Debt Collection phone calls for someone else

Smallbloke

Hello

Apologies if this isn't the right place to ask this question, however I'm having problems with debt collection agencies phoning my landline.

I have had this phone number for a couple of years now after moving house. Almost daily we're receiving phone calls asking for a Kayleigh Phillips (who I don't know and who did not live here before we moved in...although I obviously understand that a phone number doesn't stay with an address necessarily).

When I answer the phone, I tell whoever is on the end of the line that this person does NOT live here and that I don't know her (I've been asked a couple of times if I'm definitely sure that I'm not her and that I don't know her, which I usually reply to with something along the lines of 'I don't like being accused of being a liar'). I then ask for this number to be removed from their list, which I'm normally told will happen in the next 24 hours. I take a note of the number and ignore it if it phones again.

However, I think that these debts get passed from one collector to another, so a NEW number will phone a few days later asking for the same person, and round we go again!

I thought that maybe these phone calls would stop after a few months but they've carried on. I now work from home so I'm always here to have to deal with them, so it's getting more of a pain!

Apart from changing my phone number (which would be a hassle), is there anything I can do to clear this up? Or is it just a case of 'put up or shut up' (or change my number)?

thanks in advance

hollydays

Get the name of the debt collection company

Smallbloke

The debt collection company (or at least the phone number) keeps changing...I'm assuming because they pass the debt on to other companies to chase up?

hollydays

Yes but you still need to get the name and write to them

Smallbloke

Unfortunately the company keeps changing...I'm assuming it's because the debt gets passed on when one company realises it can't get the money!

Le_Kirk

Don't debt collection companies have a code of conduct to which they must adhere. I'm sure some of the less professional ones would ignore it anyway but it is a start. See this link: -
http://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0149-debt-collection

hollydays

http://www.financial-ombudsman.org.uk/publications/technical_notes/debtcollecting-note.html

cajef

If it is getting to be a real nuisance maybe worth purchasing a phone with a built in call blocker?

http://www.amazon.co.uk/BT8500-Advanced-Blocker-Cordless-Handset/dp/B00LZTHUEO/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1452511630&sr=8-1&keywords=bt+8500

forgotmyname

I have the BT call blocker phones, but the amount of numbers you can add is limited.

Bought one of the small white call blockers and its been bliss since. The phone rarely rings these days.

Foreign calls from 0018, They would call daily almost 24/7 no idea why. I managed to picked the phone up once and a foreign guy was stumped for words not expecting the phone to be answered and had nothing to say. All very wierd.

They must be getting the hint because they only hear one ring and it cuts them off dead. They have not tried for 2 months now looking at the call logs.

I paid about £25 and its worth every penny.

Comes with loads of numbers already in there and you can add another 1000 or so..

hollydays

Why would someone be surprised when you answered the phone?

JReacher1

Maybe a bit drastic but you could ask your landline provider to give you a new number.

Of course who knows who previously had the new number!