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advice needed on bill collector calls - 6/11/2013 10:12:27 AM   
pahunkboy


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So I get mine- no trouble. I made the mistake- they call- I quietly set the phone down and let them chatter- an hour later if I think about it- I hang the phone up.

My issue tho is- on TF- the gal who once owned this house. She owes everyone everywhere cash.


She lost this house to foreclosure- I bought it 7 years ago. I never met this woman- nor do I care to. I heard neighbors talk- she turned into a lesbian- had 2gfs- the 2nd one is when she got on bad terms with the hood. When I moved in I explained to people I am not connected to her in any way.

However- thru having a phone- somehow- the software thinks she lives here. I am still getting calls 7 years later. Of course nothing I say has stopped it.

Should I tell them to find her on facebook? I did try to tell the man his software is old. They could call the deed office and know it is my name on the house-- (and the bank) not hers.

What should I do?
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RE: advice needed on bill collector calls - 6/11/2013 10:18:08 AM   
MasterCaneman


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Speaking as a former collector, go to this site: The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, when they call again, request the company's name and physical address, write a cease & desist letter, and if they continue, record all incoming calls and refer to an attorney. It sounds like some third-tier CA bought the paper for pennies on the dollar and are trying to bull a payment arrangement. I don't know what the laws in PA are regarding recording phone calls, and you'd also have to refer to federal telecom laws as well, since they're probably out of state and FCC rules apply there.

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RE: advice needed on bill collector calls - 6/11/2013 10:26:53 AM   
pahunkboy


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Thus far I have not told them I hear she is living in Lancaster area- and she has a facebook face. I feel sorry for her- and it is not really my place to blab. On the other hand- this is my home. She is and never was a girlfriend- I am GAY. But that also is not the business of a strange caller. They must think that I am the bf and we put everything in my name.

Also my phone is listed to a fake name, and no street address.

2005 bankrupcy thing has - - well now it is more costly and confusing. For me to go thru this- it would be like $2000- as now I have 22 liens on my house. I am short on cash every month- there is never a month for an emergency.

I studied how to do the chapter 7 myself- but I dont quite grasp all of it- and then I still would need a lawyer due to the 22k liens on my house...


BTW= the sheriff was already here. I am on SSDI- nothing has been seized.... if the house gets paid where there is equity they could try then I am told. I was tho on SSDI when I bought the house-- so you could say the house is SS- and not an asset.

< Message edited by pahunkboy -- 6/11/2013 10:30:53 AM >

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RE: advice needed on bill collector calls - 6/11/2013 10:35:18 AM   
stef


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The only thing you should tell them is that she no longer lives at that address and to stop calling you. You don't know if the debt is even valid so don't give them personal information about yourself or them. Would you like someone else discussing your personal life with a complete stranger?

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RE: advice needed on bill collector calls - 6/11/2013 10:38:09 AM   
OsideGirl


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quote:

ORIGINAL: stef

The only thing you should tell them is that she no longer lives at that address and to stop calling you. You don't know if the debt is even valid so don't give them personal information about yourself or them. Would you like someone else discussing your personal life with a complete stranger?


Exactly. It's not your place to determine if the debt is valid or give them her information. Just send the cease and desist letter and mention that you will sue for harassment if the calls (and I'm assuming letters) don't stop.


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RE: advice needed on bill collector calls - 6/11/2013 10:39:14 AM   
pahunkboy


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From: Central Pennsylvania
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quote:

ORIGINAL: stef

The only thing you should tell them is that she no longer lives at that address and to stop calling you. You don't know if the debt is even valid so don't give them personal information about yourself or them. Would you like someone else discussing your personal life with a complete stranger?



My gut instinct says you are right. Funny you mention happening to me- some years ago- I took a chance and wrote to 3 prisoners- heard nothing- wrote to 3 more- nothing- wrote to 3 more. Nothing. Then all of a sudden I start getting letters from guys all over the country in prison. (a herricane delayed the letters) Once my addy was out- I then got letter from thugs I never even wrote to- this went on for years. My guess- is who ever bought the place I used to live is STILL getting letters from felons. I feel bad about that.

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RE: advice needed on bill collector calls - 6/11/2013 1:05:24 PM   
LafayetteLady


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When I got the landline to this house hooked up, I kept getting calls for some couple. I would answer the phone, even go through the recordings to either push the button telling them it was a wrong number or get to a person to tell them to remove me from the list. There were some though, that were persistent and very annoying.

Me: I'm sorry you have the wrong number
them: You aren't _____?
Me: Do you understand what wrong number means?
them: Do you know _____?
me: You have the wrong number!
them: Do you know how to reach them?
Me: Really you need to learn what wrong number is. Remove this number from the list it doesn't belong to _____.

On a good day that was how it went. On a bad day, I usually told them they had the wrong fucking number and if they didn't remove my number from their list, I would take legal action.

