How to make it stop??

I have a family member who is going through really hard times and is having problems paying bills. A family member that I do not live with, talk with, or see on a regular basis.

About few months ago I started to get collection calls on my cell phone from a loan collection agency. It started out about a call a week and turned into a couple times a week. Within the past month A couple of other collection agencies have started calling my cell phone. It's now gotten to at least a daily call from some agency.

I've asked everybody politely to remove my CELL phone number from their system as I have nothing to do with these debts, or associate with the person who does. I've tried being nice, and I've tried the mean routes. I even told one of them that if the calls persist they'll be hearing from my lawyer. The lady said "that's fine sir, go ahead and have your lawyer call us." and hung up. They all tell me they won't stop calling me until debts are settled.

If my iPhone had the ability to forward specific calls, that would be perfect I would just forward them to the correct person. But it will only forward ALL calls.

The phone company says they have the ability to block specified calls, for a monthly fee. I don't really want to pay per month.

I've tried to just ignore these calls and not answer, but it is pissing me off and needs to STOP!!

Changing my phone number is not an option, unfortunately.

There is an app available for my phone that's called iBlacklist that will block specified numbers & txt msg's and it's $12 one time fee...cheaper than paying monthly..I may end up doing this as a last resort.

You guys got any ideas?

 

Change your number. They won't stop calling. I've had one calling for a girl who had my number before I got it two years ago. They still call. Now, I just give them the numbers of people I don't like. It seems to be working. I only get one call per week now.

 

thats a good idea haha

 

Oh, and they use a bunch of different numbers to call from so I wonder how well a call blacker would work anyway. ???

 

Each agency shows up with 2-3 numbers..I don't have a problem adding a new number to a list..they have to run out of lines eventually right?

 

After work bump...

Anybody else have any ideas on how to make this stop? Is it even possible? Isn't harassment illegal?

 

You can put your number on the "Do Not Call" list, and if they do call, you can sue.

 

The do not call list is only for telemarketing, not for collections. And even telemarketers call, its still a process to get them to stop as you have to file complaints with a few agencies. As for "illegal harrassment", there's no such thing. I have a friend who was about 40k in the whole with different companies and hes told me stories where the companies have even cursed at him and he tried filing complaints with no success. At this point it seems like changing your number would be the best bet but if that really isnt an option, use the iPhone app, though it may be a pain to continue adding numbers.

EDIT: HOly shit I just got a brilliant idea. By law, no company can call you at work unless you authorize it. So....somehow you gotta get the agencies to believe that the number is now your work number.

 

I stand corrected. Good post!

 

If I were the one that owed the money, i wouldn't be complaining..but I have absolutely NOTHING to do with these debts!

I am an insurance agent and do use my cell phone for work..think this would fly? how do you know it's against the law?

 

Once in a blue moon I get calls from collection agents that are looking for someone that I don't know that has the same last name as me. It's always some number that you don't recognize or its blocked and when you answer they say something like "hi, can I speak to Don please" and then I say, can I ask who is calling, and they say "Sam" (or whatever) and then I say "Sorry you must have the wrong number. Then they get confused and ask, "isn't there a Don there" and I just say sorry you have the wrong number. This leaves them wondering why I asked who was calling if in fact there wasn't anyone there with the name Don. Every time they call back I do the same thing. Just messing with them

Hmmmm .. I really need to find a different hobby

 

i had a similar thing happen to me with a friend of mine, he owed money and they were calling me. he put me down as a "reference" when he got a apartment and for jobs. apparently reference means another way to get ahold of the person that owes money... very annoying!!!!!!!!

 

I had a message on my answering machine one day that said they were looking for John Smith (can't remember the name they used). They said this message is for John Smith and if you are not John Smith, then please hang up. By continuing to listen, I was admitting I was John Smith, blah, blah, blah.

They left the message on MY machine, so I listened to it All it was, was a collection company trying to get ahold of him. I thought it was funny the way they started the message.

Good luck on getting the calls to stop. I like the idea of giving numbers of people you don't like

 

BINGO!

I am a debt collector and this happens often. When I dial a phone number and the person who answers tells me it is the wrong number I run it through a system we have and it will me who the number is registered to. If the phone number you have is registered for the family member that is supposed to be getting the calls the debt collector will think you are lying and continue to call until they think the correct person will answer.

The only way to prevent this is to tell them it is a work number and you are not allowed to get personal calls on the line. If they are a "good" debt collector and oblige by the laws they legally have to take that number off of their list.

 

If you called a guy that said your calling a cell phone that is for work, the business pays for it would it be the same deal? the cell phone is actually in my name and I pay for it..but I'm willing to lie to a debt collector calling me for a debt that i don't owe...lol

 

I dunno but I would think it would work. Just say your company pays for the phone and you agreed not to answer personal calls from this line as it needs to be open for customers.

 

well i just installed the free trial of iBlacklist for iPhone and tried it out. It's pretty cool. Add a number to the blacklist and when they call, it gives them a disconnected busy-like tone. It doesn't automatically pop up on the phone that they called like normal either, but the program keeps a log if they. I think i'll just go this route unless they start calling with 20 billion different phone numbers...only thing that sucks is the free trial only lets you block 2 numbers..

 

You might also try talking to your family member & let them know what's going on. If they have a conscience(sp?), maybe they'll get them to stop?

 

i have told that person to try and make it stop, and they have called and asked to remove my number (i made them call in front of me).. agency told them they will continue to call all numbers on file until its paid. i dont even know how they got my number in the first place

 

I was in almost the exact same situation. My sister used my info as a reference on a car loan then on a pay day loan, then defaulted on both. I work grave shift and these calls were waking me up all day long and pissed me off. I told them I didn't have any contact with her and to take me off the list, which of course they wouldn't. I told her to tell them to take me off the list and of course she wouldn't.
So, I looked up each companies Corporate contact information online and sent them an email, simply stating that I didn't have any contact with this person, I didn't authorize her to use my info and I wanted the calls to stop. I got replies from both with an apology and have never received another call from either of them.
Worked for me, worth a try .