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Are you sure they're not asking for TONY Orlando?
2 replies
Are you sure they're not asking for TONY Orlando?
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I've had it happen with two different phone numbers. In both cases I had the phone number of the person whom they were looking for and politely gave it each time they called. Eventually it stopped, but it was annoying.
What I really hate is when you tell them so-an-so doesn't live here, never has, etc...they treat you like you're lying...like you're the bad guy! Please, I don't run from my creditors!
@MyDarlin: Ugh. After giving them the phone number of the person they were looking for they continued to call me and ask why the person wouldn't take their calls (gee, I wonder.) They called my neighbors to ask if this person secretly lived with me and told me they would call my workplace to ask my boss about my relationship to the person they were seeking. Trying to help only gave them more reason to harass me.
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@MyDarlin: You can deal with the \"treat you like a liar\" easily enough if the caller has any concern about legal compliance . . . you need to get it across to them that by (a) acting like a collector, they've given away that they are a collector and (b) that you know the name of the person they are calling for, hence, you now are in possession of information, that they gave you, that you shouldn't have, and that, since they gave it to you, that they are in violation of federal law.
Now, if they deny being a debt collector, you just ask them why, then, are they acting like a jackass. No telemarketer or charity would do that, after all, they want to sell something, and if it isn't to the person they called for, they should try to sell that something to you on the off chance that you might bite. Hence, only debt collectors will be so insistent on talking to that specific person.
On the other hand, if the caller is (or represents) a loan shark or other sort of illegal/unethical operation, then this is, of course, a moot point.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-267097-100x100.png\")
@kc2idf: I've wondered how far one could take that, actually. After giving them a couple chances to make it right, follow along. Probably wouldn't even have to lie, just play dumb but cooperative.
\"Hello? Oh, is this about some pesky debt? Okay, let me get my records to check against. It was for how much? That doesn't ring a bell, when did the debt originate? I see, hmm. The retailer? Okay, yes, I've done some business with them, was this in relation to a sofa? Oh, big-screen TV, gotcha. Then this wasn't at the 123 Main Street address, was it? 555 Center Street, huh. If I were to send a check, which collection agency would I address it to?\"
\"Well, according to my records, I'm not Jimmy Jacobson, I've never lived at 555 Center Street, and I don't have a big-screen TV. However, I'll be sure to let folks know how eager Goombah Collections was to give out personal data. Have a nice day!\"
@MyDarlin: I've been going thru the same thing for years now. They just sell the debt to another junk debt buyer & the new one calls. Most are polite about it, but some have acted as though I'm lying.
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Hey, I have the same problem. Multiple debt collectors using robo-calls calling for the previous owner of the phone number which I've had for 6 years. Most of them do not want to speak to me, they want ME to call THEM. If I do bother calling back, they don't answer their phone.
I also get many many robo-calls from Express Scripts asking for some unintelligible name who isn't me. Their automated system has no provision for the possibility that they have the wrong number.
These people do not have their crap together and have no business using auto-dialers and robo messages. I was under the impression this was illegal, for those reasons. Why isn't it?
@nytmare: @Julia789: Considering how frequently this happens (person intentionally giving a bad phone number) I'm surprised there isn't more protection in the law for it.
I mean in your case, your house and/or life have been possibly put in danger because of some lady's deliberate actions. It's ridiculous to think that now you have to take time out of your life to show up in court, for a case you're not even connected to, just to attempt to get your number off the paperwork when it shouldn't even have been there in the first place.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-373315-100x100.png\")
@nytmare: I got a message one time asking me to return their call, but at the beginning of the message it said that by simply listening to the message i agree to the fact that i am so-and-so they were trying to reach.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-371009-100x100.png\")
@me and the sysop: That's hilarious! Since it was a message for \"Entran Systems\" (my robo-caller doppelganger) and I listened to it, then by extension I am Entran Systems.
I guess that should teach me for listening to other peoples messages on my voicemail.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-248759-100x100.png\")
@nytmare: Isn't there a special ring tone that signals \"disconnected phone\" that you can pad your answering machine with? It's a drastic step but it sounds like you have no recourse.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-483565-100x100.png\")
@Alessar: No, those never really worked as well as they promise, and now all the robocallers are programmed to ignore them.
@Alessar: I use a software PBX. Using callerid, it will allow flagging a number specifically, or will flag entire areacodes, and blank numbers, sending them to a call flow that plays the tri-tone sounds and \"number is no longer in service\" recordings followed by hanging up on the caller, without so much as a ring on the phones around the house.
After an unwanted call is done, dialing one extension will prompt to add the previous number to the blacklist. Another extension will allow all blacklisted calls ring through, like when expecting a company call regarding banking or customer service which likely look just like unwanted callers with bad/missing callerid.
It even allows for custom recordings to be made by any phone in the house, that can be attached to calls from some particular caller. (sing happy bday to family caller, or state your views to an unwanted caller.) It plays the message and hangs up on them, not ringing the home extensions, and not taking any messages.
