Debt Collection Call but no unpaid bills to my knowledge?

[AriaDragonfly]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Florida
So I got a call from a debt collection agency on my voice mail, they didn't tell me what it was for or how much. I am a shy person when it comes to talking to people I don't know on the phone, I much prefer the internet. I pay all my bills on time, my rent is paid, and I have gotten no letters about any other bills. I had some medical problems last year around may, and had many bills then but I thought I had paid them all, although my roommate was not the best at giving me mail (apparently my school had open checks to me from that time, which was nice to hear that I was getting money) but now I'm getting phone calls and I'm too scared to call these people back. I don't know if this is a scam or legitimate, or what to do. I suppose I want to be armed with some knowledge too maybe steel myself and call these people. (Or chicken out and get my boyfriend to do it >.>) Any help would be mot appreciated.

[JETX]

Originally Posted by AriaDragonfly

I'm too scared to call these people back.

Too 'scared' to use the phone??
Give us a break!!!

Call them and find what they want.

[AriaDragonfly]

Wow no need to be so rude. I was just coming for help. I am very scared of calling people I do not know, I don't believe that is so odd or something to mock.

[Blue Meanie]

Originally Posted by AriaDragonfly

Wow no need to be so rude. I was just coming for help. I am very scared of calling people I do not know, I don't believe that is so odd or something to mock.

Actually iit is rather "odd".

[AriaDragonfly]

So what you're saying is you have no irrational fears? You do realize that most everyone has at least one thing they fear, heights, water, spiders, snails. Whatever I came here asking if I was in the position to be being scammed, if this is the way this board operates then I will take my question to somewhere more professional. Have a good day.

[JETX]

Okay, so let's see if we understand you....

You got a call from someone claiming you owe them money.
You are 'afraid' to call them... not because of the money issue, but you think that they might be a 'boogie man'??

And yet, you come onto a legal advice forum asking us for 'help'???

What the hell are you talking about. If you want to find out what they want... or even what they hell they are claiming... RETURN THEIR CALL!!!
How do you expect anyone to 'help' you.... when you are too 'afraid' to help yourself??

If you want to 'learn' what a consumers rights are re: bill collectors, there are LOTS of sites on the internet that will 'help' you. Start with:
[url=http://www.creditinfocenter.com]Free Credit Reports Credit Repair Counseling Increase Your Credit Score Debt Consolidation[/url]

[LSCAP]

I understand the OP’s fear. The OP is going against an unknown person who has vast knowledge and experience with dealing with this sort of situation.
The OP has NONE .

I would have suggested that the OP call, and only say one thing. “I don’t know who you are, so send me a letter explaining this alleged debt. Otherwise you are simply some unknown person seeking money from me.”

At this point, for all the OP knows, it could be another Scam!

[Zigner]

Originally Posted by LSCAP

I understand the OP’s fear. The OP is going against an unknown person who has vast knowledge and experience with dealing with this sort of situation.
The OP has NONE .

If things get hairy, HANG UP.

[StephenH]

I would politely ask them for the name and address of the original creditor or send them a validation letter. If it is a bill you forgot about that is yours, just pay the money to the collector. If you cannot pay in full, ask for a payment plan.

If this was not your debt, I would obtain a copy of your credit report and make sure you were not a victim of identity theft. Assuming there is no identity theft, you may want to tell them that you are not the person they are looking for and to mark this number as incorrect.

If this does happen to be a victim of identity theft, notify the credit bureaus (Experian, Equifax, Trans Union) to put a fraud alert on your file. Then, file a police report showing this. Then, you need to contact the collection agency and ask for their fraud investigations department and file a report there as well.

[cosine]

Originally Posted by Zigner

If things get hairy, HANG UP.

Harassing debt collectors can do things that are effective at tricking people into admitting a debt. I'm sure you and I would never fall for those tricks, but the average person might.