| T O P I C R E V I E W |
| KYgurlsrbest |
Posted - Dec 11 2006 : 12:17:33 PM
For the last few years, we've been getting telephone calls (starting at 8:00 am and lasting until 9:30 pm), on and off for a couple of months for people that don't live at our house, from creditors we don't have. Has anyone else experienced this? Last year it was Chase Manhattan Bank for someone named Doris, and after so many weeks and hang ups on the machine, and one collector telling me I was liar and a B****, I called their corporate office and after much communication, the calls stopped. Now it's citifinancial. When I spoke with a "supervisor" I was advised that my phone number was listed on this particular consumer's application as an alternate contact--they had 4 different credit cards, mortgage, and auto loans with Citi and defaulted on all of them, and listed my number on each application.
A few months back, we got more phone calls for Joe somebody, and when I asked what exactly they wanted, she advised me that she was a collection agency, and they were calling all the neighbors who lived around our neighbor across the street (who's name is apparently Joe), bugging us about THEIR debt, so we would go over and say something to them about our inconvenience.
If the fair debt collection act protects debtors from harassment, why doesn't it protect me? I've told these people time and again to not contact me again, that they are misinformed.
Has anyone else experienced this?
I can't imagine that I have "identity theft" because I don't have any credit cards....so, no credit, so I can't be a real sweet deal for crooks, can I?
Just think of all of the roads there are...all of the things I haven't seen....yet. |
| 21 L A T E S T R E P L I E S (Newest First) |
| shelle |
Posted - Jan 15 2007 : 11:00:58 PM
Once we kept getting calls from a bill collector for someone that we didnt know. It got pretty annoying since it happened several times during the day and evening hours and they wouldnt take our word for it. Finally my husband couldnt take it anymore and told one of the callers that the person they were calling for had recently died. I know it wasnt very nice but at least they didnt call us anymore. lol
Another time, I had a telemarketer call me at work trying to sell a closed circuit TV system so that my "employer" could watch what his employees were doing. I tried to explain to him that I was the only employee in that business and that it wouldnt make sense for my employer to spend 10,000 to watch just me. What I didnt tell him was that my own mother and father were my employer. Finally I had to just hang up on him because he wouldnt listen to me. The telemarketer had the nerve to call me back yelling at me for hanging up on HIM! He wanted to speak to my employer and he called me all kinds of names and threatened me when I refused to give him any information. I was shocked at how he treated me and I must say he got a pretty big piece of my mind! I think he called back twice more but we didnt answer the phone after that.
Nowdays at home I dont answer the phone unless I know who it is on caller ID. The voice mail will pick it up and I can always call them back if it someone I want to speak to.
Shelle |
| beckels |
Posted - Jan 13 2007 : 5:35:19 PM
I cheat and dont answer my phone until I hear a voice I know on the answering machine or caller id on my cell. But my friends says hang on I will look for that person for you and puts the phone down and doesnt come back - or if they call at dinner time she tells them they are eating and can she have their home number so she can them at their meal time
beckels
p.s. the credit report is a great idea. I had a husband on my and I have never been married and they removed it from my report without to much arguing |
| La Patite Ferme |
Posted - Jan 12 2007 : 11:02:32 PM
KYgurl,
I would recommend getting your free credit report and making sure all the info is corrent and nothing looks suspecious. As for the phone calls, I have caller ID on my phone - if I don't recognize the number i don't answer. I also don't answer calls after I get home from work unless it's someone I want to talk to. This use to drive my ex crazy to let the phone ring so he would answer it and get into an argument with the telemarketer about bothering us at night. If you don't answer you don't have to deal with them. |
| Tina Michelle |
Posted - Jan 08 2007 : 11:19:12 AM
LOL I remember the time that we were getting alot of solicitation calls and so my husband put on his really crazy southern twang cowboy tone and answered the phone and proceeded to say "well howdy there" and later found out that indeed it was a legitimate phone call about something important, so he had to maintain the southern drawl through the entire conversation..we about died laughing when it was over. LOL
~Seize the Day! Live, Love, Laugh~ |
| Patsy |
Posted - Jan 08 2007 : 11:05:28 AM
Laura,
I like your style. I use the Seinfeld response. When someone calls to solicit me for something, I ask for their home phone number. When they ask me why, I say so that I can bother you at home like you are bothering me. They usually hang up.
Or I will act like I can't hear them. They say what they want and I say "Excuse me, what did you say?" They repeat and then I say "Sorry I didn't catch what you said." Sometimes they actually repeat it a third time and then I say "Oh, I'm sorry, I wasn't listening to you. Could you repeat that?" They finally hung up. I also used this for an obscene caller. I had to listen to some pretty raunchy stuff a couple of time. Finally after I asked him to repeat it again, he called me a b**** and he hung up and never called back.