Answering machine function is also there for the calls you have not blocked, and the recordings are also emailed to you if you do not like calling to check for messages. (there is the stutter dialtone that indicates messages waiting.)
asterisk software PBX.
it's been happening to me. every now and then, if they catch me while i'm home, i tell them the number's been changed over 6 months ago. but normally i just ignore them.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-449232-100x100.png\")
@plim: See that worked for me for a little break but then they sell the case to another collector who calls and the cycle repeats.
Now I spent time doing call center IT support and know that even the debt collectors follow the 8 minute rule. If they can't get an identity or agreed payment in 8 minutes they have to hang up or escalate.
So I will give them the one freebie of asking to be taken off their list, each additional call I will try to see how long I can keep them on the line. They are wasting my time so might as well waste theirs.
It has become a nice break and entertaining if you let it be that way. Anything from talking about the weather and current events to giving them completely false information.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-130492-100x100.png\")
I haven't had any problems getting callers to take me off the list since \"Richard\" no longer has my cell phone number. In fact, I don't know when he would have ever had it since I've had it for 5+ years and the calls started a year ago. I just listen for the long and trailing option to get removed from the calling list, and when that doesn't work, I talk to an actual person from the company. Mashing zero usually always gets me to a person rather fast. Over all an inconvenient process, but manageable in most cases.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-332258-100x100.png\")
I get a lot of calls for a chap by the name of Jay McCready. There seem to be a number of people coming after him, although luckily most of them seem to be real people and not computers. I politely inform them of the mix-up. By and large, they've stopped.
I was in Worst Buy once, and had to hand over my papers...er..give them my phone number for a purchase. After the cashier keyed it in, I snuck a peek at the computer screen and ol' Jay McCready was listed in there. Unfortunately, I didn't get the address.
I hope he's doing ok. By the calls, it sounds like he had a lot of medical work done...
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This happens to me a lot. Turns out that the guy they're after has the same last four numbers, but a prefix from across town. Now I give them the correct number, which must please to no end the bozo who has been giving people my number so he wouldn't have to talk to them.
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@HurtsSoGood: I had a work cell phone that had this problem. This lady named Rachael owed money to the local hospital and dive shop. My number ended in something like 1265 and hers was 1256. The companies would call me, I would call and politely but firmly give them the right number and tell them to stop calling my work phone. They would call her, she would swear up and down 1265 was the right number, she needed them to stop calling. It stopped when she came into my office to pay her bill. I flat out confronted her about it, and asked her to stop giving out my number. Now, that was in a really small town; I doubt anyone else would be that lucky!
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I get calls from NCO Financial and they don't say a name (the calls are all recordings). I don't have any debt and have previously had calls from a rental company from the phone's previous owner, so I assume they are calling for her. I've checked my credit reports just in case, but I'm afraid to call back the number they give me and get charged or something.
@calquist: Send them a cease and desist letter telling them to stop all contact to phone number :xxx-xxx-xxxx as it in VERY inconvenient for them to contact you.
Not really much you can do. Complain to donotcall.gov and your state AG. But that is about it.
Shaun Dakin
CEO
StopPoliticalCalls.org
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@shimane: Yep, whenever Capital One calls me for someone that I've never heard of and leaves me a message, I just report them to donotcall.gov. I'll let them sort it out so they must try to avoid getting fined.
I've never had any business with Capital One and they don't care enough to listen to my name on my voicemail... that's what you get when you Robocall me. I also have a pay-by-the-minute phone so I am not wasting my money to help Capital One out.
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A while back, I recorded the tones that you encounter whenever you dial an out-of-service number and prefaced my answering machine message with it. I had read that these robocallers will remove you from their list automatically when they hear that series of notes.
It did eliminate the calls, but I don't know if the robocallers have adapted to that method now.
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@HiPwr: Digital callers will still leave a message, but they'll interpret the tones as the answering machine beep and you'll be spared the majority of the spill. The longer your \"message,\" the better.
In college, along time ago, phone numbers got recycled every year so it wasn't uncommon for bill collectors to call. One women had so many collectors who would not stop calling she finally changed her answering machine message. \"Donald Orland is no longer at this number he is currently living in Montana as a hog farmer.\" (If it had been me I'd have said dental floss tycoon.) The calls changed to getting info on where in Montana and then they stopped.
Just in case the OP has a dialup modem and PC he can leave on continuously, there's an excellent, free program called PhoneTray, which will intercept phone calls and -- based on configurable parameters (time of day, caller ID number, etc.) -- automatically reject offensive callers, or play a prerecorded message, or play a \"number has been disconnected\" tone. Might be worth a look, it worked for me in similar circumstances.
I had a similar problem a few years ago, but it was a fax machine robodialing my cell phone. I have no idea how my cell phone number got on a fax list, and needless to say having that fax dialer fill up my voicemail day-in day-out so no person could leave a message was impossible to deal with. In the end, I had to change my number and make hundreds of calls updating business and personal contacts of my number change was easier than getting 20 fax attempts a day
@spartie: I had this problem with my office phone once. I set it to forward to an office fax machine, got the fax, and contacted the senders to knock it off.
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The easiest way of fighting this is to change your phone number and hope that no one who used to have it also had a bunch of robo-callers going after him as well.
