Getting collection calls about a stranger!!!!!!!

[stuckinlamad]

What is the name of your state? Virginia
I hope someone can help me with this. In the last few weeks people have been calling trying to reach a Victoria something. I have had about 10 people call here and one left a message on my answering machine that I needed to call them about my accounts but not saying a name. I didn't call the company back as I was worried about a scam. The few times I was home to answer I told them I don't know who this person is. I guess they don't believe me. I have only been back in the USA for 9 months. I did call my bank account and they verified that I had NEVER bounced a check. I also called up the company of my electric, water, and gas to make sure all my accounts were up to date and my payments had not gone to the wrong accounts. ANYWAY, sorry for rambling.

My question is what can I do to get them to stop calling me? I don't know who this person is and it is really annoying to get collection calls for a person I have no idea who they are. If they called my phone company they would see that I am very certain 99.99% that she didn't also give them my address. It is not impossible to look up info on address and phone number. I did not give the people that called any more information then my name. I don't think they can run a scam just with my name. But I don't want to have to put up with these calls for the next several months.

 

[VAsinglemom]

From the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act:
§ 804. Acquisition of location information [15 USC 1692b]

Any debt collector communicating with any person other than the consumer for the purpose of acquiring location information about the consumer shall --

(1) identify himself, state that he is confirming or correcting location information concerning the consumer, and, only if expressly requested, identify his employer;

(2) not state that such consumer owes any debt;

(3) not communicate with any such person more than once unless requested to do so by such person or unless the debt collector reasonably believes that the earlier response of such person is erroneous or incomplete and that such person now has correct or complete location information;

§ 806. Harassment or abuse [15 USC 1692d]

A debt collector may not engage in any conduct the natural consequence of which is to harass, oppress, or abuse any person in connection with the collection of a debt. Without limiting the general application of the foregoing, the following conduct is a violation of this section:

(1) The use or threat of use of violence or other criminal means to harm the physical person, reputation, or property of any person.

(2) The use of obscene or profane language or language the natural consequence of which is to abuse the hearer or reader.

(3) The publication of a list of consumers who allegedly refuse to pay debts, except to a consumer reporting agency or to persons meeting the requirements of section 603(f) or 604(3)1 of this Act.

(4) The advertisement for sale of any debt to coerce payment of the debt.

(5) Causing a telephone to ring or engaging any person in telephone conversation repeatedly or continuously with intent to annoy, abuse, or harass any person at the called number.

(6) Except as provided in section 804, the placement of telephone calls without meaningful disclosure of the caller's identity.


Next time these collectors call, politely let them know that you have NO information on the whereabouts of this person, are NO relation to this person, and request that they cease communication immediately or be reported in violation of Section(s) 804 and 806 of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. If you can get them to stay on the telephone for long enough after THAT, ask them for an address where you can submit this request to cease communication IN WRITING.