Blessed are those who love the soil,
Patsy
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| summerbreeze |
Posted - Jan 08 2007 : 10:45:21 AM
I would check your credit report. I had someone getting credit cards under my name and it was a huge job to fix. I had my credit reports password protected that way no one can open an account without my password.
I don't get many calls anymore from people trying to sell me things. I just say "i'm so glad you called I've been so lonely. How has your day been". they usually hang up and I never hear from them again. They may think I'm a nut case but it keeps them from calling me.
Laura
You only live once,if you do it right once is enough. |
| Libbie |
Posted - Jan 08 2007 : 10:31:28 AM
I've taken on a new tack with telemarketers - I tell them that it was so thoughtful of them to think of me when calling people, but I dont' have any discretionary income right now, and would they please take me off of their call list. Usually that works. If it's met by a, "Well, I know you'd be interested..." Then, I say, I'm sorry, you must have misunderstood me, please take me off of your list. Have a great day! I'm hanging up now. *click*" I know this isn't exactly what we were talking about with the collection calls, but it did get me to thinking...
XOXO, Libbie
"Nothing is worth more than this day." - Goethe |
| Ronna |
Posted - Jan 05 2007 : 3:40:55 PM
You only get one free credit report a year from each of the three reporting companies, after that you will be charged. If you've been turned down for credit, they have to tell you who they got the info from and how to contact them.
I've had calls looking for my ex husband...he's never lived at this address and I wondered how they got my info. Finally figured it out...for whatever reason coupons for Marlboro were coming here in his name and I handed them to my kids who smoke, who used the coupons. Phillip Morris sells their mailing lists, as do many others.
My credit union in SoCalif is looking for my ex also, but I've given them any info I have on him. I knew they could cross reference in their files from when we were married.
Found out a former sister in law lived in this small town when someone was looking for her-which is strange cause she has worked for the district attorney's office in Reno for years and the police dept before that. We were able to make contact and that was good, but she has no idea where the call came from, as they never contacted her.
I've taken to telling telemarketers I'm the housekeeper when they call and then hang up. No wonder my husband won't answer the phone when he's home, it's all telemarketers. If I say I'm his wife, they want to give me all the credit cards, mortgage refinances, etc and such we don't want or need.
Ronna
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| Niamh |
Posted - Dec 15 2006 : 7:52:52 PM
Ok, the website is www.annualcreditreport.com. There are three credit scoring companies and each are required to give you one free credit report per year, so a good rule of thumb is to get one on Jan. 1, May 1, and Sep 1. That way you'll be able to keep a close eye on your score and what's happening there. |
| Bluewrenn |
Posted - Dec 14 2006 : 4:31:20 PM
Also tell the caller that that person does NOT live at that number and has NOT lived at that number and if they continue to call, you will have an attorney contact them. And that you will report them to the state authorities for harrassment. There are HUGE fines for this kind of harassment and they will be charged for EVERY SINGLE time they call.
My Homesteading Journal http://toomyvara.livejournal.com
My craft journal http://bluewrenn.livejournal.com
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| Bluewrenn |
Posted - Dec 14 2006 : 4:29:30 PM
I had this problem for years until one day I just asked the person calling for the full name of the person who they were looking for - and when they told me, I grabbed the phone book and looked up the person in there. Luckily there was someone by that name in our phone book and I told them that this might not be their person but here was the number. Never had any calls after that.
My Homesteading Journal http://toomyvara.livejournal.com
My craft journal http://bluewrenn.livejournal.com
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| KYgurlsrbest |
Posted - Dec 14 2006 : 12:48:19 PM
Gosh. I called my telephone company about changing my telephone number, and I thought to ask her how often they recycle the numbers, because maybe I might get something worse!!!! She said they recycle telephone numbers in our area every 5 days. Every 5 days,they give out a used number. It just makes me realize how transient this area is, and that, Niamh is probably right, that someone is using my telephone number for "evil"...Grr.
Good advice, all. I will get a copy of my credit report, and I will start asking for a supervisor--oftentimes, it sounds like 18 year olds on the phone, so it makes me wonder if they just go "sure, you can talk with a supervisor", and hand me off to another kiddo...Of course, the last time I asked to speak with one, I was called a name and the gal hung up on me....I will also debate on whether I even want a phone--I was thinking of one of those silly trac phones. I mean, all we do is order pizza or call my mom once in awhile. I guess a LANline for emergencies is necessary, though.
Just think of all of the roads there are...all of the things I haven't seen....yet. |
| Libbie |
Posted - Dec 14 2006 : 08:23:26 AM
I am just amazed by the craziness in the world sometimes - from identity theft to things much, much more awful. I'm SO grateful that there are farmgirls all over the world who are just plain ol' GOOD.
Niamh - would you mind posting the website for the free credit reports? I'd be interested in that one. One of my goals for the new year is to get a much better handle on my finances, and this seems like it would be a great place to start.
