Who Called Us

I would these people not to call me anymore.

I received a call from them once every 2 days. They don't tell us who they are looking for. It's a call to call them right back. They just testing to make sure that we got the message.

I am getting calls every single day from this number stating they are calling in regards to a debt and to call back and to speak to Mr. Foster. I have called the number back 3 times and am told my number is not in their system and they will remove it. I still get the calls. Today Jennifer hung up on me. I want it to stop! These people can't even tell me why they are calling my number and they can't make their system stop calling me. As far as I am aware there is no legitimate outstanding debt for anyone in my household. One day my answering machine had 7 recordings of these phone messages.

There was a partial message on my answering machine. Since it was from a collection agency and I have received calls looking for my estranged daughter, I called back. It wasn't for her or me, so the representative removed my number from their system.

No, Trish, you cannot ''turn them in'' under a law which never applies, which has been discussed in the two entries just prior to yours. You cannot apply telemarketing rules and habits to a debt collector. It *does not matter* if the collector calls an alleged debtor or a third party to that person, the DNC exemption survives.

The following URL links to the FTC FAQ page which the DNC site *twice* coaxed you to read before you registered your numbers. See items 28 through 32.
ftc.gov

Debt buyers and collectors are notoriously deaf to verbal requests and denials. Anything you say which does not lead to a payment can paint you as a liar from their perspective, which provides the cheap excuse to continue calling. If you're not their intended target, you must crank your volume on paper as already discussed. You may already be due some payback if you can prove foul language was used in an effort to collect debt. Had you reviewed the FDCPA as long ago suggested, you would know these helpful things and much more.

} "illegal to leave a message saying that you are a debt collection agency"

''Got the Call'': As an industry player you should be aware you're both right and wrong. The FDCPA mandates both ''meaningful disclosure'' and privacy protection for alleged debtors. These two concepts are constantly in conflict, and collectors get sued about the same for favoring one above the other.

There is case law supporting the idea that a phone message is ''communication'' with a consumer, therefore requiring a collector to self-identify and give the mini-Miranda. Most famous is the Foti v. NCO Financial decision, which punished NCO for the usual practice of discretion in vaguely referring only to a ''business matter''. Ever since, many agencies have their canned calls tied in semantic knots with ridiculous demands to ''stop listening if you're not the droid we're after'' and ''oops, since you've listened too long you need to fess up''.

Until that dilemma is resolved, what's strictly illegal and what actually leads to statutory fines will never match consistently. In a week the new CFPB assumes some regulatory power over your industry, which has had the ACA lobby flacks crabbing about ''improved communication'' for months. They're in a lather over restrictions on calling mobile phones while this disclosure problem is the real throbbing sore.

We must decide as consumers if we're more upset about our personal shame over debt or the fact that collectors have yet another perfect excuse not to deal straight with us like adults. Guess what, we are in the Second Great Depression. Everyone and the neighbor's cat has debt issues, else is one job loss or major illness or unfair APR hike away from sinking in the same quicksand. Let's stop pretending our feelings are so fragile and treat debt like the business problem it is, the same way a big corporation does when it avoids taxation and begs for government handouts.

if you do not have any debts and a collection agcy keeps calling you, you can turn them in to the do not call list. if you DO owe, you cannot. I get calls for people with the same last name as mine. they don't tend to believe that they have a wrong number. you can turn them in.

According to the FDCPA it is illegal to leave a message saying that you are a debt collection agency or trying to collect a debt since anyone can get messages from an answering machine, all you can do is leave a message at to whome the message is for and to call back to resolve an important matter or something to that effect. As far as the Do Not Call Registery, this does not apply to debt collection, that is only for sales calls. But, like I said it is illegal to leave a message stating that you are trying to collect a debt or that you are a debt collection agency and also you can erequest that all contact be made through the mail and not phone calls and they have to do so. Just a little infor on the matter
PS. I am a debt Collector and like many other people YES I owe bills to.

