Nightmare just returned after years - debt call wrong number

Vegastare

Some 15 years ago I received my first phone call asking was I Ms L C - no I wasn't.  This was from Purple Loans and it was followed up by more calls and one firm in Scotland suggested it would be better for me to admit I was L.C and he was quite intimidating.  I would get calls sometimes several a week some pleasant enough some nasty then nothing and maybe six months later someone else picked up debt.  Basically I got so crazy with it that I finally lost my temper with one company in Warrington and reported it to Police who gave me ICO details.

Basically I was told by Citizens Advice that clearly they did not have the correct number as I had never had letters for L.C.  so clearly my address was not matched to tel number.

For about five years nothing, I really thought it was resolved and until today and yet another call again for L.C.  After some heated conversation I was assured they would remove the phone number from records, how often have I heard this, then I was asked for my address, you can imagine what I said to that.

Will it never end, just felt I had to unload this nightmare.  Today I was assured my number would be cancelled.  But why do they always want my address!!
 

[Deleted User]

Because they want to send a letter, hoping the guilty party will respond. But that's not important. 

If they call again, you might want to go to the ICO and inform them of the fact.

Vegastare

I asked the name of company as I would report them - I was told she could not say as I was not L.C.  I told them I would look up online a I did.
Thanks zx81

Graham1982

This probably doesn't help but some years ago I lived in a Cambridgeshire town which had a very large (and I mean large) Eastern European migrant population in it. My name is pretty English sounding.

Anyway I moved into a flat on which I signed a shorthold tenancy agreement and started to notice in the post room and at my front door (the flat was in an obscure place in the building) that letters were mounting up for a Donatas [insert Lithuanian last name here]. I ignored the letters as they weren't mine and as the majority were mounding up in the post room I didn't really care. Anyway the letters started turning into "don't ignore this letter" "We can help" before finally one morning I was on school holiday (I am a teacher) and a court bailiff turned up. He was okay but he wanted my passport/ID to confirm that I wasn't Donatas. Even though it was clearly obvious I wasn't Lithuanian (although I guess I could've had Lithuanian parents).

At the time I couldn't find my passport and he came back on a different day. I know your circumstances are different but as this seems to be an on-going thing would you not be better off changing your number as this situation doesn't appear to be going away.

All the best

Graham

Vegastare

Graham

Thanks - changing phone number that's were the annoyance is centred - this number has been ex directory for 20 odd years, call preference etc.  The number has been blocked.  I will see if this has truly started up again.
In meantime have written time and number and name of company down

sourcrates

Debt collectors mis-trace clients all the time, if its not you they are after, just ignore them, no need to get harassed about it all, just don`t allow it to wind you up, log everything, then put in a written complaint, mention GDPR, and ask for £500 for the inconvenience, they`ll soon remove your number.

poppasmurf_bewdley

When you answer the phone and they ask if you are Ms LC, just say no, and cut the call off.  Don't talk to them. 

TripleH

Surely if they tell you they can't tell you who they work for because you're not L C then you either :

1. Ring the number who called  and get the details of the company when they answer (say you had a missed call) so you can report them.

2. Say, well since you acknowledge I'm not L C then remove my number as you admit you have the wrong person.

If you are polite in both cases, you log a complaint and record the time and date of the calls and person you spoke to (if name is given) when you make a complaint against them, it becomes harder for them to deny verifiable facts. Plus being polite shows you as the innocent victim harassed by the incompetent debt collector should you get them to release the call to the ICO.

Ignoring may deter them but won't stop someone else down the line chancing their arm but a fine would.

maisie_cat

I started getting calls and texts last year for somebody I didn't know, 2 different debt collectors.
In both cases I emailed the company and told them they had the wrong number and to stop calling it, and in both cases they did.
I'm sure that once they have been told they have the wrong person they cannot keep calling.

Vegastare

TripleH said:

Surely if they tell you they can't tell you who they work for because you're not L C then you either :

1. Ring the number who called  and get the details of the company when they answer (say you had a missed call) so you can report them.

2. Say, well since you acknowledge I'm not L C then remove my number as you admit you have the wrong person.

If you are polite in both cases, you log a complaint and record the time and date of the calls and person you spoke to (if name is given) when you make a complaint against them, it becomes harder for them to deny verifiable facts. Plus being polite shows you as the innocent victim harassed by the incompetent debt collector should you get them to release the call to the ICO.

Ignoring may deter them but won't stop someone else down the line chancing their arm but a fine would.

  Yes I do what is mentioned. They will not say who they are or what address they assume I am.  I have always traced the call  and recorded date and time etc- hence the past ICO.  They do appear to stop and I had assumed my number is removed.  But other collection agencies shovel up the debts and the my number is used again.  I also block the number.