New trend - violent phone solicitors

[barstein]

For the second time this year, I have a message on my machine saying something equivalent to "[my last name], if you don't call me back, I'm going to have [garbled] come over and roust you. My number is [number from Minnesota]. CLICK".

A couple of months ago I got this same thing, and I went ahead and returned the call to chew whomever it was out, but got what sounded like a home answering machine. I asked them to not call back, and thought it worked, until I came home to this again today.

Is this some new elaborate trolling trick that's supposed to get my attention in some weird way, or have I been mistaken for someone else? If the former, I guess I've pretty much confirmed that the # is valid for them, but unlike replying to email spam, I fail to perceive whatever the heck that's supposed to achieve.

[MikeSofaer]

Oh, sorry, that was a wrong number.

[Glenn]

Where's the money, Lebowski?

WHERE'S THE FUCKING MONEY SHITHEAD?

[Robert Sharp]

You mean 'whoever' not 'whomever'.

Is that the kind of trolling you mean?

I haven't experienced what you are talking about at all.

[Jojo]

Have you changed phone number recently? Its probably some really crappy credit agency, who use various methods to get people to call them. I changed phone number 18 months ago and I'm still trying to chase off credit agencies from the previous owners of my phone number. I've had similar calls to the one you describe, only they were more of a veiled threat than an outright threat.

[barstein]

Yeah, I have to assume it's something like that. Now I'm all creeped out, living here alone (part of the time, but not counting the morons, I mean, the animals) and wondering if the next one will contain a reference to Dick Laurent or something. Albeit, it's a semi-intrigued creeped out. I thought about listing the name and phone number here so QT3 could have some fun with this, but the answering machine at the other end features a child's voice and I don't feel comfortable retaliating when kids might be involved.

Oh, and 'whoever'.

[bigdruid]

I have a fairly common name...common amongst thieves and ne'er-do-wells, at least.

I get a crapload of early morning calls from people demanding that I pay my credit card bill, or my gym membership fees, or what have you. They are invariably rude, and also invariably unapologetic when it becomes clear they have the wrong guy.

I leave the ringer off on my phone quite a bit these days. Sorry that I can't provide any advice for you better than that :(

[Druid]

I had some prisoner from a penetentiary in Missouri attempt to call me COLLECT couple years ago.

It went on over a one year period.

Guess he had nothing to do all day but bug me.

I disconnected the phone cord. Periodically I hooked it up. To my surprise it was still ringing! He-was actually calling my home phone number 24/7???

I would assume he was looking for someone else, because I never knew an Andrew McCrory Jr.
and, he never mentioned who(m) he was searching for.

I had to locate the penetentiary via online search to get a siece and desist order on the *&^%$#.

The phone calls stopped.

[barstein]

I have a sneaking suspicion this guy isn't in any penitentiary, unless he's able to play "smooth jazz" and whine at people in a nasal voice without getting reamed for it.

Edit: I like that two druids posted in a row that they felt compelled to disconnect their phones after being harassed. Oddly comforting.

[Robert Sharp]

I get a crapload of early morning calls from people demanding that I pay my credit card bill, or my gym membership fees, or what have you. They are invariably rude, and also invariably unapologetic when it becomes clear they have the wrong guy.


I get those sometimes, but not because my name is so common (though it sorta is). But they will be wrong numbers. The conversation goes like this:

"Hello is Max Schreck there?"
"No. I think you have the wrong number."
"Well this is the number he gave us."
"Hmm...are you sure you dialed 555-SHARP?"
"Yes. We're calling from High Percentage Bank. This IS the number he gave us."
"What do you want me to say?"
<click> bzzzzzzzztttttttt......

[Rimbo]

siece?

[extarbags]

555-SHARP

Perhaps part of the problem is that you keep posting your number on the internets :(.

[shift6]

If you get any late night calls involving heavy breathing Robert, it ISN'T ME. No matter what the caller ID says.

[triggercut]

siece?

Lead singer for the Boo Radleys. Apparently also able to be invoked to prevent unwanted calls from Missouri prisons.

