Sometimes a wrong number really IS the wrong number

[poofy_puff]

This suck is in the SITUATION:

Somehow, a collector for one of my aunt's bills got my number. I picked up the phone because the battery for the caller-id is dead and I thought it was my husband calling. Turns out, it was this bill-collector and he refused to believe that I wasn't my aunt or that she doesn't live here. Yet, he seemed to know where she works... I know it was really a bill-collector because he had left several messages prior to this, and the caller-id in another part of the house shows that the calls are coming from a law firm.

But the point of this is, THESE ARE NOT THE DROIDS YOU'RE LOOKING FOR. YOU CAN GO ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS. MOVE ALONG.

kthxbye

[MaggieTheCat]

I had something kinda similar happen not too long ago. I started getting calls from an unknown number. Started at one every couple days, then one a day, then several a day. I never actually answered since I don't answer my cell unless I recognize the number or am expecting a call from an unknown number. Eventually I did pick up since it was getting to the point that I was getting like 3 calls a day. They asked for...someone. Don't remember who. The name sounded Spanish, that's all I remember. I asked to double check I didn't misunderstand them, then told them very curtly, but politely, that there was no one, and has never been anyone, by that name at my number. It worked! They never called back.

Did you finally get the message through to the ones who keep calling you?

[poofy_puff]

He didn't believe me, so I hung up on him.

I suppose bill collectors have heard every story in the book.

Once in a while, though, it happens to be the truth.

I'm not going to GIVE OUT my aunt's number; but at the same time, her number is not unlisted. This is a very complicated situation actually - these are my GRANDPARENTS' bills, but this aunt is on the account(s) too. My Grandma died a month or two ago and my Grampa is in a nursing home. When he dies, then my aunt can sell their house and pay all their bills. Man-on-the-phone says "My client is not willing to wait that long".

GOOD LUCK to the "client"!!!!!

[blas]

Man, I hate hearing about situations like these.

And knowing that there are companies out there with no qualms about phone harassment, it just makes it all the worse when it's the wrong damn number.

[poofy_puff]

I have respect for the fact that most people really DO owe the money that the collectors are calling about, and that they have bills to pay just like everyone else. But it isn't like my aunt HAS the money and JUST won't give it to them.

[firecat88]

I had something similar happen at my house once. Only it wasn't a bill collector. It was this woman who kept calling to try to book a vacation. I guess our phone number at the time was only a digit or two off from that of a travel agency. She called two or three times in one day and even accused my sister, who answered all three times because she'd been waiting for a phone call and we didn't have caller ID at the time, that she was lying about it being a wrong number. She stopped calling after a while, thankfully.

[BuggedMei]

When I worked debt collection we were required to take the number out of the system if we got "wrong number" after three weeks of calls. I know its a pain but you might just wanna keep saying "wrong number, sorry." and hang up. We were allowed to keep leaving messages if we got voice mails which means they will never stop x.x;

[Nohbody]

Depending on the relevant laws, getting the state involved can stop harassment by bill collectors quite nicely, when they won't take "no one here by that name" as an answer.

Yeah, personal experience, thanks to my deadbeat brother.

[poofy_puff]

I think my number might have gotten put on this account because of an investigation for financial abuse that was conducted by Elder Services. Either that, or my other aunt put all the billing information under someone else's information (mine).

Next time they call, if my husband's home, I'll let him talk to them. He has a way of making people take him seriously, which I do not.

[mikoyan29]

I had something similar happen at my house once. Only it wasn't a bill collector. It was this woman who kept calling to try to book a vacation. I guess our phone number at the time was only a digit or two off from that of a travel agency. She called two or three times in one day and even accused my sister, who answered all three times because she'd been waiting for a phone call and we didn't have caller ID at the time, that she was lying about it being a wrong number. She stopped calling after a while, thankfully.

Did she call you Dave?
Did she say that she really liked the house you put her in last year but doesn't want to pay what the real rate would have been? Did she start complaining about the beach not being raked?

[Golden Phoenix]

On behlaf of my debt collecting brethern, i'm sorry.

I'm glad to report we're not all like that, and those a**holse make my job all the harder

[Midorikawa]

This suck is in the SITUATION:

Somehow, a collector for one of my aunt's bills got my number. I picked up the phone because the battery for the caller-id is dead and I thought it was my husband calling. Turns out, it was this bill-collector and he refused to believe that I wasn't my aunt or that she doesn't live here. Yet, he seemed to know where she works... I know it was really a bill-collector because he had left several messages prior to this, and the caller-id in another part of the house shows that the calls are coming from a law firm.

But the point of this is, THESE ARE NOT THE DROIDS YOU'RE LOOKING FOR. YOU CAN GO ABOUT YOUR BUSINESS. MOVE ALONG.

kthxbye

I had a phone number back in Texas that had a similar...I had the number for 5 years, and got daily calls from a bill collection agency for some hispanic sounding name for 3 of those years. No amount of escalation and explanation would fix it. They'd apologize, hang up, and call right back the next day. One day, when I was in an area where I could let loose and not get 1) fired or 2) yelled at for yelling at this obnoxious caller, I did. They quit calling after that.

[Record Store Tough Guy]

Four words everyone in OP's situation should know: Fair Debt Collection Act. There are things debt collectors are not permitted to do; harassing someone who does not owe a debt is a big no-no, and if they do not stop, they can be sued. Further, OP's aunt may not be personally responsible for Grandma's debt, depending on what kind of debt it is. If anything, the collector should be going through the estate, not attempting to collect from a surviving relative. Even if she's on the account, she still needs to read up on the FDCA. Too many shady collectors count on people not knowing their rights.

[poofy_puff]

Thanks, I'll pass that information along.

[LillFilly]

There was a news story about this; a man hounded 'to death.' The video is here. The collection calls are HORRIBLE!! There's a collection of calls like this somewhere too; the collectors use horrible language and threats. One collector even called a person's family and told them their sister/daughter had died!

http://www.walletpop.com/blog/2009/0...ridians-death/