Then again, I also like \"you can always jack into the Matrix, learn kung fu, enlist the help of blade runners and bring the fight to Skynet.\" I think it's viable and should be considered.
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This happened to me when I moved about five years ago and was given a recycled number. I did not get collectors calling, but I did get banks, doctors, charities and even relatives calling for \"Luis Woolner\" The only thing you can do (other then go through the hassle of changing your phone number) is keep repeating \"This number has been recycled and it no longer belongs to (name) Please remove this number from your records and do not call again.\" After about three years or so the number of calls was greatly reduced. Trials and tribulations of the modern age...
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-488475-100x100.png\")
@IchabodCrane: I had the same problem but they were looking for \"Carmen White.\" I don't know anyone named Carmen. It finally stopped. Either they found her or just got sick of me telling them she didn't live there.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-48051-100x100.png\")
I had a problem with a fax machine calling me at 3am two or three times a week.
I finally hooked up an old fax/modem so I'd be ready for the next one. It turned out to be some toner refill company trying to contact a company that had gone belly up years before. I called the number and got them to take me off the list, and the calls stopped.
Two months later, they started back up. I did a *57 (Customer Originated Trace - cost $5) and called the phone company in the morning, telling them that this person is making harassing phone calls to me late at night, despite being told not to.
The calls stopped for good. And the phone company credited the $5 cost, so it didn't cost me anything.
We had the same problem with our local landline phone in NJ. We never in two years were able to stop the calls. If I could get one company to understand that we were not the deadbeats whom they were looking for, the call stopped for about a month. Then, a new company would start calling. Until a congressperson gets these kinds of calls, we consumers will just have to put up with the hassles.
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I've changed numbers several times because of that.
The Fair Credit Collections Practices Act prohibits collections firms from calling a residence if they have reason to believe the person they're after doesn't live there. The Act seems to leave the judgment in the hands of the firm, but if you cite the act and threaten to report them to the FTC, they might listen. Don't be afraid to report them anyway.
I don't know why they continue to call bad numbers. It would seem to be a waste of their time and resources. You can make it worse by answering, asking them to hold then taking a long walk.
I had a firm calling me relentlessly, looking for someone who couldn't have had my number for at least six years. They said they had an \"opportunity\" they wanted to talk with her about. Finally, I called back, said I was her and got a supervisor's name. The supervisor promised to take my number out of the computer. Of course, it kept calling, but when it did, I knew how to get ahold of that supervisor and make his day a little less pleasant. And, yes, I did report them to the FTC.
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-461138-100x100.png\")
I don't know about robo-calls, but some lady accidentally (or purposefully) put my home phone number in her divorce proceedings case and restraining order case. I've been getting calls from angry people yelling at me in Italian. I just say \"wrong number\" and hang up.
I did not find out why until an attorney on the case called and left a message asking me to bring a bankruptcy declaration to divorce court. I said \"Oh, that's why I've been getting these weird calls.\" The attorney said yes, the woman filing for divorce gave my phone number (which I've had 10 years) and it's not only in court documents and legal proceedings but she gave that number to the attorneys on both sides of the case as well. She has also apparantely disappared for some time and they were wondering if she would show up in court.
The attorney also told me that her soon to be ex husband (one of the people yelling at me in Italian) is mentally unsound and abusive. The attorney also says my voice sounds like the wife, who speaks English and Italian. So this guy thinks I am his wife, hanging up on him and refusing to talk. I just hope he does not use the reverse phone number look up to get my home address and come try to burn my house down. He has a history of spousal abuse.
The attorney seemed to enjoy telling me all the personal details about the story, however, the attorney declined to assist me when I asked to have the phone number issue brought up in court and removed from the paperwork. They said I'd have to show up at the divorce case to ask the judge to do that myself.
@Julia789: I think I would have shown up in that court. After all the hassle she put you through, it would have been gratifying to witness her getting caught for perjury.
@DovS: Unfortunately I got the message only the day before the actual court date (that is why the attorney was calling) and had to work during court time. Otherwise, being the busybody that I am, I would have shown up to ask that my phone number be taken off all the court records and to see this crazy family for myself. I might have even whacked the crazy stalking threatening husband over the head with my purse for calling and yelling at me so many times. ;-)
@Julia789: Wow, what a crappy situation. I feel sorry for that woman - both because of her ex husband and because of her attorney, since he apparently has a very loose concept of client privilege.
@NatalieErin: I know! I was thinking \"Gee, if I ever need an attorney, I know who NOT to call!\" They left all these details in the message on my machine, and I called the attorney back, they spilled all these personal details.
Very embarassing, the attorney left the message on my answering machine while I was at work and had contractors/repairmen in my house. The machine is set to loud volume and the contractors heard this message \"bring your bankruptcy declaration to divorce court tomorrow.\" I did not get the message until after the contractors left. I think they are holding their breath while my check clears, thinking the message was for me and I'm going bankrupt.
