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

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?

Sorry, I just noticed you had mentioned mail.

There has been no mail for anyone else other than our mail, and the house was a new build - so no one had lived here before.

The more I think about it - the more it seems a number is all they have for this guy. Also - there have never been calls for anyone else on a repeating basis, but occasionally there have been wrong numbers, but none seemed connected and I think every number gets that.

If someone had an outstanding debt, could they do something like apply for a new loan online, but use my number as a contact number to try to move the harassment from their own number?

Like say 'James' used his details he is current being chased with, but used a fake address, but my telephone number to appear to apply for new credit, then it could mean it would stop calls going to his old number, which if it is who I thought, seems they are staying with one of her relatives now. I guess if the collection agency sent the boys round and found the address to be fake they might concentrate on the new telephone number?

So it might stop calls going to their relative if that number had got into the hands of the debt agency, by making a new number seem likely (mine).

There have been no calls since the one mentioned here - but each time the phone rings we freeze and look at each other.

pickle

You most definitely don't take on someone elses debts because you move into their former residence. Sounds like a scam to me, trying to frighten you into sending money to them. If it's the same number calling you I believe you can get a block on that particular number via BT (but I think they charge you a monthly charge for it). Might be worth it though.

Stalkee

pickle wrote: »

You most definitely don't take on someone elses debts because you move into their former residence. Sounds like a scam to me, trying to frighten you into sending money to them. If it's the same number calling you I believe you can get a block on that particular number via BT (but I think they charge you a monthly charge for it). Might be worth it though.

The number that calls is withheld - its in the messages they were saying to call 08700501123.

Also - we are the first people to move into this house, as we bought it from the builders.

It is a debt collector, as I called them, and have found other references to the same company from here and elsewhere on the net. Calling them is unwise - as you basically just get lies and accusations thrown at you.

I had not heard from them since I last posted - but went away for a long weekend and the answering machine light was flashing when we got home.

"This is a message for 'Jamees' to call (foreign female name which I cannot make out) on 0870 050 1123 quoting reference blahblahblah before eight this evening, it is important."

Its all said like its being read from a card, and like the girl reading it was entirely bored.

Does anyone know the number of supervisors at the company, rather than the offensive morons you get stuck with when you return a call on the number they mention.

Also - surely someone must deal with malicious calls of this nature.

With the way the UK banking system has gone since I originally posted, its quite alarming to think that the government may own or be about to own the company claiming the debt.

spuds_2

You can record outgoing phone calls for free (it is not illegal as long as they are for your own use, and you don't have to tell the other party).

http://www.rectel.co.uk/

If they are abusive I would try and get some of this on tape.

supermezzo

BT used to a service called 'choose to refuse' where you entered a code after any number you wanted to block had rung you and they wouldn't be able to call again. Less restrictive than the total witheld ban (if they still do it)

Just checked and they do but the link to the page is down currently - probably easier to ring them and ask but make sure you go through to the nuisance calls dept rather than a general call or you'll be there forever!

Stalkee

spuds wrote: »

You can record outgoing phone calls for free (it is not illegal as long as they are for your own use, and you don't have to tell the other party).

http://www.rectel.co.uk/

If they are abusive I would try and get some of this on tape.

Thanks - I was actually thinking about doing that but shoving an old dial up modem into the computer, then connecting my phone to the second RJ11 connector, then using software to record the call directly to the computer.

If I can find a geographic number for the company - I could then let my phone call them back with the same message as often as I pleased, without them being paid for the calls.

Stalkee

supermezzo wrote: »

BT used to a service called 'choose to refuse' where you entered a code after any number you wanted to block had rung you and they wouldn't be able to call again. Less restrictive than the total witheld ban (if they still do it)

Just checked and they do but the link to the page is down currently - probably easier to ring them and ask but make sure you go through to the nuisance calls dept rather than a general call or you'll be there forever!

My phone line is with Pipex, but I am in the process of changing, so from here BT seems to be the best bet for your main line - so I can give that a shot after the provider changes.

DCFC79

Stalkee wrote: »

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.

its possible that the the james who DML are calling for is the same 1 who you lent money to