Do bill collectors ever mistake you for somebody else w/ same name?
By sylviekitty
@sylviekitty (2083)
United States
January 16, 2007 9:28am CST
Ever since I moved to the eastern half of the United States nearly 4 years ago (from the Golden State), I have been called several times by bill collectors, who are looking for money. Doesn't matter what apartment complex I live in, they find me. Apparently there is somebody who lives in the same part of this state, with the same first and last name (my married name, by the way), who has really BAD credit. This lady obviously hasn't been paying bills for quite some time now, because almost immediately after I moved here, I've gotten harrassing phone calls from all sorts of companies. The only way I can get them off my back (until the next company calls) is to verify the last 4 of my social. The last thing I need is this person screwing up MY credit somehow. UGH. I hate that!
Has this happened to you?
1 person likes this
2 responses
@WebMann (4731)
• Canada
16 Jan 07
Yeah my very first loan my brother was co-signing and they had a record of bad credit on my and I had never borrowed before. It took almost two weeks to solve it but it turned out that the town I was living in had a person only two blocks from me that was my age.
It was kinda annoying but in the end I got my loan. What else was funny was this guy is black and I am white.
1 person likes this
@sylviekitty (2083)
• United States
16 Jan 07
That's pretty crappy. I guess at least you got it all figured out, though. These people don't research very well, do they?
@blueskies (1186)
• United States
16 Jan 07
I haven't had the mistake me for someone with the same name, but I have had them calling my number and insisting that the person lives at my number--when I don't even know them! It's so annoying. No matter what I tell them, they won't stop calling and asking for "John Smith" or whatever the name is. I've given them my name and address, told them when I got the phone number, etc. etc. They won't stop. I have changed my number more than once for this very reason. I now have Vonage and haven't had this problem at all. I also don't get any "wrong number" calls.
@sylviekitty (2083)
• United States
16 Jan 07
I think that happened to me as well. And the problem is they assume you're lying to protect the person, so they don't have to pay up. It's really annoying!!
How does Vonage help? Maybe I should look into that. LOL
@blueskies (1186)
• United States
16 Jan 07
My Vonage number isn't published and, to the best of my knowledge, isn't searchable. If you'd like a referral let me know. We both get a free month of service if you sign up under me. If you'd like more info, just let me know.