Over the course of a year of doing this, the calls slowed down. On occasion, I will get one, but not like before.

Problem is that she probably has many different creditors calling, and so you just have to go through it with each one.

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RE: advice needed on bill collector calls - 6/11/2013 2:44:58 PM   
MasterCaneman


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The problem with collectors are, when they get hold of a live person, their manager also sees it on their screen, and if the collector doesn't at least attempt to get information from whoever it is, they're in trouble. Also, whenever they train newbies to skip-trace, they often come across the old info and try to work it because no one properly logs the contact info as old or inaccurate.

Also, professional deadbeats always say "Sorry, wrong number!" to a collector. The idea is, to trick the respondent into revealing who they are and then working them over from there. Hence my suggestion to go the FTC, follow the instructions, get the company's info, write a C&D letter, and if all else fails, file a telephone harassment complaint with the local PD.

There are a lot of third-tier companies who buy bad paper and try to work them because they're cheap. They won't tell you who they are or give you correct contact info, thus requiring you to file an official complaint. The cops hand it off to either state or federal agencies (if the call crosses state lines), and they have the authority to backtrace the calls to the source (criminal complaint = electronic warrant). Last company I worked for had to pay out 40K because one of their top collectors went "Buffalo-style" on them, and that's how they found out who it was.

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RE: advice needed on bill collector calls - 6/11/2013 3:41:04 PM   
LafayetteLady


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This is true. I was always polite (at first) when I told them it was the wrong number. I would not, however, give them my name since it is none of their business. In the beginning, I think I might have even explained that I had just gotten the number and they must be the people who had it before me.

I really only got nasty when they kept pushing me for MY information.

I understand everyone has a job to do. I am not sure why anyone would want THAT job, but we all gotta do something, right?

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RE: advice needed on bill collector calls - 6/11/2013 3:41:33 PM   
pahunkboy


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^ thanks ! you ROCK!

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RE: advice needed on bill collector calls - 6/11/2013 3:50:42 PM   
OsideGirl


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quote:

ORIGINAL: LafayetteLady

When I got the landline to this house hooked up, I kept getting calls for some couple. I would answer the phone, even go through the recordings to either push the button telling them it was a wrong number or get to a person to tell them to remove me from the list.



Before marrying Master, I had a somewhat common last name. I would get calls from bills collectors that were just absolutely fishing to see if I was somehow related to the people they were looking for.

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RE: advice needed on bill collector calls - 6/11/2013 4:06:56 PM   
DaddySatyr


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I always switch to my leching old man voice and ask: "What are you wearing, snookums?" That usually ends the calls.

I just got a new number, a couple of months ago so, I am going through the same thing. Unlike a lot of people, I use my home (hardwired) phone for just about everything.

As far as recording calls; to the best of my knowledge, it's completely legal for you to record your own phone.



Peace and comfort,



Michael


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RE: advice needed on bill collector calls - 6/11/2013 5:29:21 PM   
ShaharThorne


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Usually I have to deal with calls from people calling Best Buy in Longview, TX. The prefix is just slightly different from our number.

Have not had any bill collector call me in about 18 months...I deal with them if they send me a paper notice. Now I am dealing with the government about my student loans and I am on SSI.

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RE: advice needed on bill collector calls - 6/11/2013 7:43:26 PM   
MasterCaneman


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quote:

ORIGINAL: DaddySatyr

I always switch to my leching old man voice and ask: "What are you wearing, snookums?" That usually ends the calls.

I just got a new number, a couple of months ago so, I am going through the same thing. Unlike a lot of people, I use my home (hardwired) phone for just about everything.

As far as recording calls; to the best of my knowledge, it's completely legal for you to record your own phone.



Peace and comfort,



Michael


Not in every state, you have to remember that. From Wikipedia (I know, I know):


...In the United States, federal agencies may be authorized to engage in wiretaps by the United States Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court, a court with secret proceedings, in certain circumstances.

Federal law requires that at least one party taking part in the call must be notified of the recording (18 U.S.C. ยง2511(2)(d)). For example, it would be illegal to record the phone calls of people who come into one's place of business and ask to use the phone, unless they are notified. Several states (e.g., California, Connecticut, Florida, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Montana, Nevada, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania and Washington) require that all parties consent when one party wants to record a telephone conversation. Many businesses and other organizations record their telephone calls so that they can prove what was said, train their staff, or monitor performance. This activity may not be considered telephone tapping in some, but not all, jurisdictions because it is done with the knowledge of at least one of the parties to the telephone conversation. The Telephone recording laws in some U.S. states require only one party to be aware of the recording, while other states require both parties to be aware. It is considered better practice to announce at the beginning of a call that the conversation is being recorded.