[CounterMeasure]

Isn't the new ploy by phone solicitors to loophole through the Do Not Call thing is to call you and just leave a message to ask you to call back without any kind of sales pitch?

I get those occasionally, and I remember reading online that was the new trick.

When we moved to this house a couple of years ago, the new number we got was very close to a big furniture store here. We get a lot of calls from people complaining about the quality of their furniture they had delivered, or asking where their delivery is, etc. It becomes quite fun to mess with these people.

I had a guy call the other day bitching about his new coffee table had a big stain on it out of the box before I could get a word in to explain he had the wrong number. Finally, I just told him "do you think I fucking care?". He got all pissed off, and we went back and forth until he finally said "I am just going to come over to that store and whip your ass". I replid, "Bring it, make sure to ask for Steve up at the front."

I hope there was a Steve there...

[Skipper]

For the last two years I've had solicitors call for the deadbeat couple who apparently had my number prior to me, or at least used my number for their bills. Apparently they have not paid a single bill they had in their name during this time according to the frequency and amount of collectors that call.

What's not so funny is that telling these collectors over the phone "I am not that person, they do not live at this residence, do not call here this is my home phone number" only seems to encourage them to continue calling. At around the three month mark I tried getting the names of companies to call to straighten the matter out. Within a month they were calling again. Others picked up where they left off. It seems each new collections agengy that buys the bad debts ends up giving me a ring.

At the six month mark I changed my strategy. If I couldn't beat them, I could at least learn to enjoy the calls in some way. So I started playing little games, in no particular order:

1) "Wow he just pulled in the driveway, one sec I'll get him..." *leave phone off the hook for hours*
2) "He left for work a bit ago, want the work number?" *Give out the number to the businesses you don't particularly like.*
3) "You mean James Smith right? You know he had his name changed right before he moved to L.A. last month. Man, I can't remember that new phone number."
4) "Hey nobody lives here by that name but how are you doing this evening? How's work been?"
5) "You know he doesn't live here but he left a forwarding number ... *insert callback number of another bill collector*"

I'm with CounterMeasure here, I'd encourage you to have some fun with it if it does turn out to be a vendor scam. And if anyone has a solution to how to actually stop the bill collectors from calling the wrong person, I'm all ears.

[WarrenM]

This thread perfectly illustrates why I don't have a land line anymore.

[Rimbo]

I caught one of those solicitors trying to leave a message for me. He'd called during the day, but I had stayed home in the morning. I got to be all righteously indignant. That was nice.

The best solution to the collectors is to record the conversations, collect the best ones, and release a CD (http://www.tommabe.com/) with the hilarious results.

[Patrick]

Isn't the new ploy by phone solicitors to loophole through the Do Not Call thing is to call you and just leave a message to ask you to call back without any kind of sales pitch?

I get those occasionally, and I remember reading online that was the new trick.

When we moved to this house a couple of years ago, the new number we got was very close to a big furniture store here. We get a lot of calls from people complaining about the quality of their furniture they had delivered, or asking where their delivery is, etc. It becomes quite fun to mess with these people.

I had a guy call the other day bitching about his new coffee table had a big stain on it out of the box before I could get a word in to explain he had the wrong number. Finally, I just told him "do you think I fucking care?". He got all pissed off, and we went back and forth until he finally said "I am just going to come over to that store and whip your ass". I replid, "Bring it, make sure to ask for Steve up at the front."

I hope there was a Steve there...

Many years ago. Iwas still in school and sharing a house with acouple other guys our home # was the same as the service dept for the local Toyota dealership except the last 2 numbers were switched (mine58 thiers 85) We'd get calls for them all the time.

Me: Hello
Them: Is this Toyota?
Me: Yes.
Them: Can I have the service dept.
Me: Please hold.

Then I'd pass them off to one of my roommates. we would schedule all kinds of things for people. Services, Engine changes, and all kinds of extra warranty work. We also told them to ask for Steve.

[Flowers]

I think you should start a new trend, drafting bill collectors into phone sex.

