By Kenneth Long on October 26, 2010
.jpg.aspx?width=75&height=75) When skip tracers supply the wrong contact information to a collection agency, you can end up receiving calls for someone else's debt. Here is how to handle a collection call to the wrong number.
It starts innocently enough. You notice a collection agency name among the missed calls on your home phone or cell phone. You know you don't owe anyone any outstanding debt, so you assume its a wrong number. That's what I did.
In fact, the number was correct for the address, but incorrect for the debtor. When the calls increased, I began answering the phone to speak with the collector. The caller ID was for a company called IC Systems.
The caller apologized for the call when I explained that it was a wrong number. The next morning, I received another call from the same agency. Understandably, I was a bit upset, since I thought I had taken care of business already. It was at this point that I realized the frustration that so many people experienced, and at the same time I understood what they were doing wrong to resolve the situation.
How to Correct Wrong Numbers at Collection Agencies
After looking up IC Systems, I found that this was actually one of the more reputable collection agencies in operation. They had an A+ rating with the Better Business Bureau and have been in existence since 1938. That's not exactly the normal boiler room operation that many collection agencies utilize.
I called the number provided for the customer affairs department. The representative looked up my number, and oddly enough, she found 2 records at my address. The first was a name that I had not received calls for, yet I recognized the name as a former resident that lived in my home 10 years ago. She updated that record to ensure no future calls came.
She found the second record, and the name matched that of the debtor that the original 2 callers were looking for. She updated that record to show that the person had never lived there and that the name was mismatched. The debtor did have the same last name as me, which likely led to the mismatch in the first place.
Finally, she apologized for the trouble and let me know that while her action should take effect immediately, that it was still possible that a call could come in within the next 24 hours. I understood this fact, since major companies that employ multiple call centers normally update their records with satellite offices once daily.
To be clear, this is the ideal way to handle collection calls to the wrong number. I was fortunate, since the collection agency I was dealing with was a transparent, legally operating entity that followed the rules. They were easy to track down and accommodating to my request.
How to Handle Rogue Debt Collectors
Had the agency in question been one of the hundreds of rogue debt collectors that operate well outside of the law, I would have to employ different tactics. Such offenders are often hard to identify. These are the options for escalated resolution:
- File a complaint with the Federal Trade Commission. This is less likely to benefit me directly, but it can be an important step in shutting down the worst offenders.
- File a complaint with my state's Attorney General. Their investigators will mail an inquiry to the party and demand an explanation or resolution. Similar complaints from multiple parties can prompt a larger investigation and legal action against the offender.
- File a complaint with the Better Business Bureau. They will similarly investigate the complaint and will update the offender's record with the BBB to reflect the outcomes of investigations.
- Gather evidence of FDCPA violations and contact an attorney experienced in such matters. Call logs containing names, telephone numbers and dates and times can be helpful. If call recording is legal in your state, that can provide strong evidence of abuse.
Remember that calling the debt collector can go a long way to resolving a wrong number situation. Otherwise, you might be at the whim of collections agents that are hungry for a commission.
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