pick up) or a cell phone (due to area code that can't be the case). I have _no_ clue how they got my number in the first place, though I suspect he gave them a bogus number which happens to be mine. If they have his address they should have his correct home phone number and a place to send Moose and Rocko...

Since they never call while I'm home I'm not worried about it, it's not _my_ damn problem!

[taxguykarl]

They aren't. They also aren't allowed to tell you the reason for the call, so that's why they're lying. I've been through all this junk before.

The only reason they may contact is third party (other than a co-signer) is to locate the debtor. If your reply is 'not here' or 'who?' the call is to stop. Otherwise, the collector is violating the Fair Debt Collections Practice Act.

[KellyHabersham]

The only reason they may contact is third party (other than a co-signer) is to locate the debtor. If your reply is 'not here' or 'who?' the call is to stop. Otherwise, the collector is violating the Fair Debt Collections Practice Act.

So what's the difference if you're a co-signer? Reason I ask is because some years back, my sister's husband apparently listed me as a contact/reference for either a student or car loan. I had not been aware of this, and when I would get calls looking to reach him, I was told that they could not take me off their list, only "Rick" could do that.

[EricKei]

karl - That actually stops them?

KH - IIRC, if the "primary" debtor cannot be found, or will not/cannot pay, the co-signer is on the hook for the debt. Listing you as a contact is something else entirely. They're almost certainly lying about "not being able" to remove your name from their list.

----

One issue I had recently is this -- school debt, the usual deal. Recently got it up to "current" status via one of those "$5 a month for a year" refurbishment deals. Did so, but because of a delay in the mail, a payment was late. I called them, paid up the difference, and prepaid another monthly payment ($5) to make sure it was clear. Agent told me I was then considered current (September). Fast forward one month, and I find an unannounced $500 debit on my bank account from them (good luck on that, I only had $20 in there) -- they claim that my account was not current/was in default, and they ignored everything I said about the updated payments I made in October, refusing to even check the notes. I found that someone there had also gone into my account and changed my auto-payment to the $500 amount (I switched it back, deactivated the auto-debit, and ran a $5 "STFU for a month" payment, just in case) all without my knowledge nor permission. The payments I made in October showed up on their site just fine, so it's not like they can deny they were made.

Oddly enough, I didn't get any email, snailmail, nor text messages the week before notifying me of any changes -- I had been getting them prior to October, and my account page on their site (Nelnet) shows that I had these options active. It just reeks, to me. Fortunately, my bank was willing to reverse the charge, with no OD fee or anything to me.

[Taz]

The weirdest thing is that this latest company mentions his address which is about 40 miles south of me and in a different area code. One would think a quick check would prove this number won't get him unless they think it's either a business number up here (unlikely due to my message and the fact you can't ever reach a person; you _have_ to start to leave a message for me to know who it is before I pick up) or a cell phone (due to area code that can't be the case).

Actually, with the newer phone# portablilty laws, it could be a cell phone. My BIL's cell phone still has a TX area code even though he has lived in IL for many years now.

[Sapphire Silk]

I love getting sucked into this sort of crap. I hope they don't try to come after me just because I live with the guy!

She may try and bully you for information like his cell phone or work number. I had that happen once with a roommate who'd been sent to collections over a pizza. Don't fall for it. Tell the caller you are not responsible for HM's debt and that you'll deliver her message that she called. Take a number, leave it for HM and forget about it. Don't give DC any personal information; you are under no obligation to help her.

If she threatens legal action against you or claims she can have you arrested (this is what happened to me) for not cooperating, tell her she is in violation of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and that you will be forwarding her name and phone number to the FTC and the State Attorney General's office.

She'll probably hang up at that point.

Debt collectors are not allowed to threaten or harass people to collect a debt. If you ask for calls to stop, they must stop. However, since they are calling for your HM, they may be able to ignore that part until HE tells them to stop and communicate only in writing.

I'd get their information. I'm pretty sure debt collectors aren't allowed to lie about the reason for their call.

They're not, but they're not allowed to identify themselves as debt collectors until you verify your identity. Lately, they've been demanding personal information like DOB to verify you're you.

I hate this. I don't want to play 20 questions over the phone under the best of circumstances. So I just tell them to stop all phone communication and communicate only by mail. I don't play the games.

I do pay my bills, btw. But you can't get blood from a stone, so when I'm squeezed tight (which usuallly happens with my medical bills), I pay on MY terms.

The only reason they may contact is third party (other than a co-signer) is to locate the debtor. If your reply is 'not here' or 'who?' the call is to stop. Otherwise, the collector is violating the Fair Debt Collections Practice Act.

If you reply not here, then THAT call has to stop. They can call again and try to get the debtor. If you say "no such person lives here, then you should get no further calls. If you do, throw the FDCPA at them.

