We have no debt
Junior Member
What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? California
For about a year now, a company called Collections Bureau of America has repeatedly called my cell number, which is the number I've had for years for my small business (though is also used as an emergency number), demanding payment on a debt that is not mine nor my fiance's. (In fact, as my user ID says, we have no debt at all, don't even have credit lines, and you bet we're damn proud of this.) I don't know the person they are asking for either. I have spoken with these people and let them know this, and have been told repeatedly that they'll remove my number, which sometimes, only sometimes works for about two or three weeks. Then the calls start again. The calls are usually daily, though the most they've called in one day is six times. Usually the calls are no more than three in a day, and sometimes none for a few days. No matter how many times I speak with them and let them know that the person they are seeking is not available at this number and is not known to either of us, the calls resume.
What set me off today was I got a call and called back (it's an automated recording saying to call back to speak with someone), and the collector admitted that they have notes that this is the wrong number, but that "the company who holds the debt" keeps sending in the debt to them with my number on it, so they can keep calling.
Yes, he admitted that their system contains notes about speaking with me and that I've told them this is the wrong number.
So they are knowingly calling the wrong number.
I can't see how this can be legal, to knowingly call the wrong number, and to claim a right to do so.
It is actually disruptive to me to constantly check who's calling (as I said, it's my business number, so not even checking could lead to missing a client, and it's hard enough in the bridal industry these days without losing business for being "unreachable", and two close family members have been sick one dying this last weekend), to tell friends and family to hold on a moment while I rush to check who's calling, to quickly pull over when driving, only to see that it is them, yet again, and they know they are calling the wrong number. And the time it takes to call back during their business hours and sit there on hold, doing this about every week, does cost me time and it costs me money. Turning the phone off is simply not an option. I have a phone for a reason, and don't intend on using the voice mail as an answering service.
I need to know what I can do. I want them to stop harassing me!
For about a year now, a company called Collections Bureau of America has repeatedly called my cell number, which is the number I've had for years for my small business (though is also used as an emergency number), demanding payment on a debt that is not mine nor my fiance's. (In fact, as my user ID says, we have no debt at all, don't even have credit lines, and you bet we're damn proud of this.) I don't know the person they are asking for either. I have spoken with these people and let them know this, and have been told repeatedly that they'll remove my number, which sometimes, only sometimes works for about two or three weeks. Then the calls start again. The calls are usually daily, though the most they've called in one day is six times. Usually the calls are no more than three in a day, and sometimes none for a few days. No matter how many times I speak with them and let them know that the person they are seeking is not available at this number and is not known to either of us, the calls resume.
What set me off today was I got a call and called back (it's an automated recording saying to call back to speak with someone), and the collector admitted that they have notes that this is the wrong number, but that "the company who holds the debt" keeps sending in the debt to them with my number on it, so they can keep calling.
Yes, he admitted that their system contains notes about speaking with me and that I've told them this is the wrong number.
So they are knowingly calling the wrong number.
I can't see how this can be legal, to knowingly call the wrong number, and to claim a right to do so.
It is actually disruptive to me to constantly check who's calling (as I said, it's my business number, so not even checking could lead to missing a client, and it's hard enough in the bridal industry these days without losing business for being "unreachable", and two close family members have been sick one dying this last weekend), to tell friends and family to hold on a moment while I rush to check who's calling, to quickly pull over when driving, only to see that it is them, yet again, and they know they are calling the wrong number. And the time it takes to call back during their business hours and sit there on hold, doing this about every week, does cost me time and it costs me money. Turning the phone off is simply not an option. I have a phone for a reason, and don't intend on using the voice mail as an answering service.
I need to know what I can do. I want them to stop harassing me!