Real Life MMD: Should I help debt agency find colleague?

alwayswrite

I totally agree with the views I have read about you not getting involved. The best thing for you to do is to tell them they are harassing you and you will report them for that then put your phone down.

[Deleted User]

Personally I wouldn't. You should tell them she's no longer on this number and to stop calling you. It's not your place and if they know she's not on that number then they shouldn't still be calling you either. Also, I have had a lot of trouble with these so called debt collection places calling me when I have not EVER had a loan or any debt. So... you don't even really know if they are genuine or not, an old credit card may have passed her details on without her permission etc. So I wouldn't just leave it.

zeegoman

What self-righteous rubbish some the above are spouting. Debt collectors don't always get it correct. The recipient of the calls has told the company that the individual concerned is no longer there, that's enough. Also they now know that a work colleague is being chased for a debt, is that sort of thing allowed? I don't think so!

oft.gov.uk/shared_oft/business_leaflets/consumer_credit/oft664.pdf

acting in a way likely to be publicly embarrassing to the debtor either
deliberately or through lack of care, for example, by not putting
correspondence in a sealed envelope and putting it through a letterbox,
thereby running the risk that it could be read by third parties.

ripongrammargirl

I would speak to the colleague again, offering sympathy and help with where to go for advice on debt management. At the same time I would very firmly explain that this company cannot keep phoning on your number as it is interfering with your work and could launch an investigation into your personal life if personnel/the boss gets to know about it. It is the responsibility of this colleague to stop the debt company harrassing you and if it does not stop because they refuse to sort it out then you will have to report it to the boss. It is not your role to tell this company the whereabouts of your colleague, but (as a friend and colleague) it is your role to offer advice on how to sort the problem, if there is one, as this person may be struggling and could end up doing something silly in the future to escape debt.

joyrose

TBagpuss wrote: »

The Data Protection Act doesn't apply to private individuals, so you wouldn't fall foul of it.

It may be worth speaking to your colleague once more and telling her that you are still getting these calls, and that you will have to refer it to HR or your manager because it is disrupting your ability to work. This may encourage her to address the issue.

If you are answering the call as an employee of the company, the Data Protection Act will apply because you are acting under the authority of the company, so don't risk it. Agree with the others not to disclose.
You could claim damages from this debt recovery company for harassment. First have to write to them telling them to stop calling you and that any call after this letter will be charged by you at e.g. £50 per call connection to you, £50 per minute thereafter, etc..
Also threaten to report them to the OFT ..
And tell your colleague to look at websites like this to deal with the issue!

nomoneytoday

Why not give them her number, so that she can then sort it out properly?
If the debt's not hers then she can argue the point rather than prolonging it

RadoJo

I'm surprised that so many people are happy to assume that the OP's colleague doesn't owe the money and are prepared to make offensive and aggressive comments to those who suggest she might be liable for the debt. The only person who can be sure whether the debt is owed is the person being chased and seeing as she seems unwilling to face up to the problem and contact the company to resolve the situation, I would argue that she is the one putting the OP in a difficult position. Whether or not a mistake has been made, if it were me that was being chased, I would feel awful if a colleague was being made to feel uncomfortable in their place of work on my account.
I can't say that I would be inclined to pass on the person's details, but I don't think that the blanket assumption that the company are pursuing an incorrect debt is helpful, and involving managers may make the situation worse for both parties involved. Perhaps a discreet word with the person being chased asking them to take the matter in hand would be in order, at least to avoid the OP being interrupted at their work over a matter which certainly isn't their fault and avoid escalation where it might be inappropriate.

squeezebob

joannie wrote: »

Well. sorry folks, I think she should give them any info she has. Her friend has had and spent the money. It is us as honest citizens that end up paying higher costs because of those who do not pay back what they owe.

I agree. Why should you and I be working hard and paying back our debts and others avoid paying back (in this instance) by hiding behind old extension numbers.
It's taken me a year to pay off £4000+ of credit card debts and almost done with the overdraft as well (yeh, pat on the back, etc etc), this person (ficticious or not) is clearly working, so should be paying off ALL her debts.

Also, I'm a snitch, so I say, do it!

happyinflorida

Depends on whether this person is a friend or not, whether she could make a lot of trouble for you if you do pass on any information?

If there are a lot of calls and it's getting on your nerves and taking a lot of your time up answering them all, then I'd pass on the company switchboard number to get rid of them all.

kayaitch

Don't get involved and don't snitch. You'd hope your colleagues would be loyal to you so do the same for her. You just don't know the caller is who they say they are anyway - it could be a stalker, violent ex-boyfriend, whatever! And if the "debt collector" were any good at their job and really wanted to find her I would have thought the answer is simple: they should know which company they're calling and just phone the main switchboard number and ask for your colleague.