I've got your money right here, ooo, what if I told you I was gonna keep it! Would I be bad? What do you do to bad boys like me, stranger? Oh, I'm scared, raaar! Hahaha, you sound so cute. I want to give you all my money. But I want you to tell me how you are gonna come and get it. Shut up, stop, YOU'RE BAD. I can't believe I'm doing this. What are you wearing? Well how much does this, "Joe Petersen," character owe you? Oooh! I'll be your Joe Peter-sen. Tell you what, remember that shirt you were wearing? I want you to take it off. Joe Petersen's money says take off your shirt. George Washington is telling you to be a bad boy like me and take off your shirt. Shh, oh my god I can't believe we're doing this. Can your coworkers see you? Put me on speakerphone, let them listen to you get paid, sugarstockings. MMM. Now what are you gonna do to me if I don't pay? How about you come over and smash my jar of collectible pickles? Smash it, you fucker, smash my pickles and sell all my things!

[ElGuapo]

I used to do collections for Victoria's Secret credit cards.

Some people buy way too much underwear. And you should have heard some of the excuses I heard.

On the plus side, our office had 12'x8' photos of models in their underwear on the walls.

[Bill Dungsroman]

This thread perfectly illustrates why I don't have a land line anymore.
Cell phones are not immune to this phenomenon.

[Lunch of Kong]

I get text messages in spanish on my cell phone. Probably coyote spam.

[Skipper]

I think you should start a new trend, drafting bill collectors into phone sex.

I've got your money right here, ooo, what if I told you I was gonna keep it! Would I be bad? What do you do to bad boys like me, stranger? Oh, I'm scared, raaar! Hahaha, you sound so cute. I want to give you all my money. But I want you to tell me how you are gonna come and get it. Shut up, stop, YOU'RE BAD. I can't believe I'm doing this. What are you wearing? Well how much does this, "Joe Petersen," character owe you? Oooh! I'll be your Joe Peter-sen. Tell you what, remember that shirt you were wearing? I want you to take it off. Joe Petersen's money says take off your shirt. George Washington is telling you to be a bad boy like me and take off your shirt. Shh, oh my god I can't believe we're doing this. Can your coworkers see you? Put me on speakerphone, let them listen to you get paid, sugarstockings. MMM. Now what are you gonna do to me if I don't pay? How about you come over and smash my jar of collectible pickles? Smash it, you fucker, smash my pickles and sell all my things!

No joke, I just spit coke on my keyboard while laughing. Damn you Flowers ... these keyboards are getting expensive.

This is an idea I MUST try.

[CounterMeasure]

We also told them to ask for Steve.

Man, that Steve guy is an asshole!

[evanostrand]

well they don't really have to stop calling you until you put it in writing. especially since they have no way of knowing that it's not the debtor cept for some man/woman on the other line just telling them its not the debtor in question. but...if you really wanted to stop it, ask them for their address next time they call, and write them a letter. get it return receipt or w/e so you know what time & day they got it.

like this:

Your Name
Your Address

Collector's Name
Collector's Address

Mr./Ms. Collector,
I am writing in response to your constant phone calls!
According to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, [15 USC 1692c] Section 805(c): CEASING COMMUNICATION: You must cease all communication with me after being notified in writing that I no longer wish to communicate with you. Therefore, I demand that you stop calling me at home, at work, on my cell phone or at any other location!

I am not the person you are calling for, and if you did some amount of proper research, you would be able to figure this out. Please stop harassing me. Be advised that I am well well aware of my rights! For instance, I know that any future contact by you or your company violates the FDCPA and that since you already have my location information, calls made by you or your company to any 3rd party concerning me violates section 805(b)2 of the FDCPA.

Be advised that I am keeping accurate records of all correspondence from you and your company, including tape recording all phone calls. If you continue calling me I will pursue all available legal actions to stop you from harassing me and my family.

Signature
Your Printed Name



Since you're not them, you don't really have to do anything, fwiw. cept put up with phone calls til they catch up to the debtors. found that letter here (http://www.fair-debt-collection.com/disputing-debt-collections.html).

i had to send this letter out to a few people to get some collectors to stop calling me after my roommate left...what a nightmare. she had put me down as a reference apparently and gave them my work number, so...they were calling my work. also calling my home at all hours of the day and night. for months on end. convincing them that i was also a fellow creditor of hers was difficult until they magically stopped all contact upon receiving this letter. haven't heard from them since.

so, even though its a huge pain in the ass, it works.

