Still getting chased by GE money after 2 years

pinkpinkuk

We moved into out current flat 2 years ago and aside from still getting post for a whole range of previous occupants (each returned to sender, but they keep on coming!) we have been chased by a firm of debt collectors ever since we moved in.

We used to get automated calls asking us to 'Press one' if we were a certain person with a French sounding name, so we used to hang up. Eventually I got fed up and tracked down a number to phone them up. After about 6 calls in which I was asked for my account number (I don't have one, obviously) and then told they couldn't help me without one I got through to someone with some common sense, who informed me he couldn't search the telephone number on his system and since I don't know how to spell the foreign name he couldn't help. But he told me to 'press one' next time I was prompted and to inform the operator of the situation.

I did so and the operator agreed to remove me, but the calls kept coming. Every time I speak to someone they say I'll be removed and they keep coming. A couple of the operators have said "Do you live at [address]?", which is not our address or one I've ever heard of. None of them can give me an account number or reference number to make a complaint because of 'confidentiality' (and yet some of them are happy to disclose the address?). I kept a diary in December logging all the calls and what I was told and there were 5 in that month alone. Then they stopped. Yesterday we got another, so my diary is back in action. Its really grinding my gears to be honest.

The address is wrong, which means this girl has probably given a false telephone number (to the best of my knowledge and the memory of my neighbour, who has lived here for 15 years, she has never lived here) and I'm STILL getting hounded for her debts. Its ridiculous, it really is. I don't suppose anyone has any suggestions?

KILL_BILL

get bt to change your phone number ?

pinkpinkuk

I don't particularly want to change my phone number and inform everyone just because of this =/ I suppose I have to grin and bear it and hope they remove my number sometime, hopefully within the next 2 years

hippyadam

You need to get the name & address of all the companies calling you.

Write to them explaining the situation & advise them that if you continue to receive calls you will classify it as harassment & report them to the Office of Fair Trading (who all debt collection agencies must be licensed by) the telephone regulator & also take appropriate civil action (ie sue them).

If that doesn't work i'd then report them to the above, if that doesn't work i'd be tempted to start lodging claims in small claims court

But i'm a git :beer:

brightonman123

get a fog horn or whistle, and blow hard whenever they call next..
:beer:

Takoda

You can get BT to block certain numbers so they are not able to call you. It is free and easy to set up.Just contact the operator and they'll tell you how to do it.

HTH

Takoda

so2006

I would personaly ring there main number: 0800 243 2240 Make a complaint get a refrence number and then wait. When they ring tell them the Ref and do what hippyadam said, say you will tell the OFT.

Or you could go to the OFT now!

pinkpinkuk

Wow thanks guys, that's some great advice. Thanks I will definitely have some ammunition next time they call :j

I'll keep you updated.

so2006

Any updates yet?

Thriftysaver

If you haven't brought this number with you to the flat and aquired it when you moved in. your 'new' number could have been this debtors number previously. As it takes a while for creditors to call debtors, this could be the reason that your address does not correspond with this debtors. When a number is cut off it sits in a 'pool' for about 6 months before it is allocated to a new person. However the person who owes these firms will have lived 'locally' as the number is in the same exchange that your line is.
Explain this to the dca and if they persist put in a complaint to OFT.

HTH

Thriftysaver