I am being pestered by phone by people who claim I owe money.

Stalkee

I was being told to return a call for 'James' to 0870 050 1123. but their number is withheld when they call.

These people left numerous messages on my answering machine. They were calling for 'James' (no last name) and ask for him only on first name terms each time. However, each time it is a different guys name left with the message - and there is no number with the call other than the 0870 050 1123 (higher rate) number they ask to call back on. They also say its important James calls back by 8PM. I took it to be a selling scam, as the message is always the same. Its not a recording, and they often fumble their way through the message.

After their messages filled my answering machine - as they call extremely often and I really only check messages at weekends - I decided to call them to tell them no one called James lives here.

I got through to the most objectionable person I have had the misfortune of speaking to in a call - who kept accusing me of owing money, and that I was 'James'. When I told him I had just bought the house, he informed me 'legally you have just bought James' debt with that house too'. While I doubt the legality of his claim - it seemed even less likely given my house is a new build - and I only have the misfortune of being allocated someone else's old number.

They still keep calling, but in the evenings now too. I have tried blowing a whistle down the phone, or just leaving the phone off the hook when it is them, but it means I cannot use my phone properly as the answering machine still fills, and in the evenings I am leaving the phone off the hook when they call for probably two hours each week.

It seems ridiculous that I am now contemplating changing my number as a debt collection agency is chasing the previous owner.

I am sure if a traditional stalker called this number of times, the police would say they would be taken to court if they continued.

I am in Scotland if this makes a difference.

Stalkee

I should add my only debt is our mortgage, which is only for the difference between the value of my last house and new one - and is well under 30% of the value of the property.

I have a credit card - but only use it to get protection on things we buy, for buying things online, and to use on holiday for cars, and make a payment to it to the value of anything we buy before the bill even comes in, or when used on holiday I wait for the bill, as it always works out a bit more than I expected.

markelock

first of all you don't owe his debt. I've had a look (and there will be people far better than myself) to see if there's an alternative landline number, but cannot find one.

I'd just leave the phone after answering it. put it down and just carry on your day to day activities (within reason!) They'll soon hang up. Eventually it won't be cost effective to keep calling you. I wonder if they don't have your address to write to you, have you returned some of the previous owner's mail to sender?

changing the number might be the best idea though. Have you contacted BT, or your service provider?

Jez_Wolf

Found this discussion over at CAG

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/debt-collection-industry/61723-anyone-heard-dml-2.html

Stalkee

markelock wrote: »

first of all you don't owe his debt. I've had a look (and there will be people far better than myself) to see if there's an alternative landline number, but cannot find one.

I'd just leave the phone after answering it. put it down and just carry on your day to day activities (within reason!) They'll soon hang up. Eventually it won't be cost effective to keep calling you. I wonder if they don't have your address to write to you, have you returned some of the previous owner's mail to sender?

changing the number might be the best idea though. Have you contacted BT, or your service provider?

My phone is from Bulldog, and leaves a lot to be desired. They said there was not really anything they could do. Funnily I am in the process of leaving them for BT, as going to BT seemed to be the only way I could keep the number.

BT have said they could withhold all numbers that did not offer a caller number, but both my sister's and wife's work phones do not display their number.

My number is XD, and I am registered with the mailing preference, service and the telephone equivalent, although neither seem that great.

They have said their company is DML, but apart from being abusive have said very little else. I don't even know 'James'' last name, but I honestly see the callers and who have put them up to being the problem, rather than some debtor, who must have ran up the debt presumably more than three years ago, if they wait a year before reissuing numbers and we moved in two years ago next month).

The calls just seem entirely harassing, as if they were actually trying to collect a debt, would they not have told me their address when asked? I guess the plan is 'he is James and knows who he owes' so I am stuck with them.

I dont see why I should change my number, as I dont owe anyone anything from a broken agreement, and they are basically anonymous harassing calls.

I did a search on DML at companies house - and there are loads of potentials. On the internet there was one called Debt Managers Limited , which initially seemed I had found my stalker, but then it occurred to me none of the callers were Scottish so I guess its a coincidence.

DEBT MANAGERS LIMITED
12 HOPE STREET
EDINBURGH
MIDLOTHIAN
EH2 4DB
Company No. SC219618

When I searched the net this company also seemed to only be a post box, although I am about 40 mins from Edinburgh, so am driving there to check on my next day off.

I would really like to get behind it, as I feel I should do the same to the people responsible, and wonder how they would feel to get what feels like over 100 calls like this.

At least I would have justification for calling them, which is more than they have for harassing me.

Stalkee

Jez_Wolf wrote: »

Found this discussion over at CAG

http://www.consumeractiongroup.co.uk/forum/debt-collection-industry/61723-anyone-heard-dml-2.html

Thanks - I had found that in a search already, but had disregarded it as I am fairly sure Barclays did not have banks in Scotland.

When I did a check they did have, but from what I can see they have only opened recently, so I think it may just be a coincidence. Also my phone book lists no Barclays.

Although in saying that I think Barclaycard is pretty common, so I guess I should look into this again.

Stalkee

Originally Posted by melvis
I have an ongoing complaint with DML regarding harrassment and data protection issues, I am currently in the process of escalating my complaint to the OFT, ombudsman etc.

Brilliant!!!

Sorry - I said that sarcastically and added this after.

Stalkee

Anyone trying a search on the number will get this now too - as I posted it at the same time as posting here.

http://whocallsme.com/Phone-Number.aspx/08700501123

And so a search will reveal this thread for anyone with a similar problem too...

0870 050 1123

0870 0501123

08700 501 123

08700501123

foxxymynx

Legally you can not be responsible for someone elses debt in most circumstances - exceptions are if you've made some kind of agreement or if you're the executor of a will - check out the national debt helpline website and it'll explain better.

They're trying to get money and using underhanded tactics to do it, not caring who pays the debt so long as they recover it

Bufflowbill

Stalkee.

You might find this helpful.

http://www.consumerwiki.co.uk/index.php/Harassment_by_telephone

Stalkee

Thanks guys.

There were no messages when I got in today.

Is there a standard time these idiots keep going for until they get tired?

Also - although I had said to them they could check my house was a newbuild - I never gave them the address, so basically there could be a chance this number is the sole thing they have as a contact - as why else keep phoning?

Lastly, there was a guy I worked with who had a massive gambling problem which he denied, and I bailed him out a few times. Nothing much, I drove him home when it was raining, as at the end of the month he was walking 6 miles each way to work, and I got them messages a couple of times on the way back too. Not much, only about twenty odd quid to last them until pay day.

He had asked to borrow money from me, but I knew he owed most people in the office, so I gave him £50 and told him to keep it as a present but not ask again.

Lastly, as things progressed, his house was going to be repossessed and he asked me if I would buy him out, and rent it back to him. I told him I could not afford to do it, but he seemed annoyed when we then sold our last house and moved to the newbuild. Soon after his house was repossessed and he was fired for basically seldom going in and trying to borrow money from everyone constantly rather than actually working.

His name was James, the same as the callers ask for, and he could easily have got my new number, just by calling the office and bluffing he had lost it.

Would this make sense for a debtor to try to lose his creditors by doing something like this, or am I just being paranoid?

I am going to put in one of these credit information requests to see what comes back for our new address. Its seems they pay you to submit one via quidco.