I apologize if this is in the wrong forum

[vip00]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? Ohio

Hello, first post here, please let me know if I am in the wrong forum - this seemed to match my question most closely.

I have recently started getting calls from a set of 857 area code numbers (Chelsea, MA). They call me 2 to 3 times a day and if I answer, the person tells me that they have a "file" about me and that they need to verify my information before they can tell me what it's about. So they ask me to verify my name, address, and SSN. If I ask who they are, they tell me they're from "MCS" and if I ask what the "file" is about, they tell me that they can't say anything about it if I don't identify myself.

How can I stop this? I've had their number blocked several times, but they just call back with a new one the next day. I have no idea what this is about, I have perfect credit and have never missed a payment on anything in my life. Who else but a collections agency would be so persistent? The numbers they use are unlisted in the yellow pages, so it doesn't seem to be a legitimate company in any way.

Can I sue this company for harassment? Or at least get some sort of legal protection from the day and night phone calls? Please help! Thank you

 

[Mass_Shyster]

It sounds like some scammer. Do not give any information to some random caller.

 

[TigerD]

How can I stop this? I've had their number blocked several times, but they just call back with a new one the next day. I have no idea what this is about, I have perfect credit and have never missed a payment on anything in my life.

Apparently that is either incorrect or you have had your identity stolen. Taking the call might save you a lot of time, trouble and expense later on.

Can I sue this company for harassment? Or at least get some sort of legal protection from the day and night phone calls? Please help! Thank you

1. They are not harassing you.
2. You don't know who they are so you don't know who to sue.
3. They already have your SSN, which is why they are asking you to verify it.
4. Ask to verify only the last four digits of your SSN. Most places will accept that.
5. You probably have an account with them. It could be an some little thing that slipped through the cracks or it could be that someone has stolen your identity and bought a sports car - you won't know until your credit is ruined or you talk to them.

When I was a collector, I dealt with people like you all the time. Ninety percent of the time, it was a bill they forgot and played games with me about. See that is the disconnect. You think you are being smart. The collector thinks you are deadbeat who is playing games. When you pay the bill, you are probably going to want it removed from your credit report and that isn't going to happen. When I dealt with people that evaded our calls and played games, I put their numbers in for heavy rotation on the auto dialer and made note that they were not eligible for settlements.

You should call them back and politely provide verification, then figure out what the call was for. At that point you can handle it. Right now, you know nothing.

DC

 

[vip00]

I understand that this could be some sort of misunderstanding. However, I absolutely refuse to give out ANY part of my SSN without knowing that whoever I am talking to is a legitimate business with a reason to have it. I think this is completely reasonable. If I called you tomorrow and asked you your name, address, and SSN, would you give it to me?

As far as doing the "last 4", they could be calling my bank tomorrow with the same "last 4". There has to be a better way than randomly handing all your personal information over the phone without any sort of proof. If they are a legitimate collections agency, couldn't they at least tell me what company the "file" they have on me is from?

I checked my credit earlier this morning. I have no negative marks on my credit report whatsoever - so this seems highly unlikely!

 

[vip00]

Again, I am looking for advice on what are my legal options to get rid of someone who is making unwanted calls to me several times a day - please help!

 

[Zigner]

Again, I am looking for advice on what are my legal options to get rid of someone who is making unwanted calls to me several times a day - please help!

You can change your number...

 

[>Charlotte<]

So, ask them for the first three. They won't know that unless they know which state you lived in when your number was issued. If they get that one right, ask them for just the very last number. They'd have a one in ten chance of guessing that one right. Guessing both correctly? Not a chance.