call them?
@3SnuggleBunnies (16374)
United States
April 3, 2012 4:21pm CST
I've had my cell number several years now. Hardly anyone has my number because it's a pre-paid/pay as you go phone and .25/min and unless I really need to make a call I don't use it but I have it if I need it.
Anyway today when I was outside just a lil bit ago I got a voice mail message from someone from some Mediacare van service telling Lateasha that if she didn't pay her bill they were sending it to collections. Firstly my name is not Lateasha nor am I of the nationality that even typically has that name nor am I old enough or disabled to qualify for medicare or a medicare van no less.
So do I call the company and tell them they were given a fake number? I really don't want them wasting my time or minutes trying to collect from someone whom doesn't even know a Lateasha or their service or medicare for that matter.
WWYD?
5 people like this
15 responses
@ravisivan (14082)
• India
4 Apr 12
I have not come across such experiences. What is it they are going to send? Is it medicine? Why should the company send it without it being asked for?
In India normally we get things after we pay for it. rarely --in the case of books --nowadays they offer us to pay at the time of receiving the books.
2 people like this
@3SnuggleBunnies (16374)
• United States
5 Apr 12
They are going to send this person to a collection agency. A company that collects on bad debts they take whatever information they have and call and mail people to their hearts content til you pay up.
Medicare van lines is a company that drives people who are elderly or disabled whom are not fit to their Dr appointments or transports people from the hospital to a rehab/nursing home facility. Alot of medical service places do not require payment prior to service, they bill the medical insurance before they bill you so it can take months to see a bill. And if you cannot afford the balance owed they will ask for payments til the debt is paid off. If you don't pay the balance owed within a certain time period they take you to collections and if the amount is substantial even court proceedings.
1 person likes this
@ravisivan (14082)
• India
5 Apr 12
Yes. now I could follow. People who cannot settle their dues for medical bills will be sent to collection agency or court proceedings. If the person is really not having money what he will do? he has to request some charitable agency to take care of the bill. I understand it is a difficult situation.
1 person likes this
@ravisivan (14082)
• India
6 Apr 12
hatley: Are you in shortage of money? I am sorry. I have seen in a few American hospitals -- a board near their Reception counter -- Pl inform if you want the treatment to be done under charitable quota -- similar words.
I came to know of a person whose medical bills rose to thousands of dollars -- she had no money comparable to that -- her children also certainly cannot match that -- then a request was made to charitable organisations for sponsoring this bill. that was done.
Even now there must be a few orgns. who pay the bills of really poor patients. Your son must be able to find out details. I am not in USA now but am in India. yes. there are ways out for genuine people suffering from inability to pay.
oR our other mylot members living in USA may be able to throw some more light on this.
@lilybug (21107)
• United States
4 Apr 12
I would probably call them for something like that. Most of the time I do not bother, but I know last week I got a voice mail from some guys probation officer trying to schedule an appointment. I called and left him a message that he had the wrong number so he could find another way of getting a hold of the guy. Like my mail maybe I guess.
2 people like this
@3SnuggleBunnies (16374)
• United States
5 Apr 12
Nice that's an even worse thing do to is give the wrong number to your probation officer. 
1 person likes this
@Hatley (163772)
• Garden Grove, California
5 Apr 12
boy 3snugglebunnies I can imagine the probation officer is going to be so ticked and the stupid guy is now making things bad for himself
for sure.;too much of that and he could end up right back in prison
@cutepenguin (6430)
• Canada
4 Apr 12
I'd call them, otherwise they'll keep calling. Then again, they might keep calling anyway. This sounds like it could be a frustrating situation. I hope it is easily resolved.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
4 Apr 12
I would guess this is a phishing expedition, trying to get your information. All the rest is made up. I do not even listen to the messages on my prepaid phone, as it costs me to do so. I also would not call them back. It is not you, and I am certain the person knows she has not paid for something, and it just would not serve any purpose. What the heck is a medicare van, anyway. Never heard of anything like it.
1 person likes this
@Hatley (163772)
• Garden Grove, California
5 Apr 12
hi GG here in the US that is instead either paramedics or
perhaps just access bus for people who ar not physically able
to ride the ordinary buses. you sign up for it and pay five dollars and forty cents for round trip to your various medical appointments not an emergency van.We have medicare here calfiornia but have never run across what is called a medicare van. here in Orange county we have medical vans that take people to appts for free as it's p aid for by MediCal. ii
1 person likes this
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
5 Apr 12
Oh, I know that there are access vans and senior vans, but I think this is something that they are trying to fool this poster.
