Bill Collectors harrassing the wrong person
@saigonwarrior (1331)
United States
February 14, 2007 6:21pm CST
Has anyone encounter this?
A family member that used to live with us left an unpaid debt attached to our address.
They left without a forwarding address or phone number.
Since they used to live with us, our address was given as the contact address. We share the same last name.
Now we are harassed and hounded by constant telephone calls from Bill Collectors. They start at 8 am and continue until early evening.
IF I do answer the phone and try to explain that this person does not live here nor do I know where they reside, I am called a liar. I have been called names, yelled at, screamed at and made to feel stupid by these insensitive people.
I ask for company names, addresses and names. I snail mail Cease and Desist letters to the companies. The original
credit card company just hires different collection agencies, and it starts all over again.
I am so tired of these phone calls that I could scream.
I have 4 companies right now calling me. I will type out the proper paperwork and mail, once again these notices.
I will also contact my states attorney generals office..AGAIN. I will have a weeks of quiet before it starts again.
This should be illegal to harass innocent people in this way. It is very nerve racking. Has anyone else gone through this? What is your story and how did you deal with it?
1 person likes this
3 responses
@ScrappinHappyMom (914)
• United States
15 Feb 07
This same thing is happening to me. Apparently one of my sisters gave my phone and address as hers when she applied for one of those instant check loan things. Well surprise the check bounced. They have tried to serve me with court papers they call all the time and no matter what I do I can't seem to convince these people that I am not her and she has never lived here. When the lady came to serve me with papers she called me nasty names and told me I just needed to learn to pay my cuss cuss bills. I don't talk to this particular sister since this happened.
I had no idea the Attorney General would help or that I could mail them a letter so thank you for sharing your story it gives me idea of what to do next.
1 person likes this
@saigonwarrior (1331)
• United States
15 Feb 07
If you live in the states, you can probably find your states Attorney General's office online.
There should be a list of services, one of those being bill collectors. It will list your rights and what steps that you need to go through with the bill collectors.
It mostly consist of writing letters that are sent through the post.
My problems is the Credit Card company just hires new agencies to replace the old ones and they are allowed to contact you once if they feel you may know where the person is. I guess my next step is to send a Cease and Desist letter to the credit card company with a copy to my state's Attorney General.
And yes, it does stop with every letter that I send...until the credit card company hire another agency.
In your case just the getting in touch with A G office will probably work for you.
Thank you for sharing.
1 person likes this
@lols189 (4742)
•
15 Feb 07
i have had a problem like that before. i phoned the company and explained just like you did and they were very understanding but after 2 weeks the letters started to come again so i phoned up and screamed at them. since then i never got another letter. i would suggest you get in touch with the company again and ask to speak to the manager about it. if you still dont get any luck then make a complaint and maybe go and see a solicitor about the matter and they will do their best to help you. good luck
1 person likes this
@saigonwarrior (1331)
• United States
15 Feb 07
Yes, I have spoken with the bank but they have been just as rude.
What I don't like is why should I have to hire an attorney for something that I did not create?
I am telling the truth in not knowing where this person resides. It just seems really unfair that these practices are allowed to continue.
Thank you for the well wishes.
@Celanith (2327)
• United States
15 Feb 07
Yes we have been getting phone calls for someone named Gene for a couple of months now and we have had our phone number for seven years. They insist we know this guy and we don't know anyone by that name.
@saigonwarrior (1331)
• United States
15 Feb 07
It makes you wonder where they dig up some of this information, in your case you have had the same phone number for years and no one by the name Gene has even lived with you.
I think maybe a letter of Cease and Desist may work for you, also.
You can look up all of the info online for your States Attorney General on the steps that you need to take.
Sometimes it is worth the time and the cost of a stamp.