I get calls like this on my cell phone looking for Michelle Gray. I have never known a Michelle Gray even though my maiden name is Gray. I tried to explain this to one of the collection agencies, and they had MY social security number tied to her account, which they just read out to me over the phone! Way to be secure!
Now I keep a close watch on my credit reports to make sure I am not getting dinged for this other person's problems.
@mparlett: Oh I had one like that, lady with same name (Except an e and an a were different), similar social security number, and same date of birth. She had lots of bad credit that kept showing up on my report. Almost kept me from getting a mortgage. Had to fight a lot to keep it off my report.
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-525207-100x100.png\")
@Julia789:
Ahhh, those wonderful credit reporting agencies. All a collection agency needs is a partial match (like, what, two people with the same last name and similar first names who live in the same town?), and they can merrily harrass and mess up the credit of their \"suspect\" until such time as said \"suspect\" puts up enough of a fight to get them to back off and remove it. It's wonderful how that works. Seriously... I think Consumerist needs more stories on how utterly anti-consumer (not to mention virtually untouchable) the CRAs are. It's relatively easy to figure out how to maximise your credit score (a little common sense goes a long way), but this site would be doing a much-needed public service by giving some advice on what to do when what they're reporting is just NOT yours... not to mention bringing some attention to just how much this goes on, and just how much people struggle with, and suffer from it.
Ranty rant over. But please, Consumerist... a story telling it how it is about the often-shady CRAs that hold our credit lives in their hands would be beyond awesome.
@MsAnthropy: Agreed! When this \"impostor\" is on my credit report, no bank will speak to me. But when I call and write and fight to have her removed, my score is 813 and great things happen for me (good rates on mortgage re-fi and car loan, etc.)
People who do this are breaking a LOT of laws. And, luckily, the law is VERY generous to lawyers who pick up these cases.
Google \"FDCPA\" and \"lawyer\". You'll find plenty of folks willing to take up the case at no cost to you. And they'll help you FIND the folks making the calls. (They're good at this. Because if they don't find 'em, they can't get paid.)
Once the lawyer's on their tail, they'll stop. And you might make a little money too.
NCO Financial is the WORST. My attorney is currently filing a lawsuit against them on my behalf. ;)
@Psychosocial: I have filed 2 BBB complaints and 1 FTC complaint against NCO Financial. They seem to forget I am on their do not call list at the start of the month. Then give personal information of the person they are trying to reach and try to use me to get in touch with a person that I have connection to.
I used to get robo calls from the same company 4-5 times a week when I had a home phone. The #'s were usually the same or very similar, and the message was always the same. A recorded woman's voice would say \"This is a message for [robot voice] 'Mpphh Rrrerrr.' If this isn't [robot voice] 'Mpphh Rrrerrr' then please disregard this call...\"
Besides the fact that no human being could understand what the robot voice was saying, my name is nowhere near 'Mpphh Rrrerrr!' This went on for almost 2 years. The only way I got the calls to stop was to cancel my home phone and just stick with my cell phone.
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-782863-100x100.png\")
Once in a while I get a call looking for my ex-wife under her current name. Usually I explain it's my ex-wife, I've been divorced for 5 years, I don't know where she is now, and she has never lived at this location, so there's no reason they ought to be calling me.
Most of the time this is enough, and I don't hear from that company again. A couple months later, though, another company is calling looking for her. I suspect this debt they're trying to collect, is being periodically sold off to new collectors, and each new collector starts by calling me — even though I can't help them.
Clearly these companies think I'm covering for my ex-wife, but I'm not. There's really no way for me to prove it, though. I don't know how to convince them differently except not to take their calls.
@PsiCop: Since you were married at one point, she might have listed you on a loan document as a person they could contact to track her down. I had to provide two different people who would have my contact information to get student loans.
Of course, one of those companies contacted by parents before the first payment was even due (much less overdue), because they had not received a reply to the letter they sent asking me to update my contact information. I got the letter two days after they talked to my dad.
I know this sounds crazy, but I've taken to fighting back. I let the CSR know they have the wrong number (or I know longer want their marketing pitch) and give them 72 hours to let their system \"update\" and then I start pegging their toll-free numbers with my fax line. I set a 100 page fax job to redial 999 times. Every time they call me after the waiting period, I fire off the fax job a few times.
At least if they are going to call me, it will cost them a little $$$$ in the end.
It costs the robo company money to have a human comes on after you hit the prompt. To avoid this, they will eventually leave you alone if you hit the prompt, place the phone down without speaking, then hang up when the off the hook alarm sounds.
This is also a public service since a robo company's line and employee prevented from bothering someone else for the time you've kept them busy.
That's happened to me a couple of times as well. I also had a law firm calling me acting as a collections agent - I looked up their firm and sent e-mails to all their executives - which included the Owner, who managed to get his firm to stop calling. The problem with collection agencies is trying to find information about them.
I was 17 when I got my cell phone; and I think I got a total of 3 phone calls within the first couple of weeks ( one from Bank of America ) wanting a \"Christopher Osborne\" ( I think that's the name ). So, after the third one, my mother called AT&T and got my number changed.