So what's the difference if you're a co-signer? Reason I ask is because some years back, my sister's husband apparently listed me as a contact/reference for either a student or car loan. I had not been aware of this, and when I would get calls looking to reach him, I was told that they could not take me off their list, only "Rick" could do that.

A co-signer actually takes on full financial responsibility for the debt if the original debtor is unable or refuses to pay. They can end up on the hook for the whole thing if they co-signed for a dead beat, and it can RUIN your credit. So only co-sign someone you really trust, usually a relative, and only if you can afford to take on this debt if the borrower defaults. It involves a lot of paperwork that you should get a copy of that explains the terms of the loan and repayment, and your responsibility as co-signer.

If you haven't gone through this process, you are not a co-signer. If someone tries to claim you are, demand written proof.

A contact or reference is not on the hook for the debt, but some unscrupulous debt collectors will try and convince you otherwise to collect. Tell them to go to hell and forward their information to the FTC and the State Attorney General (if the state gets too many complaints about a collection agency, they can move to stop them from collecting debts in your state).

You can demand they stop calling you if you are a contact or reference. Again, threaten them with action via the FTC and State Attorney General if they continue to call . . . and follow through if necessary. They're lying about not being able to remove you as a contact.

I occasionally get debt collection calls regarding my ex-husband . . . and more often his current wife. And the ex and I have been divorced for almost 20 years. I tell the agency that me and the ex are divorced, that I am not responsible for his or his current wife's debts, that no, I do not have their contact information (and I don't; I haven't spoken with him in years), and I do not want to be contacted regarding this matter ever again. I hold off on the FTC bit unless they call a second time. They never have.

[Catwoman2965]

I used to get calls, sporadically, but in clusters, for several years, for someone, and I had no idea who they were. Nor did I have any clue how any debt collector or law firm that called my number looking for her got it in the first place. I can see as they pass info around, but what worked for me was to call them back, tell them you called me, looking for x person. This is not their number, its been mine for 10+ years, nor do I know her or anything like that, and please remove this phone # from their records. never had an issue and they all apoligized and complied.

[wolfie]

I occasionally get debt collection calls regarding my ex-husband . . . and more often his current wife. And the ex and I have been divorced for almost 20 years.

Probably not the case in your situation, but if a debt collector calls for someone who you know has died, would it be appropriate to give them as updated contact information "Their new address is (street address of cemetery), unit number (grave identification number). To the best of my knowledge, they don't have a phone"?

[taxguykarl]

So what's the difference if you're a co-signer?

Co-singers are the ones who are required to pay if the original borrower doesn't That is why you should never do that.

karl - That actually stops them?

True, too few people know that the nonsense in the OP is illegal.
I would record them (if that is legal in your state) and take that to a consumer attorney--either the OP or housemate would have a strong case.

[wolfie]

Co-singers are the ones who are required to pay if the original borrower doesn't That is why you should never do that.

In cases such as someone with bad or no credit, a lender won't lend without a co-signer (e.g. young person buying their first car - bank won't lend unless the parent co-signs, in effect saying "I personally guarantee that the loan will be paid, even though the person borrowing doesn't have sufficient history for your underwriter to lend money to them"). That's why you should NEVER co-sign unless you absolutely trust the person.

There's also a related term "co-maker", where both people signing the loan paperwork are collectively responsible for the whole amount (as is the case with a co-signer), but the difference is that both (or all) co-makers receive the benefit of the loan (e.g. a couple jointly signing the mortgage documents when they buy a house).

[mathnerd]

I've had my current phone number since February. I'm still getting calls for the old owner of the number. Actually, I'm fairly certain the old owner is somewhat elderly and doesn't have a phone, so when she's asked, she just gives her old number. I get calls from not only debt collectors, but people from her church, doctor's offices, her pharmacy, the mechanic where she gets her car serviced and many, many other places. The reason I'm pretty sure she's still giving the number out as her current phone number is that recently I got a phone call from a hospital following up on her recent visit. The woman at the other end of the phone call was appropriately apologetic, and actually kind of freaked out, since that went into HIPPA violation territory.

Anyway, as to the debt collectors, they irritate me. I go through rounds with them, telling them that I'm not the person they're looking for and that I've had this phone number for however many months, and to please stop calling. Most of the time they're polite, but one woman the other day really took the cake. She attempted to badger me, telling me that she "knew" I was really the old owner and that I should stop lying to her. I told her that she was in violation of federal law and iPhones record calls very easily, and I would be forwarding this and any future calls to the appropriate government agency, then hung up without giving her a chance to respond.

[notalwaysright]

They also aren't allowed to tell you the reason for the call, so that's why they're lying. I've been through all this junk before.

Huh. I got a voicemail a few days ago that was just a recording saying "this is an attempt to collect a debt. Please contact Someplace at the following number." I have no debts, so I know it's not for me, and what's odd is that I was sitting next to my phone and it never rang, just went straight to voicemail.