Paul is correct. Those toll free commercial accounts come with a cute little feature called Automatic Number Identification, lifting the veil on your puny consumer CID blocking. Not that it makes a whole lot of difference. It's best to put your demands in print form. If you're not the party NAFS wants, send a cease-comm notice. If you are the mark, dispute and make NAFS validate. Send these letters via USPS Certified with card. The FTC and many consumer watchdogs explain how to draft them.

What is not correct is any mention of the DNC registry. That's for telemarketers, meaning sales, meaning all debt collectors are exempt. This fact was not kept secret from you when you registered your numbers. A collection agency targeting collectors (per "Company's" suggestion) would have stiff competition. See, the fun ironic fact is that a sizable percentage of collections reps are themselves debtors. Keeps 'em hungry for coercing payments at any price.

The obfuscation reps may exhibit is not a "scam" but observation of privacy regs, often the spark for lawsuits. You might still ding them in court for fraudulent behavior like that reported here, such as the same rep donning multiple aliases or lying about the number of contacts made. That's right, I'm all for complaint filing, but understand that you must confront collection agencies directly if you dislike their treatment of your privacy and consumer rights.

If you are receiving misdirected or abusive calls from a third party debt collector, you may find relief in the provisions of the FDCPA, which regulates collector behavior. Learn your rights and first response tactics at FTC-dot-gov. See also your state laws for additional support.

Calling for Jose Ramirez, I've received many calls for this man.

I have worked in the telecom industry for 17 Years. I'd like to give everyone a warning about 800 numbers (and this includes all variants like 866 and 877): DO NOT CALL THEM IF YOU WANT YOUR NUMBER TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS. When you call an 800 number your caller ID shows up whether or not you have your number blocked.

Every time you get a phone call report the phone call to the Do Not Call list and other agencies. Also keep updating these forums.

Do Not Call List
donotcall.gov

Federal Trade Commision
ftc.gov

State attorney General
naag.org

If you decide to call them don't give out your name since they probably have the wrong number. Make them tell you who they are calling.

If they know your name then make them put any debt they claim you owe in writing. Do NOT admit to owing any debt and make them mail you a letter first. If you get a letter it will probably be so vague that you don't know what the debt is for. Make them provide more information and they probably can't prove you owe anything or it is way past the statute of limitations. Even if you are honest and owe the debt these creeps don't deserve to be paid just because of the way they act.

Do not give out your bank account number, social security number or credit card number over the phone. They may try high pressure tactics to scare you and get you to pay over the phone but don't do it. It the conversation sounds even a little bit threatening file a police report.

I just got my first robo call. The recording was from a Mr. Lynch, with National Action Financial Services. Although he(the recording) spoke so fast I was barely able to get the phone number to which he referred written down, I do remember him(the recording) saying this is a legal matter from a debt collector and he was unable to disclose any information, but I was to call this number immediately. He(the recorder), then stated he had tried several times to contact me per this matter.

Lest start a new company. This company would be a collection agency that only collects money from employees of collection agencies.

We find a way to get the home phone numbers and home addresses of anybody that works at a collection agency.

Then this company would spend its time calling all the other collection agency employees and try to get them to pay for debt they don't owe like NASF. If person says "you got the wrong number" or says "that person doesn't live here" then ignore it and keep calling just like NAFS. We can try to scam them into giving there credit card numbers and bank account numbers just like NAFS.

I don't owe any debt and NAFS can't understand that person they are looking for doesn't live here and I have never heard of that person. After seeing what collection agencies are like I wouldn't pay off any debt even it I owed just because of the way these creeps act.

Your local TV station or Newspaper probably has a consumer action show or column. Contact them and and see if they can help. The consumer action column in my local newspaper has helped people with crooked collection agencies like NAFS. A friend of mine was helped by a local TV station over a dispute with a phone company.