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-356584-100x100.png\")
My sister had a similar problem with her Comcast phone service several years ago when she first got it. They had given her a recycled number and the previous guy was getting very harassing collection calls. The really odd thing was that the reverse look up services said her name, but this guys address? She called comcast and found that they hadn't changed the address when they reported the number change, they fixed it and re-reported and a few days later the incorrect address started showing up correctly and she stopped getting the calls. It was a PITA when it was happening to her though, the particular collections person was very rude.
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-969620-100x100.png\")
I got this in college. Someone who had the room before me apparently ran into some debt.
I logged all the calls in a notebook I kept by the phone for about three weeks after they started. Then one day I started answering, pressing the key to talk to someone (or calling them back), got their name and employee ID if possible and informed them that the next time they or their company called, I would be providing their name, company name and phone number to the police for harassment as this was XXXX number of times I've informed them that the person they were trying to reach had moved, I didn't know them or where they were now.
Amazingly enough, the calls stopped after that. This was in St. Louis, if it makes a difference.
@slyabney: Weird, I had a similar issue in my first dorm room, before I had a cell phone. Some guy's family was looking for him, and apparently ignored my answering message completely (I gave my first name and also am female). They never, ever called when I was in the room, so I never got a chance to tell them to quit calling me.
I felt kinda bad for the guy they were trying to get a hold of - it sounded like he had some kind of alcohol or drug problem. Plus, the family thought he was ignoring calls from his father, but those messages were actually coming to me.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-453252-100x100.png\")
I had this happen and realized that they REALLY DO want to find this person. So I used logic. You want to find this person, right? Yes. Well, you will never find him here, because you have the wrong number and you are wasting your time.
I was getting weekly calls, at least 5 minutes long, in Spanish for some woman to remind her of her doctor's appointments.
The clinic wouldn't change her number, because I didn't know her SS#, which I of course wouldn't know. They wouldn't flag her file to get her correct phone number either.
Finally I figured out what company actually made the calls & after a few emails & phone calls, they removed my number from their database. They said it could cause a problem if my doctor used their service, but I didn't care.
And my doctor doesn't use their service, so it didn't matter.
We need those bums in Congress to pass a law requiring robocalls to be stopped when it's a wrong number.
@Greasy Thumb Guzik: As long as they stop their OWN robocalls.
Roy Blunt can kiss my ass. I can't even answer the phone anymore because of him.
![\"user-pic\"](\"/mt-static/support/assets_c/userpics/userpic-524377-100x100.png\")
I have encountered this problem in the past. The previous owner of my home phone number went into collections on a credit card account.Here is how I handled it.
I had an adult conversation with the collections agent. I didn't get mad or frustrated. I informed the collector that \"Michelle Smith\" didn't live here and this wasn't her phone number anymore. I agreed that this WAS here phone number, but I had been using it for a few months. I then threw some lingo at him. I asked if he was doing his own skip tracing or if someone else was doing it. I then suggested that he run a reverse directory look up on the number to see that he had the wrong person. Additionally I asked that the number be removed from their call list and that all further inquiries occur via mail.
The really frustrating thing is that I had to do this 3 times as the account passed from primary, secondary and tertiary collections, each with a different collections company.
One of the times I had to ask to speak to a supervisor as the rep was rude and refused to listen to my story. Supervisor took care of it no problem.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-6173-100x100.png\")
Some local woman was giving out our number to her debt collectors and her son's truancy officer. We got TONS of robocalls for her; we finally just hooked up an answering machine and turned off the ringer. Anyone who calls our home number (rather than our cells, which are the phones we actually use) gets called back later that week when we get around to clearing the messages.
It pisses me off I had to do that, but it's worked out okay; we give that number out to everyone/everything but our friends, and all the solicitors and political calls WE get ALSO dump right into the answering machine.
@Eyebrows McGee (now with more baby!): I long ago stopped answering the home phone during hours when it is legal for businesses to call. My friends and family have my cell phone, and everyone else gets to wait for me to check for voice mail.
During business hours the home phone is outgoing calls only.
@Eyebrows McGee (now with more baby!): That's a GREAT idea. I'm going to do that. I'm so sick of politician's robocalls at home that I don't answer anymore, and the ringing just makes me stressed.
I have had 100%, immediate success with this strategy (though it's only happened three times).
Offer once or twice to correct them, but on the third call I state this, nearly verbatim:
\"I've told you politely several times that person does not live here. The next time you call, I will PRETEND to be that person and string you along, wasting your time.\"
No one calls back after that. Since no one calls back I don't have to worry too much about the legal implications.
I had a determined debt collector harass me at work.
It was a rather decent sized employer (think about 5000
people).. They'd call my number and ask for this female
assembly line worker. She didnt have a phone but
the nice switchboard operator would say we do have
[obvious male name] withe the same last name.
After telling them a dozen times I dont know her
and am NOT her. I finally just blacklisted the
number. They get a nice \"This number is not in
service\" when they call any number on the pbx.
My sister told me that if you hit the \"#\" key a bunch of times at the beginning of the recording, it scrambles the computer and drops you from the list. I get a bunch of them at work (I'm on the switchboard) did this and it does work. You may want to try this for any annoying computer generated calls.
