Being plagued by calls in error (rant)

Own_My_Own

Lou67 wrote: »

Do the debt collectors actually believe that then?

Anyone could say that; even the real debtor... Oh no, I'm not miss Jones from Letsbe avenue, I am Miss Smith from ta-ra-abit road. No matter what we said to the debt collectors: NOTHING stopped them.

It's worked for me. I am down to about 1-2 calls a fortnight.

Lou67

Blue_Parrot wrote: »

Please explain "cease and desist letter"

I do not have time, in a busy office, to 'have fun' with this lot. I don't have time otherwise in my life either. In any case, 9/10 of their calls are from computerised robots, demanding that "Mark Long" calls them back.

Same here. I have complained before on another forum I think, and people say just 'play a game' with them and do this and say that, and so on, but I literally cannot be ARSED to fanny around messing about with answering calls coming from nobodies that I have no interest in talking to.

I am SICK of getting up to answer the phone to these pests who will not take no for answer. I have better things to do. :mad: And I certainly would not be writing them a blasted letter with my name and address on it asking them to stop. They would probably think the debtor who they are chasing, lives here at my house! They didn't believe she was not at the number they kept calling, so why should they believe that she is not at the address?! They kept asking me my address when they rang asking for Linda Parry: Like I was going to tell them!

They are pests through and through. Fact! I swear to God that 10 year ago, this constant hounding from nuisance calls was unheard of! My folks had the same number for 30-odd years. I don't EVER remember this happening. Why is it so bad now? All I can think of is that the phone providers sell the information (ie: peoples numbers) to spammers.

vikingaero

Debt Collection Agencies are much more ruthless now than in the past. They will bend the rules because our laws are weak. The OFT and Information Commissioner are weak and useless. The advent of bulk telecoms and diallers have meant that it has never been easier for them to attempt to contact debtors many times a day.

Of course they get it wrong. Essentially the only way to stop them calling is a "cease and desist letter" or a formal complaint along these lines:

Mackenzie Hall
Whatever Their Address Is
Scotlandshire

Dear Sir/Madam,

LETTER OF COMPLAINT

I am writing to make a formal complaint about your company calling my telephone number 01234 567890 repeatedly for a debt that is not mine. I have explained to your agents that I am not the debtor (Mr XYZ if the name is known), the debtor has not lived at my address ever and the number is solely my telephone number.

Your calls amount to harrassment and I am advising you to IMMEDIATELY cease all telephone calls to my number and to remove my telephone number from your records. If you sell the debt to another debt collection agency I am instructing you that you will be illegally selling on my telephone number.

I am further advising you that I will seek remedy through the Police under the Protection From Harrassment Act 1997 and will charge you £100 per telephone call received from you.

You may only communicate with me in writing and any implied rights of telecommunciations or visiting are hereby withdrawn.

Yours sincerely,

OK someone else will come up with a better version but this is the gist. I like putting the £100 per call because some people have successfully sued companies who have called after a letter has been sent.

shaun_from_Africa

I realise that the case below is to do with unwated e-mails but I'm sure that if it can be done for spam then there's no reason why the same can't be done for unwanted phonecalls.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2346248/Man-took-email-spam-pests--won-750-compensation-wasted-time.html

pimento

As they are almost certainly affecting your productivity, would your employer be willing to write a letter on the company letterhead telling them that the number they are calling is not used by the person they are asking for and to get knotted?

spacey2012

Top Tip:
There is no Mark Long, they have a debtor with the same name as you, they want you to prove you are not the fictitious Mr Long fooling you in to providing them with information as to who you are as they believe you may be someone owing them money.
They do this trick all the time.

What is very important is you do not play along and certainly do not let them have a copy of your signature.
Trust them not.

Pollycat

Blue_Parrot wrote: »

Twice I have phoned them back and told them that:

No one with the name "Mark Long" has ever lived at this address;

Note that they phone my office number. This number didn't even exist until a few years ago.

Why did you tell them that nobody called Mark Long has ever lived at that address?

Have you actually told them that it is not a residential number but is an office?

Does your company have the same number with different extensions or do all employees have the same telephone number?
As you say that you specifically have been called every day for the last month, I'd guess that they have your extension number.

angelsmomma

I get calls all the time asking for Mr S**** and sometimes Mrs S****. I moved house and kept my number and still get the calls 3 years later. It is Virgin media so even if I change it I could still get another debtors line.

To add to my woes I also get letters from all debt collector in the name of the previous owners. I have been here 2 years next month.

The cheeky sods maxed out cards and bought all new white goods and furniture from shops in the month before we completed on the house.

I know this because they have just had the reminder letters that the 2 year guarantee is expiring next month on their new dishwasher, freezer, washing machine and Microwave.

artbaron

I got calls for months about a Mr Bean and after I'd got bored telling callers no such person lives here I spiced up the conversions by fabricating various capers that excused Mr Bean from coming on the line. They didn't take much notice, though, and even after I'd explained the details of Mr Bean's recent death on the way back from Nepal they rang again the next day. Not had any for a couple of months now so maybe they've given up.

atarisrocks

im with virgin media and the first number we had was plagued by people asking for all sorts of names and got some weird ones:

once a week a woman ask for barry i said wrong number then they rang up again straightaway and asked for barry and once again told them wrong number she would do this 3-5 times before either accusing me of lying or ask when he was going to be home so she can try again.

another woman was asking for steve and used to get extremely upset when i said it was the wrong number and even cried down the phone once.

i even got the hospital phone 3 times asking if i was the mother of a child as they needed to talk to her urgently. you would think if you had a child in hospital you would make sure they had the correct contact details on her file.

i changed number after 8 weeks and was told by virgin media that this new number would be one that hadnt been used for at least 6 months.

it took less than 3 hours for phone calls to start this time asking for a mrs asama and after 5 months of telling them daily they dont own this number the calls stopped for 2 weeks now they are phoning daily asking for mrs osama. im guessing they just changed 1 letter on the file for a new name.
cant report them as they wont tell me who they are and withhold their number.