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I have an unlisted number; I just changed it, and I got a call from one of my credit card companies reminding me of a payment.

I am freaking out because now I am wondering if these PDL companies can somehow find out my new number if the CC company did without me telling them... Embarassed

Posted: Sat Apr 14, 2007 7:04 am Subject:

Even though numbers are suppose to be unlisted, unpublished, there are those sites that you pay a fee and all the information you want can be found, including SS#'s, addresses, phone numbers, employers, etc. Sometimes they are up to date and sometimes they aren't. Even though your number may be unlisted, doesn't mean it is a nonpublished number. I found that out the hard way....I had to request and "unlisted/non published" number, but it still seems people find my number. Not only do we have caller ID's but a lot of companies have it too.

Posted: Sat Apr 14, 2007 7:06 am Subject:

Okay, so non-published is different that unlisted?

Posted: Sat Apr 14, 2007 7:07 am Subject:

Oh, wait, you are saying that people can pay for my personal information???????

WTF! Sad

Posted: Sat Apr 14, 2007 7:10 am Subject:

Not really. Non-published/unlisted just means it won't be put in the phone book.

Suppose you fill out one of those sweepstakes forms (to win a new car, etc.) at your local fast-food place, and on it you put your phone number. Those places get your form, input the info you give them, and make it part of a big database. Companies like your credit card, can pay to search these databases, and that's how they get your new phone #.

Posted: Sat Apr 14, 2007 7:11 am Subject:

Yep...I been getting calls on my freaking cell phone from a collector the last couple of days...how they got that I will never know....but yea if they have your social they can pay to get anything they want on you....Welcome to the wonderful world of computer technology..

Posted: Sat Apr 14, 2007 7:13 am Subject:

Sara,finding a unlisted number is not hard when you consider that you would list it when applying for credit,utility sevice,rental agreements,etc.You would have to give it out to no one except very close friends and family to keep it private and hope they don't list it anywhere. All this personal info is reported to credit bureaus by creditors and there are services credit bureaus sell to collectors and creditors to locate a person.

Posted: Sat Apr 14, 2007 7:14 am Subject:

Other companies you do business with also report information to these databases. Like your electric company... maybe you gave them your new #, and maybe they reported it to LexisNexus. Once LexisNexus has it, anyone with a permissible purpose can search for it.

Guest · Posted: Sat Apr 14, 2007 1:07 pm Subject:

That's what I did -- I gave it to the electric company. Damn it.

Posted: Sat Apr 14, 2007 1:12 pm Subject:

So it seems that these companies can get the consumer numbers in any way. I will be surprised if they pay the telephone company to get the numbers.

Posted: Sat Apr 14, 2007 2:47 pm Subject:

No information is secret anymore with computer data banks, seems nothing is private, really sucks.

Posted: Sat Apr 14, 2007 6:04 pm Subject:

Leah, threaten them with violations of the fdcpa for calling your cell phone, you are having to pay for their calls.

fedupinpa, I agree. But often the information isn't accurate, and sometime hacked (as what happened to the large information company in Atlanta, thousands of people's personal information was stolen).

Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2007 5:49 am Subject:

I hate knowing that nothing about me is private.
It makes me wish I could just move to the middle of nowhere to get some peace!

Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2007 7:32 pm Subject:

Is it legal for the pdl's to call my cell phone? I asked Cashnet not to call my cell phone anymore and they said they could not and would not remove that number and would continue calling it because that is their right and I gave them the number. I don't like collectors calling my cell phone. I know, stupid me shouldn't have given it to them.

Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2007 7:34 pm Subject:

I thought that they couldnt call you if it costs you money or someting like that but that may only apply to third party collectors

Posted: Sun Apr 15, 2007 7:41 pm Subject:

Yes, as far as the fdcpa, a third party collector calling your cell phone would be a violation I would think. Because you'd be paying for the call.

Sassnlucy, sounds like they are literally harassing you, you told them they are not welcome to call your cell. The FDCPA may not apply to original creditors, but the sheriff's department does.

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