@madfrog: I should get one before five...I'm going to try this. Heh. If nothing else, going BANG BANG BANG BANG on the # key will make me feel better. :)
We had a similar situation once. What worked for us was a letter to the CEO of the company threatening legal action if we received another call. We copied our attorney, placing his name, firm, and address in the cc:. We sent the letter with recipient's signature required, return receipt. Never got another call.
addendum: Our situation did not include the debt-selling deal. The OP should direct a letter to whatever current company is calling. Include a brief history of the debt-selling. Be sure to threaten legal action if you find they sell the debt with your name & contact data.
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Get one of these:
or google \"Caller ID with Ring Controller\".
It's a box that you program with either a whitelist of incoming callers that you want to be able to make your phone ring, or a blacklist of callers who get immediately shunted to an answering machine or just get a disconnect signal. You'll need Caller ID for this to work but it's great once you have it set up and running.
I had a phone for a long time with that technology built in, but now that I've switched VOIP providers (VOIPO, highly recommended), they have this feature with extended capabilities built into their network. You go online and build the list at their 'control panel' and have the same kind of choices. Their list also accepts * as a wildcard digit,, so you can exclude all incoming calls that start with a given area code (such as 800-) from ever ringing your phone. You just enter 800******* as the number to block, and all numbers that start with 800 are blocked, for example.
Or say a telemarketer you'd like to block changes the last four digits of the number depending on the call, and so you enter the area code, exchange number (three digits), followed by ****. That effectively blocks any incoming calls from that group of numbers.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-623704-100x100.png\")
I don't think these robo-collector companies even DO any skip tracing. They just program your phone number into their system and set it to call every day. IMO they should have to do a little checking before they just start calling numbers willy-nilly. If it's an older account, chances are the info is outdated. Also, if someone is skipping out on their debt, golly gee, do you think they might have been dishonest about their real phone number?!?
For a couple of years I had debt collectors, both \"real people\" and robo-callers, trying to get a \"Paul Blair.\" Don't know this guy, he never lived at my house, and I doubt he ever even had my phone number. I think he just went around giving it out. He used it to avoid responsibility. I even got a call from Blockbuster wanting their movie back that \"Paul Blair\" had rented.
Thing is, it would have been so easy to do an internet search for this guy. His phone number used to be right there until he went unlisted. But they just start calling. I wonder if this technique really ever gets them any money?
@BluePlastic: Ha, a Blockbuster in Philly called me once to ask for their movie. Too bad the number was a landline in Ohio, belonging to someone who (at the time) had never set foot in Pennsylvania.
Get details from the callers if available. Company name, mailing address, agent's name, time and date of calls, etc.
File a complaint with the FTC and copy the offender. They can be fined for this type of activity once you have notified them (do it in writing with receipts).
Or you can call them and offer to settle for less than the fines. I think the fines are $1000/occurence but could be wrong. This only applies to collections. Also if they are calling you more than 6 times per day, the FTC needs to hear that too.
Great solution: Youmail You can assign one of thousands of voicemail messages to individual incoming numbers. After a few calls from a collector to some guy who used to have my number, I assigned the a melodic persistant hold message to that caller. \"Please hold, we will be right with you, dee doo dah da da dee doo, Please hold, you're next in queue, dee a doo dah, etc.\"
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-171970-100x100.png\")
two words: google voice.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-1034061-100x100.png\")
If telephone companies weren't so greedy there would be a Google Voice-style method of screening calls. You can forward all calls to Google voice, but you will have to pay your phone company for this \"service\" too.
My VoIP service lets me block any number or block of numbers I want. I've got a couple of debt collectors blocked who think I'm someone else, and some of the annoying \"charities\" such as the fraternal order of police. And I have everyone but family members set to go directly to voicemail if they call between 11pm - 7am. --That might seem a bit unnecessary, but my phone number is registered in Washington state, but I'm in Norway, so 11pm my time is 2pm pacific time.
I'm about to change my cell phone # because of this. I get robo-calls for someone named Vernia several times a week. If I actually answer, and listen to the message, they say that by listening I agree I am Vernia. No win situation.
I get the EXACT same calls for Donald Orlando!!!! What the hell?!!?!?
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-386042-100x100.png\")
this happened to me last fall. i kindly explained that i've had this number for over 5 years, and it's very likely the guy gave them a fake. it still took about 5 calls of repeating this before i was removed from their system.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-211131-100x100.png\")
I get calls for someone named Ashley. Sometimes it sounds like a person who doesn't have English as their first language, other times it sounds more local. Once I got someone who asked, \"Is Ashley there?\" and I said nope, there's no Ashley at this number, and I keep getting calls for her although I don't know what she did. The guy said, \"Well she left this number to be contacted about businesses opportunities.\" I think it was one of those \"work at home and make thousands\" scams. He then asked, \"Would you by chance be keeping your options open?\" I said, rather cheerfully, \"Nope, and please remove me from your list.\" That was that. I still wonder if this Ashley person also owed someone some dough, although once I finally got someone who seemed willing to believe that I wasn't Ashley, and they've died down since then.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-1550-100x100.png\")
Dear Michelle Washington ~
You SUCK. This is NOT your cell number, please stop using it for your debts and your online, overseas prescription medication orders. Please, use another fake number. Or, here's a novel idea: use YOUR OWN.
