cancel
Showing results for 
Search instead for 
Did you mean: 

CA call for debt that's not mine.

tag
Anonymous
Not applicable

CA call for debt that's not mine.

I got a message today on my cell phone from a collection agency; haven't  received anything in the mail.  I'm 99% sure the debt is not mine.  My CR is clean and I'm pretty certain all my old collections were paid off, and, if not, they should be at least 10+ years old (so past the reporting period).  I have a pretty common name, so I think I'm getting a call for someone elses debt.  Should I just ignore these calls and block the number or is there something else I should do?  

Message 1 of 10
9 REPLIES 9
rootpooty
Valued Contributor

Re: CA call for debt that's not mine.

if they keep calling i would google the number and find what CA it is. I would then send them a cease and desist letter

NFCU plat 5k | NAVCHECK 5k | NFCU cashrewards 15k | BOFA 123 6k |
Chase Freedom 1.5k | Amazon 3K | Walmart 3K | Buckle 300 | AMEX BCE 2.5K | CHASE CSP 12K | CITI sears 6k | Kay 2k

On the prowl for Chase Sapphire Preferred! APPROVED 12K!
scores 7/14 647 622 630 (85%util)
scores 8/14 767 760 758 Boom! finally in the 700 club
Message 2 of 10
Croselx
Contributor

Re: CA call for debt that's not mine.

Doesnt appear on any report (keep an eye on them just in case), not your name/info/debt = safe to ignore. I often get calls from collection agencies, usually asking for previous cell/tel owner. I just tell them that this is a new line and they don't call anymore, sometimes I need to tell them several times as they are rather stubborn. A line/number may be 2-3 years old and still get calls from a collection agency from previous number if the person didn't bother to update their info (or perhaps didn't want to update).

As of Feb: AAoA 1 year, 10 months
CK TU: 740; Wal-Mart TU FICO: 721
CS EX: 715
8 CCs, 15 total accounts.
Negs on report: 1 30 day late aged 3 years
5 inquiries
Message 3 of 10
RobertEG
Legendary Contributor

Re: CA call for debt that's not mine.

Your situation is exactly the purpose behind the DV process.... requiring a debt collector to cease collection on an asserted debt until they have at least determined and verified back to the consumer that a reasonable investigation on their part confirms that the contacted consumer is in fact the party who owes the debt.

 

Sending a DV is more comprehensive than sending a simple cease communication letter, as in addition to barring communications with you, it also bars any form of collection on their part, including credit reporting, until such time as they have obtained and provided verification of the debt.

 

Message 4 of 10
Anonymous
Not applicable

Not sure what happened here

Ignore this

Message 5 of 10
Anonymous
Not applicable

My Plan...I think

So I think I'm going to call them and see what this is all about.  I'm wondering what info I should or shouldn't provide.  Since I haven't seen anything in the mail or my CR, I'm wondering if I provide them info, if they'll use it to attribute it as my debt and put it on my CR.  As I said above, I'm pretty certain it's not my debt, so I'm not worried there but I would like to avoid the hassle of trying to get something cleared off my CR if I could have just not called and avoided it originally.  If I ask them who the creditor is, will they tell me?  If it's not one i know, will they take my word that it's not mine?  Right now I think I'm only going to provide my name and number since I know they know both of these.  If they are uncooperative, I change my tact to ignoring them. 

Message 6 of 10
RobertEG
Legendary Contributor

Re: CA call for debt that's not mine.

I would call them, but not for the purpose of helping them identify you or an asserted debt.... just the opposite.

They called you.  I would, if the identify themselves as calling regarding a debt, simply ask for as much info as they have about an asserted debt of yours, offer nothing, and end the call.

 

That will also clearly establish an initial communication with the consumer, triggering their 5 day period to send dunning notice, which must identify the alleged creditor and amount of the debt.

 

I would not simply  ignore any situation where a creditor might be asserting an unpaid debt. 

Message 7 of 10
Shogun
Moderator Emeritus

Re: CA call for debt that's not mine.

+1  I've notice people getting too jumpy with the cease and desist letters.  These are last resort measures, not something you swing at with the first pitch.  Use the DV method, not only does it stop the calls, it puts the collection in limbo until verified.  If it does turn out to be a validated debt, you've shot yourself in the foot and send them a big card saying "SUE ME".  Send the DV first, investigate what it is.

Starting Score: 504
July 2013 score:
EQ FICO 819, TU08 778, EX "806 lender pull 07/26/2013
Goal Score: All Scores 760+, Newest goal 800+
Take the myFICO Fitness Challenge

Current scores after adding $81K in CLs and 2 new cars since July 2013
EQ:809 TU 777 EX 790 Now it's just garden time!

June 2017 update: All scores over 820, just pure gardening now.
Message 8 of 10
chasmith
Valued Contributor

Re: CA call for debt that's not mine.

I've had a few calls regarding persons not me, usually I say "there's no such person here and never has been, I've had this number 2 years..."  That ends the conversation, or they ask are the last four of your social 1234, I say no, and it's ended.  Sometimes it's easiest to call back or answer a call.  I do keep a log of the number on caller ID, company info, etc.

BK7 Filed 8/11/2009 Discharged 11/23/2009. Purchased new home 4/11/2012
Starting Score:11/16/2009 EQ 566 11/16/2009 TU 538
Interim Score: 12/27/2012 EQ 683 09/17/2012 EX (lender) 670 1/01/2013 TU 701
Current Score: 11/06/2013 EQ 708 11/06/2013 EX 702 11/16/2013 702 11/06/2013 TU 729
Goal Score: EQ 740 EX 740 TU 740
Take the FICO Fitness Challenge
Message 9 of 10
RobertEG
Legendary Contributor

Re: CA call for debt that's not mine.

+1

The FDCPA makes clear distinction between two types of calls from a debt collector.

 

The first type of call is one that is directed at the party who is asserted to actually owe the debt.  Such calls identify an alleged debt.  They may speak with your spouse, who is treated under the FDCPA the same as the consumer alleged to owe the debt.  Any initial call of this type triggers the debt collector's requirement to send dunning notice within 5 days thereafter.

 

The second type of call is to a third party who is not the one alleged to owe the debt.  Such calls are strictly limited to attempting to obtain location information about a consumer, and may not disclose that they assert the party owes any debt.  They are generally limited to one call, and cannot be barred by a cease communication letter from the debtor, but do fall under a cease collection bar if the consumer has sent a timely DV.

 

If they call and identify an alleged debt, and dont allege you to be that party, that is a violation of the FDCPA.

Message 10 of 10
Advertiser Disclosure: The offers that appear on this site are from third party advertisers from whom FICO receives compensation.