[Patrick]

Man, that Steve guy is an asshole!

Yes... Yes he was. I'm betting he was a lying prick too.

[dannimal]

well they don't really have to stop calling you until you put it in writing. especially since they have no way of knowing that it's not the debtor cept for some man/woman on the other line just telling them its not the debtor in question. but...if you really wanted to stop it, ask them for their address next time they call, and write them a letter. get it return receipt or w/e so you know what time & day they got it.

like this:

Your Name
Your Address

Collector's Name
Collector's Address

Mr./Ms. Collector,
I am writing in response to your constant phone calls!
According to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, [15 USC 1692c] Section 805(c): CEASING COMMUNICATION: You must cease all communication with me after being notified in writing that I no longer wish to communicate with you. Therefore, I demand that you stop calling me at home, at work, on my cell phone or at any other location!

I am not the person you are calling for, and if you did some amount of proper research, you would be able to figure this out. Please stop harassing me. Be advised that I am well well aware of my rights! For instance, I know that any future contact by you or your company violates the FDCPA and that since you already have my location information, calls made by you or your company to any 3rd party concerning me violates section 805(b)2 of the FDCPA.

Be advised that I am keeping accurate records of all correspondence from you and your company, including tape recording all phone calls. If you continue calling me I will pursue all available legal actions to stop you from harassing me and my family.

Signature
Your Printed Name



Since you're not them, you don't really have to do anything, fwiw. cept put up with phone calls til they catch up to the debtors. found that letter here (http://www.fair-debt-collection.com/disputing-debt-collections.html).

i had to send this letter out to a few people to get some collectors to stop calling me after my roommate left...what a nightmare. she had put me down as a reference apparently and gave them my work number, so...they were calling my work. also calling my home at all hours of the day and night. for months on end. convincing them that i was also a fellow creditor of hers was difficult until they magically stopped all contact upon receiving this letter. haven't heard from them since.

so, even though its a huge pain in the ass, it works.

Because a phone call can't verify who you are, but a letter is proof beyond all question!

(I'm not saying you're wrong, just making light of how stupid the distinction is)

[Jakub]

It shouldn't be up to you to prove you're not the debtor.

It's up to the collection agency to prove you are.

If you tell them to stop, they'd better check their facts before they continue. If they do, legal action - unless you are the debtor for real, in which case you're screwed.

[DrDel]

can you call the POLEECE about such harassing matters?

[Aeon221]

I had some prisoner from a penetentiary in Missouri attempt to call me COLLECT couple years ago.

It went on over a one year period.

Guess he had nothing to do all day but bug me.

I disconnected the phone cord. Periodically I hooked it up. To my surprise it was still ringing! He-was actually calling my home phone number 24/7???

I would assume he was looking for someone else, because I never knew an Andrew McCrory Jr.
and, he never mentioned who(m) he was searching for.

I had to locate the penetentiary via online search to get a siece and desist order on the *&^%$#.

The phone calls stopped.

My girlfriend's mom had this happen too a while back. It was really weird, but she just ignored it and eventually it stopped. After. A. Few. Weeks.

Crazy Indian determination to do nothing to improve quality of life ftw!

[Qenan]

We monitor our calls and don't answer if we don't recognize them.

[Brendan]

Just ask : "Do you do anal?" and enjoy the responses.

[Lunch of Kong]

This thread reminds me of the message some nappy ho left on my answering machine (audio is NSFW):

http://www.rogerw.com/secret(shh)/weird_phone_message.mp3

My buddy says he's damn lucky he's not me, because if this had been left on his machine, it would be all the incentive his wife would have needed to start divorce proceedings.

[CounterMeasure]

My buddy says he's damn lucky he's not me, because if this had been left on his machine, it would be all the incentive his wife would have needed to start divorce proceedings.

Your buddy sucks. :)