Debt Collectors: If they do take me off the list, the debt gets sold and a month later it starts all over again. Or, they simply do not believe that I am not Michelle Washington and they continue to call. They call and call and call -- at all hours. They call at 8AM on freaking Saturday. They call at 8PM. They call me 5-6 times a day. When I ask to speak to a supervisor, they simply hang up.
Overseas/Online Pharmacies
I can tell it's them because the number will be (999)999-9999 or +77584 or something strange like that.
I'm guessing you are some kind of addict and that your boyfriend/husband/man-toy has erection issues, because they leave messages wanting you to renew your prescriptions for vicodin or viagra.
If I ask to get off the list, they usually hang up on me. They use spoofed numbers, changing them frequently, so I simply can't make a silent ring for them. They call at all hours of the day and night too.
I have had my cell phone number for at least 12 years and don't want to change it - (the numbers make up a fantastic little acronym).
So please. I am asking you nicely. Use your own number. Or use the number for dial-a-prayer or a joke line. Just STOP USING MINE.
I thank you. My cell phone bill thanks you.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-143351-100x100.png\")
I have had the same problem wtih robo bill collectors, but the difference is that they keep calling for previous residents of my apartment. My phone number is now associated with that addess, so they think my number is for that person.
When I got the job I'm in now, I inherited my predecessor's cell phone. Apparently he was a real financial wizard, because the first few months I got countless calls from collection agencies. They all gave up when I told them I wasn't him, except for one. This guy insists that since it's now my phone, I'm responsible for every bill the previous guy owes. I guess he likes the sound of laughter because he keeps calling and saying the same thing. He didn't even give up when I pointed out that it isn't my phone, it's my employer's, and perhaps he should talk to our legal department if he wants to try to advance his theory.
I suppose I could report him or something, but the calls are entertaining. There's something of interest in observing the actions and thought processes of the abjectly stupid ;)
This happened to me. I got a new cell phone, and started getting collection calls for Nicole (and a few calls from Nicole's friends, too). When I told most of the callers the situation, they apologized and I never heard from them again. But I got robocalls from a particular collection agency for months. Usually 2-3 times a day. Most of the time, even if I tried to talk to a human, I would get hung up on. Once, I got through to a human, told him the situation, and the calls stopped for about six weeks. Then started again.
After the calls started again, I googled the number that was showing up in the caller id, found the name and address of the business, and filed a complaint with the BBB in upstate New York, where the collection agency was located. About six weeks later, I was sitting in front of my computer, and yet another call came in. Then it stopped, mid-ring. At the exact same time, I got an email from the BBB, asking if the problem was resolved. I never got another call.
I am currently experiencing the same problem on my cell phone. The previous owner has had a lot sent to collections, and listed the number I have before Verizon repo'd it, then gave it to me. I find the best method is to pick up listen, opt out, and if it is a live caller, VERY politely ask to be removed from their database as a contact number and thank them for their time. Most of the people on the other side are cordial back and in fact apologize profusely when I explain the situation.
13 years ago. I found cursing out the agent a few times worked wonders, or at least got me transferred to an agent with a brain.
The person who had my number before me defaulted on a loan and I got a call from Fleet Bank (now Bank of America). As this person hadn't told quite a few people he had a new number, I was familiar with his name and told the agent that he had moved on. When she asked if I had a new address and number for him, I again emphasized that I didn't know where he was as I had never met the guy and was just the next person to get his number assigned by the phone company. She then asked for my name and address, which I refused to give as I didn't want my name associated with his account. She didn't believe me and again asked if I had any other information on him. I told her no and hung up. She called back later that evening asking the same questions. When I realized it was the same agent I asked her why she didn't believe me from earlier that day and hung up.
She then proceeded to call every few weeks and my responses got nastier and nastier. Finally she got a supervisor to call me to whom I explained the whole situation. She thanked me, never asked for my name, and said she would take my number off the list. They never bothered me again.
I get these calls for the prior owner of my number (idiot has failed to notify many people of his changed number). They say if I'm not him hang up, which doesn't allow me to tell them he doesn't live here. So I listen through. I found out that he was late on his Home Depot payment and that AmEx lowered his credit (bet he was suprised). Then I wait til the end for an operator and tell them I know all about Nelson Pang's business. That seems to stop them.
I had the same issue with my cell phone when I got it a year and a half ago. I do not work the normal 9-5 job so I would get calls when I was still asleep. I started calling the phone numbers back and getting a live person and telling then I just got the number and have no idea who Daniel was and they were courteous and removed my number from the case as a no longer valid number. as time went on the calls dropped off sharply. Today I might get one call every 3-4 months
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-887707-100x100.png\")
First, get the name and address of each collection agency that calls. THEN tell them to remove YOUR number from the other guy's files and follow up with a letter sent certified, with return receipt, stating the same thing. If another debt collector calls, sue the prior one for damaged caused by their intentional fraud of misrepresenting your phone number in a debt account they sold.