There is a federal law and two main types of state laws that govern telephone recording:

Twelve states currently require that all parties consent to the recording. These states are:

California[18]
Connecticut [19]
Florida[20]
Hawaii (in general a one-party state, but requires two-party consent if the recording device is installed in a private
place)[19]
Illinois (debated, see next section)
Maryland[21]
Massachusetts [19]
Montana [22] (requires notification only)
Nevada [19]
New Hampshire[23]
Pennsylvania[24]
Washington[25]

One-party notification states

All other states (and the District of Columbia) not listed above require only that one party consent.

Illinois courts have ruled that "eavesdropping" only applies to conversations that the party otherwise would not have been able to hear, thereby effectively making it a one-party consent state.[26][27] However, there still appears to be confusion[28] and debate[29] over the law.

If a caller in a one-party state records a conversation with someone in a two-party state that caller is subject to the stricter of the laws and must have consent from all callers (Cf. Kearney v. Salomon Smith Barney Inc., 39 Cal. 4th 95 (2006)[30]).
Accepted forms of notification for recording by a telephone company

The FCC defines[31] accepted forms of notification for telephone recording by telephone companies as:

Prior verbal (oral) or written consent of all parties to the telephone conversation.
Verbal (oral) notification before the recording is made. (This is the most common)
An audible beep tone repeated at regular intervals during the course of the call.

Note that the law re: verbal is not worded "consent" but "notification".[31]

For numerical references go here.

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Age and treachery will always overcome youth and ambition.

The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting. ~ Sun Tzu

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RE: advice needed on bill collector calls - 6/11/2013 9:39:48 PM   
littlewonder


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Yup, having lived in PA and now MD, you have to get everyone's consent. It's why when anyone has called or I call them and they are recording, by law they have to let you know and you have to verbally say yes or no.


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RE: advice needed on bill collector calls - 6/11/2013 10:01:15 PM   
SatinWhip


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I'd get one of those little hand held air horns. It won't help the situation and it likely won't stop the calls but I'd enjoy the shit out of it.

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RE: advice needed on bill collector calls - 6/11/2013 10:15:11 PM   
Just0Us0Two


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I get collection calls for my late wife's son. He's never lived here. I still have no idea how they got our number. I just keep telling them that I'm not legally responsible for him in any way and not to call again. I've threatened a few with lawyers. They stop for a while, then start up again.

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RE: advice needed on bill collector calls - 6/11/2013 10:36:16 PM   
RochesterDomme


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quote:

ORIGINAL: SatinWhip

I'd get one of those little hand held air horns. It won't help the situation and it likely won't stop the calls but I'd enjoy the shit out of it.


I worked for a company that had a telemarketing department (credit card). Anyway, a marketer called someone who blew an airhorn into phone when he realized it was a telemarketer. The telemarketer lost his hearing in that ear and the guy with the airhorn was prosecuted for assault.

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RE: advice needed on bill collector calls - 6/12/2013 7:23:43 AM   
MasterCaneman


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quote:

ORIGINAL: Just0Us0Two

I get collection calls for my late wife's son. He's never lived here. I still have no idea how they got our number. I just keep telling them that I'm not legally responsible for him in any way and not to call again. I've threatened a few with lawyers. They stop for a while, then start up again.

You'd be shocked at how much an average collector can glean from publicly available databases. If the young man in question ever listed you as a reference, sharing the same last name, SS numbers, the list is endless. There's reverse phone lookup, and even a way to get the numbers of your neighbors. A common tactic is to call one of them and ask casually that you're trying to get hold of the debtor without revealing why. It's illegal as hell, but the companies don't care-they either pay the fines or change their name and carry on as normal.

The databases go through vital statistics records, including marriage licenses, and then follow the branches until they find a working number. Stick a newbie collector on skip-trace, and they'll find the dead ends in a few hours and bug you. As I said before, the biggest problem is that the more experienced collectors often don't bother to properly log wrong numbers, because if one turns up bad, they hang up and move on the next. Quantity, not quality makes your budget and commission. The more hits you make, the happier your supervisor is and the hell with the fact you're harassing people.

< Message edited by MasterCaneman -- 6/12/2013 7:24:25 AM >


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Age and treachery will always overcome youth and ambition.

The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting. ~ Sun Tzu

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RE: advice needed on bill collector calls - 6/12/2013 7:34:33 AM   
SatinWhip


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quote:

ORIGINAL: RochesterDomme


quote:

ORIGINAL: SatinWhip

I'd get one of those little hand held air horns. It won't help the situation and it likely won't stop the calls but I'd enjoy the shit out of it.


I worked for a company that had a telemarketing department (credit card). Anyway, a marketer called someone who blew an airhorn into phone when he realized it was a telemarketer. The telemarketer lost his hearing in that ear and the guy with the airhorn was prosecuted for assault.


Sorry. No sympathy here. They're slime.



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