Stopping bill collector's calls

928ram · 08-05-2005, 08:49 AM

Well I assume they are bill collectors, might just be sales but I'm on the no-call list so it shouldn't be.

Anyway...every morning lately I get a call from some toll-free number looking for Heather and Chris, and every morning I explain to these dorks that Heather and Chris don't belong at this number, then I further suggest that they check their records, call Bell South, get a new reverse-lookup, get bent, etc.

This morning, I explained to the fellow on the phone that if Heather and Chris couldn't pay their bill and had the phone disconnected -or- changed their number to stop the calls, then why would they after the allotted waiting time to re-assign the number would they have the exact same one hooked up???

He didn't get it.

So WTF? At this point it's getting really old, and I'm getting less kind with every call, how do I get these boneheads to quit looking for Heather and Chris at my number?

BTW; If you hadn't guessed, I'm not Heather or Chris nor is my wife or daughter.

IROC · IROC's Garage

It's useless. Evidently the person that used to have my work phone number owes somebody some money. I get these automated calls about once a week with instructions to call some 1-800 number. I finally called to end this madness and was put on hold for about 30 minutes at which time I was told to leave a message (which I did). The calls keep coming.

In an amazing coincidence, my phone rang while I was typing this post and...it was the SAME STUPID AUTOMATED MESSAGE!

Kills me...

Mike

mikester · 08-05-2005, 09:14 AM

same here with my Cell phone. It's lame.

stomachmonkey · 08-05-2005, 09:19 AM

Bill collecters are not allowed to harass you.

Net time they call tell them they are violating the The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and if they call again you will report them.

Then give them your attorneys number and tell them all further correspondence should be through him/her.

http://bankruptcy.findlaw.com/bankruptcy/bankruptcy_help/bankruptcy_help_stop_debt_harassment.html

Scott

Jims5543 · 08-05-2005, 09:49 AM

I have this in my favorites and its a click away from any solicitor / bill collector here at my business.

One of my employees is a financial nighmare and every credit egency in the world is looking for him.

After a few minutes of the Full metal Jacket soundboard they hang up laughing and never call again.... I think.

http://www.ebaumsworld.com/jacket1.html

Eric 951 · 08-05-2005, 09:50 AM

Tell them that you talked to Heather and Chris and they said "piss off, you are never getting paid".

Groesbeck Hurricane · 08-05-2005, 10:01 AM

Collect all the information on their company, the company the debt is for, inform them that they have an incorrect number, send them a certified letter, then sick the attorney on them. Stopped my issues several years ago when I got a new phone number.

ronin · 08-05-2005, 10:15 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by 928ram
might just be sales but I'm on the no-call list so it shouldn't be.

well, if you believe that, I have a few hundred acres of swamp... er, I mean waterfront property for sale

as for stopping the calls, the only way that I discovered was to simply not answer the phone. I can usually tell when someone other than friends or family are calling based on the time of day at which they call. if there is an emergency, they will call my cell anyway. if you answer and it happens to be a sales call or any other solicitation, hang up immediately without saying anything. companies won't call numbers from which they get no response

EdT82SC · 08-05-2005, 10:37 AM

The telemarketers have started calling us again. So much for the do not call list. If we see a number on caller ID we don't recognize, or if it says "unknown" we simply don't answer it. Less then 1 in 20 are actually calls we want to get.

RickM · RickM's Garage

Some of the broadband phone service providers offer interesting call fowarding options. One allows you to foward calls from a specific source to a message that says the number has been disconnected.

dad911 · 08-05-2005, 01:43 PM

Next time they call, tell them they moved and the new number is 867-5309

Hetmann · 08-05-2005, 01:55 PM

Ask for the caller's name. Have them spell it. What number can they be reached at. What hours can you reach them there. What is their manager's name. Have them spell it. What number can their manager be reached at. What is their home number. ... ... ...

928ram · 08-05-2005, 01:58 PM

Some good tips; esp. the fair credit act, good to know they are in the wrong legally. Now if I can just find out who they are:

I tried calling the number that showed up on the caller ID, and got to the automated "please hold for the next available...", but it kept hanging up on me. I found a little humor in this; must they not expect to be called back since their phone system dumps all calls??

I'll try at a more odd hour to see if I can get through and give them a chance to kindly fix their records, then go from there.

Thanks guys.

red-beard · red-beard's Garage

Somewhere in San Diego there was Terry Burns who is a dead beat and he had my old phone number.

The worst one was the person who claimed to be his grandmother and was just trying to find him....

pwd72s · 08-05-2005, 07:14 PM

The phone rang as I was setting down to my anticipated evening meal, and as
I answered it I was greeted with, "Is this Wilhiam Wagenhoss?"
This didn't sound anything like my name, so I asked, "Who is calling?"

The telemarketer said he was with The Rubberband-Powered Freezer Company or
something like that and then I asked him if he knew Wilhiam personally and
why was he was calling this number. I then said off to the side, "Get really
good pictures of the body and all the blood." I then turned back to the phone
and advised the caller that he had entered a murder scene and must stay on
the line because we had already traced this call and he would be receiving a
summons to appear in the local courthouse to testify in this murder case.

I then questioned the caller at great length as to his name, address, phone
number at home, at work, who he worked for, how he knew the dead guy and could
he prove where he had been about one hour before he made this call. The
telemarketer was getting very concerned and his answers were given in a shaky
voice.

I proceeded to tell him we had located his position at his work place and
the police were entering the building to take him into custody. At that point,
I heard the phone fall and the scurrying of his running away.

My wife asked me as I returned to our table, why I had tears streaming down
my face and so help me, I couldn't tell her for about fifteen minutes.

My meal was cold, but oh-so-very enjoyable.

Dantilla · 08-06-2005, 03:08 PM

pwd72s, you're my new hero!

dtw · 08-06-2005, 05:13 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by pwd72s
The phone rang as I was

http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=wagenhoss

pwd72s · 08-06-2005, 08:59 PM

Oh yeah...I stole it...

Icemaster · Icemaster's Garage

PWD,

I just printed that and posted it next to the phone...

Priceless....

K.B. · 08-07-2005, 05:10 AM

Here's another possible solution:
Ever call a number that was disconnected? You get this wierd screeching tone and then "We're sorry, the number you have called....."

Anyway record the screeching tone on your answering machine and the automated caller will disconnect upon receiving the tone. There are places that sell this as a device as well.

Ken