@shaggin (74988)
• United States
3 Apr 12
I had a prepaid cell phone too and each call or text or voicemail message that I listened to would cost me money so when I got a call and it was the wrong number it would drive me nuts. If you want it to stop you might want to call them and tell them that you have no idea who Lateasha is and hope that they will not call you anymore. In my case I've been getting calls from a collection agency for about 2 years now for the same girl and everytime I tell them I dont know her and they still keep calling me looking for her. It drives me nuts.
2 people like this
@GardenGerty (169406)
• United States
4 Apr 12
Calling them back does not do any good, even if it is a legitimate claim. You are the only lead they have, so they call.
1 person likes this
@Hatley (163772)
• Garden Grove, California
5 Apr 12
and I am o n the national do not call list yet I get phone calls for a Rufus or Rasfus from a collection agency telling this Rufus, Rasfus person he is in bad trouble. I call them back and yes it does no good at all. I have a hunch my number before I got it was a number to a large boarding house as collection agencies keep calling wanting various people to pay or else.I did contact one and she said she would remove my phone number but again it did no good at all.
@SomeCowgirl (32189)
• United States
3 Apr 12
I would use my housephone and call them back and let them know. You don't want any more charges accrued because of Vm's and calls that aren't even for you. They need to know also. I've had calls like that to my phone and I usually will call back regardless. I have prepaid but it isn't Pay as you go.
2 people like this
@rogue13xmen13 (14402)
• United States
4 Apr 12
If they call again, then tell them that you are not the person that they are calling and tell them not to call again or you will have them blocked.
1 person likes this
@scarlet_woman (23463)
• United States
27 Apr 12
block 'em.calling them usually doesn't get you anywhere.
it'll just be passed to the next collector and they'll bug you again.
some say they'll make a note of it then don't.
@dragon54u (31633)
• United States
4 Apr 12
I would look them up online and send them an email.
Then I'd get rid of that phone!! I have Net 10 that costs 10¢ a minute and those you don't use roll over to the next month, you never lose them unless you use them. I have nearly 5,000 minutes on my phone and it costs me just $15 a month. There are even cheaper ones but I'm waiting till I use all my minutes up, probably during and after my move back to the Southwest. I love Net 10, never any problems, calls are always clear and I've never had a call dropped.
1 person likes this
@Citizen_Stuart (2016)
•
4 Apr 12
I'd call them back and tell them that you have no idea who this Lateasha is. If it turns out that it's looking like being a long call, ask them to phone you back so as to avoid you using up your credit - if they do need to talk some more to you, they'll probably be willing to do that. Best to cantact them anyway just to get it out of the way.
1 person likes this
@kingparker (9673)
• United States
4 Apr 12
They probably got a wrong number, and you don't have to worry about anything at all. It also probably a scam, and they tried to threaten you even though you will tell them the truth indeed, you are not that person they are calling for. So, don't sweat, next time they call back, and tell them they got it wrong, and you are not that person they are looking for.
1 person likes this
@Cherish14 (2693)
• Philippines
4 Apr 12
i think if it does not cost yo anything, then just don't call them back anymore. but if they do contact you again then maybe you should tell them that it is a wrong person they are calling.
1 person likes this
@mariab2000 (740)
• Canada
3 Apr 12
I would just call back and let them know that they have the wrong number and you are not that person that they are trying to contact so that they don't call you again in the future...
1 person likes this
@honest_efforts100 (1607)
• India
18 Jul 12
Calling the company is a good choice. I don’t know why the company would bother you with someone else problems but the best way is to settle this to avoid them from wasting your time. The fact that you do not even know Lateasha is good enough to end the entire embarrassment. Call them and fix everything
@JenInTN (27514)
• United States
7 Apr 12
If they called back I would let them know for sure. I know this is a little different but when I moved here 5 years ago, they gave me a phone number that used to be a lady's that owed everyone. Collection agencies were calling left and right. I think they thought I was her and was just saying I wasn't for a while. I called the company I got my phone through and complained to them that I wanted a new number but they said they would take care of it. I didn't have near the trouble after that.
