Collection Agencies using facebook to find debtors...wow.

[mocha82]

I was in shock by this.  A collection agency sent a PM to me regarding a relative's debt asking that I have the person to give them a call regarding a pending case against them.  The guy pretended to be an investigator.  It should be illegal for them to use social networks and contact your friends/family regarding a person's personal business.  I couldn't believe that they did this....  CA's are stooping very low these days.... I couldn't believe it.  Anyone else have this happen to them ?

[Anonymous]

About a year ago.. a CA called me stating they knew who I worked for, what location I worked it, and how long I worked there (Thanks to my company requiring us to be listed under the company network on facebook). Sure enough, they tried to garnish my check. I was stupid to think that since I was private on facebook that no collector would find me up there.

[mocha82]

That's crazy....  I think it should be illegal. 

[golfingmama]

I thought collectors aren't allowed to contact "third party's", ex. A person's work or relative. I swear I read something along those lines on here...going to research it now Does anyone know what "skip tracing" is & how it works?

[Walt_K]

I thought they could contact 3d parties but only for the sole purpose of trying to locate the person.  Putting aside the 3d party issue, I don't see why it should be illegal for debt collectors to contact you on facebook.  You can still notify them to cease communication if you want.

[mocha82]

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@Walt_K wrote:

I thought they could contact 3d parties but only for the sole purpose of trying to locate the person.  Putting aside the 3d party issue, I don't see why it should be illegal for debt collectors to contact you on facebook.  You can still notify them to cease communication if you want.

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The debt isn't my debt.  They contacted me to get in contact with a distant relative about her debt.

[Walt_K]

Understood.  But I also understood (perhaps misunderstood) your reply to the other poster who did seem to be posting about his/her own debt to suggest that it should be illegal for CAs to use facebook to contact people.  That's why I said putting aside the 3d party issue, I don't think it should be illegal.  

But even for the 3d party issue, I don't think it's that big a deal.  I'd be annoyed if a collector was contacting me constantly especially if I said not to contact me again.  But one message wouldn't bother me.  My brother trashed his credit.  I've received a handful of phone calls asking if I know how to get in touch with him.  I just ask that they not contact me again.  I don't think I've ever been contacted by the same collector twice. 

[MBOhio2]

Ths doesn't shock me at all. And honestly, I think it's very savvy (albeit annoying) on the part of the CA. Let's face it, in today's society, FB is a major form of communication right along with phone, email, etc. I would be curious to know the #s of existing landlin phones vs. FB accounts in the US. I haven't had a landline phone in 8 years.

Regardless, as the owner of your FB account, it's your responsibility to take the precuations to protect your information so unwanted people can't contact you.