Oh, and do go ahead and warn them that if they include your phone number in a sold debt account, you will sue them and distribute the millions you win to the local free legal aid center.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-12772-100x100.png\")
Person? Try when you get mistaken for a CORPORATION. In the mid 90's, I registered a domain for my consulting biz. A few years later (after I stopped consulting, but still had the domain), some slimy marketer decided to start scraping whois records. From that point on, I was plagued with calls for insurance for my (non-existent) employees, Pitney Bowes stamp machines. They called repeatedly, no one could tell me who was selling my info, and because I was supposedly a company, the regular rules didn't apply. Call after 9? No problem! Do not call list? Doesn't exist for a company! I think it finally took a move with no forwarding number to get away from it.
After that incident, I *never* give my phone number to anyone, nor can my phone number ever be found in a whois record for a domain I register. And when the clueless idiots at Best Buy or other store wonder why I protest so profusely about giving out my number, I have to sigh and tell them that they'll never understand.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-110779-100x100.png\")
@Flynn: Me too. It is amazing how many urgent requests I get for my non-existent employees.
I even had one person tell me that families would be in jeopardy if I did not offer my employees health care. I do not have employees.
The number they were calling was a skypein number, so I stopped forwarding it to my mobile and then let it expire.
I am sorry to whomever purchases that skypein number.
We had this problem for several years. I started answering the calls and/or calling the numbers back to inform them that Yvette Flowers and Wilton Bennett do not, in fact, live here. Most of the collection agencies were good about it and would stop calling immediately. After about 2 years the calls stopped altogether, but then we up and moved to a new city and canceled the phone service, so I can't say for sure if the calls stopped permanently. Who knows, maybe now some new poor soul in Chicago is getting those calls all over again.
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-365325-100x100.png\")
Ahhhhh my debt collector buddies! Yep, I have the same situation with my cell phone. Since I don't pay too much attention to my cell phone I usually get endless messages until I finally manage to pick up and inform them that I'm not who they're looking for and I have no idea who she is. I don't return the robo-call messages, either, because I find it totally obnoxious that they give you a \"case number\" and absolutely no information about who they are and they still expect you to return the call. Also, it seems kind of like you're admitting to responsibility if you return the call.
So mostly I would say they're polite and stop calling after being told that I can't help them, although I've had a few get crazy on me. One guy, after being told that I didn't know the person he was looking for, started demanding to know who I was, where I lived, and what was my social security number in a really aggressive manner. In retrospect I kind of wish I'd reported him to someone since I'm fairly certain he wasn't supposed to do that, but all I managed was a pathetic, \"I am not going to give that information out over the phone to a complete stranger, so you can stop asking!\". Typically the calls will stop for a few weeks and then start up again with a new company. This has been going on for a year now.
More than that, though, I wish the other people who call for this woman would bother to listen to the voice message and stop leaving me messages for her! I mean, how do you not know your own cousin's phone number for over a year???
If you don't have a problem with Google Voice, eventually you will be able to port your number there. They have a feature where you can block certain numbers from calling you and refuse the calls.
I used to get calls from an alarm monitoring company telling me they'd detected a break-in at a certain address. OK, but what do you want me to do about someone breaking into a dry cleaner in Philly when I live in Connecticut? I finally convinced them they needed to get new information from the proprietor.
It took me a month, but I got out.
I filed a complaint with the BBB.
Called several of their offices and wasted their valuable time and money.
Spoke to their supervisors daily.
Filed a complaint with the FTC.
At the end... it was a lot of work, but I had fun messing with them since they were idiots who didn't want to listen.
Anybody have a problem with a Carmel Financial? They keep calling a coworker of mine who happens to have a similar name as the party they are looking for. The party used to work in Atlanta, my coworker is in Minnesota.
They keep calling and harrassing her even though she's told them a bunch of times that she's not that person. They claim they aren't a collection service - yeah right.
She was directed to mail a Cease and Desist letter to them and if they continue, report them to the Attorney General's office.
I like the idea about complaining to the FTC and the BBB, but I like the idea of bugging them heck out of them and wasting their time and money.
Writing a letter threatening legal action to the CEO is a good one too.
But, of course I want to do more - they're such arrogant idiots and .
![\"user-pic\"](\"http://consumerist.com/assets_c/userpics/userpic-670973-100x100.png\")
My dad just recently had to change his cell phone number due to the exact same thing. He finally gave up trying to stop the calls, and just opted to switch numbers. This might be the easiest route to take.
@chocolate1234:
agreed changing a number is faster and easier. I believe you can even request one that hasn't been assigned in a while
@chocolate1234: I have the same problem. But because the person's name not standard english, the computers just leave stupid gibberish messages. Switching numbers may not always work, because your new number can have the same problem. Also, you are then just putting the problem in someelse's unfortunate hands.
@chocolate1234: Reaching into the recesses of my brain here - but can't you sue a company for repeatedly calling even after you have established the number is incorrect?
Anybody?