Here are some other news outlets to contact. I would enjoy seeing Mr Lynch or whatever fake name he is using trying to hide from the cameras. Since NAFS insists on calling the wrong phone number eventually they will harass somebody that can do something about the calls.

ABC News Nightline
abcnews.go.com

CBS 60 minutes
cbsnews.com

Contact for NBC news
nbc.com

Report every phone call you get to the Do Not Call List
donotcall.gov

Caller: Low life crooks

so ruthless and so unrespectful, calling calling as if he has nothing else to do, but call, call...

Calls coming from this number, and also from 800.697.4981. Both will read out as 'private' on my caller ID. Both numbers have the same voice recording (robo call) only one says to speak to Mr. Lynch and the other to speak to Mr. Newman...same man's voice for both though. States it's a debt collector but never asks for anyone by name, and never states what company they are with. Figure it's for my ex, wish they'd call him rather than bogging up my answering machine!

This is a automated call telling you of an ugent matter that is so sensitive that you have to call Mr. Lynch @ 800-304-8519. On caller id the name comes up as "Not Provided".

Upon further invetigation this is a call from Nation Action Financial Services which buys old debt and trys to collect on it. The listed address is 165 Lawerence Bell Dr STE 100, PO BOX 9027, Williamsville, NY, 14231-9027.

If this was ligit the company name would come up and you would be able to identify the company address.

Several calls from recorded message asking me to call back 1-800-304-8519, identifying himself as Mr. Lynch, with information so sensative he couldn't leave it on the phone. If this was the case he would know who I am and would call in person not through a recorded message. In my opinion it's just one of many scams interrupting my day and I'll never answer it. I my opinion anyone that says that this is legitimate this must be a part of the scam.

This is a legitimate business. They are debt collection. Sometimes fraudulent people will give out your phone number as their own when setting up accounts. The debt collection agency is trying to track down the debt. The call said to contact Mr Lynch and then asked from what phone number I was reached. When I gave them the phone number they said the person they were trying to contact was Lorenzo Jimenez. When I said that noone of that name has lived here for at least the past 8 years, the person said that they would take care of that.

She was very professional, courteous, and helpful. Nothing like what you get from the scam companies. If you want the calls to stop, just give them the number they are calling from and they will let you know who they are trying to reach.

Robo call saying to call Mr. Linch

left a message saying to call Mr. Finnegan to resolve "an important business matter."

Automated voice robo call - They claim that they have made several attempts to contact me, and that I should return their call so that "this matter" can be resolved. It is urgent that I call Mr. Lynch at 800-304-8519 to resolve this matter -- this is from a dept collector then hung up.

I keep getting this call from nr 866 265 5286 -- never say who they looking for or who they need to talk with but I should call mr lynch asap -- really annoyed with these calls

This number, 800-304-8519, is a legitimate collection agency. One of their accounts is Juniper Credit Card serviced by Barclays Bank.

If you want them to stop calling you, ignoring them is not going to make that happen. Talk to them and ask them who they are calling. Do not give them your information, they will give you the verifying info. If it is not for you, tell them so and tell them to stop calling.

If it is for you, but you do not want to talk to then, then tell them to stop calling you. You do not have to talk to them. If they continue to call after that, then they are in violation and you can make a complaint. Also, they can only call you once a week, IF they talk to you.

Mr. Lynch is the person that calls my home. Does not indicate who he is calling for or what but states that he must receive a call back immediately. Don't trust it so I am not calling back!

Call is automated recording leaving several messages a week. They do not specifically refer to anyone by name and imply that they are calling about collecting debt. I have recently run my credit for other reasons and it about as high as you can get. We have no outstanding debt. I do not want to call them back as with email spam this type of phone spam it is likely to be ineffectual to respond, but may incur more as well as give them additional information they may not already have about me.

I will label this a collection agency because that is what they claim to be, but I believe them to be some sort of scam telemarketing that will attempt to browbeat people into a service or something.

A collection agency