Making them pay for calls

Chances are, with the various phone plans today, they are not paying anything extra for the calls.

I give you the same advice I gave to a fellow parent last night. She was telling me how this bill collector keep calling her daughter's cell phone several times a day, even during the day when she is at school, causing her cell phone to be taken up one day because it was in her purse, and she accidentally forgot to turn it off. The girl probably got a recycled number.

This mom was sharing with me that she had answered her daughter's phone a couple of times, and tied to explain to these people that they had the wrong number, please take it off their list, etc. She said these people got really ugly with her, asking her why she just didn't give them the phone number of the person they were looking for.

My advice? The next time they called, demand that they provide their address information, and send a cease and desist letter, explaining that you are not the person they are trying to reach. DO NOT give them any personal information such as your SSN. Send this certified mail/return receipt. If you continue to get calls after you get the card back signed for the letter, report them to the FTC and your local state attorney general. Also, check your state laws...if they continue to harass you after you can prove receipt of the cease and desist letter, you may be able to sue them for damages.

I agree with Subigirl. You shouldn't have to put up with harrassment from a CA sho isn't even trying to reach you. They can be relentless and nasty. Also, if they break the law, they can be faced with some pretty high fines.

If you do as stated above, make sure that the calls are from the same company. Remember, when your speaking of numbers given by people who owe bills and debts, MORE THAN likely your number will be given to more than 1 company.