XOXO, Libbie
"Nothing is worth more than this day." - Goethe |
| Niamh |
Posted - Dec 12 2006 : 12:07:22 PM
As noted by a previous poster, someone's probably handing out your phone number as theirs. Since they're handing it out as their own, they're giving telemarketers, collection agencies, etc, permission to call it, so the Do Not Call list won't help.
And get a credit report. You're entitled to three free reports a year (one from each company), so get one every four months. Just because you don't have a credit card doesn't mean that Doris hasn't opened one up in your name-and it would be on your credit report if she has. If you want the website where you get the free reports let me know and I'll find it. |
| brightmeadow |
Posted - Dec 11 2006 : 5:06:06 PM
My parents screen all their calls, letting their answering machine pick up for them. We know when we call to announce ourselves and give them a few minutes to get to the phone. Then they avoid having to talk to people they don't want to talk to.
Personally I would find this to be worse than just hanging up on unwanted callers. I don't get mad or unpleasant, I just very quietly hang up the phone.
You shall eat the fruit of the labor of your hands - You shall be happy and it shall be well with you. -Psalm 128.2
Visit my blog at http://brightmeadowfarms.blogspot.com ,web site store at http://www.watkinsonline.com/fish or my homepage at http://home.earthlink.net/~brightmeadow |
| lilpunkin |
Posted - Dec 11 2006 : 2:21:44 PM
There is a no call list that your number can be added to. I will have to find it or you can google it I'm sure. We had people calling our number for some else before too. It is very frustrating! They would leave messages and call at all times of the day. I always thought gee wiz, Im stressing over these calls and its not even me that they are looking for!
lilpunkin
Life isn't measured by how many breaths you take, but by how many moments take your breath away. |
| JenniferJuniper |
Posted - Dec 11 2006 : 1:38:54 PM
Been in a somewhat similar situation - I was harassed for a utility bill at an apartment I had moved out of 4 years prior, the utility company didn't take my name off the service when I moved & called to disconnect it. It was a nightmare, but I learned a few things:
I recommend that you (pleasantly) get the name of the caller, name and physical address of the collection agency, and the agency's phone number. Also ask if they record all outbound calls. Keep a note pad of the time/date they call.
Report them to the BBB and your phone company, giving them the info above. If they do record calls, be sure to say so when you report it so that they know's there's a voice record. Also go to Citi's website and get & call their customer service number, make them transfer you to a supervisor, and tell them how you're being harassed by THEIR contractor. Hint that you have been shopping around for credit cards, but have been sorely unimpressed but their business practices (the thought of a lost potential customer may light the fire under their chair.)
It is a pain in the butt, but after I did the above my phone blessedly stopped ringing. |
| blueroses |
Posted - Dec 11 2006 : 1:17:20 PM
Jonni,
How annoying. If it happens again (sounds likely) I'd immediately ask for the supervisor.
How about this -- I got notices from the IRS telling me that I owed $7000 for something that happened in 1993 when I was married to my ex husband. BUT, I hadn't been married to him since 1989!! I don't know if his new wife tried to pull a fast one or if the IRS couldn't find them and decided I was just as good. I had my accountant try to fix it ($300!) and that didn't work cuz I got another letter the next year. Finally I was in an Economics class and my instructor had me go talk to the teacher next door who worked for the IRs. He told me where an office was and I had to take my divorce papers etc in and it was fixed in weeks. Very very annoying an expensive.
"You cannot find peace...by avoiding life."
Virginia Woolfe |
| Beemoosie |
Posted - Dec 11 2006 : 1:05:27 PM
I had this problem about 2 years ago with people looking for someone with the same last name as us. They wouldn't believe that that person didn't live here. Finally, I got pretty stern and told them I would be calling the phone company and reporting this harassment. That stopped the calls.
Hope you get your problem resolved.
Bonnie
...she is far more precious than jewels and her value is far above rubies or pearls.
Prov 31:10
www.beequilting.blogspot.com |
| Nancy Gartenman |
Posted - Dec 11 2006 : 12:45:00 PM
REQUEST a new phone number, unless that would be a big problem for you.
NANCY JO
www.Nancy-Jo.blogspot.com |
| theoanne |
Posted - Dec 11 2006 : 12:34:39 PM
Jonni, I have had similar experience although not as much as you. You could tell them that you will call the better buissness bureau, After getting their name and number.Sometimes that works. The best one I have used that they did not call again was to ask for the supervisor, get their name and number and tell them that I would be giving this info to my lawyer( for harassment) and gave his name. They hung up and did not return another call. I do have a lawyer, but if you don't just keep the name of a local nearby. Chances are they won't check,but if they do then it is a local name.
We get calls for my husbands ex, who is remarried,but uses our last name and phone number instead of her own. This gets very agravating. However I keep up with her phone number and address and give it out to these folks freely. |
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