CA's contacted me on facebook!
Date: Thu, 03/19/2009 - 21:44
Well tonight I was on my facebook and had a message from some man saying I owed 1080 to his company and I should stop ignoring their calls. I have had 5 private numbers call me this week and didn't awnser plus they didn't leave a message. What should I do? Message back on facebook or ignore them. I just worry they are going to contact my friends and family via facebook and I will have embarrassment. I thought this was over in my life!
WOW...I would definately be copying that out and forwarding it t
WOW...I would definately be copying that out and forwarding it to the CA, a lawyer, FTC and your state AG's office.
Don't forget the AG in their state as well. Also, report them t
Don't forget the AG in their state as well. Also, report them to the admin's at Facebook. They can block that ID but in 5 minutes he'll have another. Rinse and repeat.
How could they contact you on facebook if you did not invite the
How could they contact you on facebook if you did not invite them. I though you had to invite people before they could contact you.
I'd also be saying something to Facebook.. no telling how many p
I'd also be saying something to Facebook.. no telling how many people he's done this too.
I am sure he did a search on my first and last name. Anyone can
I am sure he did a search on my first and last name. Anyone can message you but he can't see my profile without me adding him. I just died when I saw that. Could this just be a junk debt collector trying to collect on that remaining balance?
More than likely. I'd still contact Facebook though. I'm sure tr
More than likely. I'd still contact Facebook though. I'm sure trying to collect money from someone is against their TOS.
If he did that to you.. no telling how many others he tried that with that he may have information on.
There must b a way of blocking him. You should send him back a c
There must b a way of blocking him. You should send him back a cease and desist letter. It is still legally binding even over the internet. Do you know the company he is from?
Yup, frogpatch there is (a way to block him) just don't remembe
Yup, frogpatch there is (a way to block him) just don't remember how, don't use facebook that much. I'd have to go in and play around so i could tell guest which won't be until tonight when I get home since work has blocked all networking sites such as facebook,myspace, twitter etc.
I emailed Facebook and told them the situation. The only proble
I emailed Facebook and told them the situation. The only problem is, the guy never said his agency. And he had 0 'friends' on facebook... no picture
Here is what he sent me:
"Dear -deleted for your security frogpatch
This is Ray Harmlow and I have been trying to reach you this week on an outstanding debt that you. The total balance is $1,080.61 with interest. Could you please respectfully awnser our calls when we call you next.
Regards,
Ray"
I know its not like a mean message, but Facebook is not for debt collectors to contact you or look you up. And the fact that he gives ZERO info alarms me. Why didn't he just email me?
on facebook, are the messages people sent to you viewable by oth
on facebook, are the messages people sent to you viewable by others? Like on myspace, when you have a guestbook, for example? If anyone else can see the message he sent you it would also be third party disclosure without permission, and thats an FDCPA issue.
That is correct but I think they are only viewable to invitees.
That is correct but I think they are only viewable to invitees.
Wow...This is a first. I'm sorry to chime in so late into the c
Wow...This is a first. I'm sorry to chime in so late into the conversation but I am just speachless that they went so far.
Keep us updated and let us know how this turns out.
I'm curious to see if the OP got any response back from FaceBook
I'm curious to see if the OP got any response back from FaceBook's admin. I'm a little speechless a CA would resort to communicating with someone by that method.
Whatever happened to the old standby of calling all the neighbors and asking them to pass along a message? Technology has mad the CA business so impersonal and cold. I miss the good old days. (sarcasm)
well if I had a choice, and one option was a private message vie
well if I had a choice, and one option was a private message viewable only by me, and the other option was for them to call my mom/dad/neighbor/sister/uncle etc, I'd take the private message any time!
and he DOES owe the money ...
I also am curious as to what Facebook will say!
i cannot offer advice that hasn't already been said but wow! th
i cannot offer advice that hasn't already been said but wow! they have fallen to a brand new low!
Again, I would copy it out and forward it to the agency he works
Again, I would copy it out and forward it to the agency he works for. For most agencies, this is a violation of policy.
Why not just tell him that he's got the wrong guy/gal? Is there
Why not just tell him that he's got the wrong guy/gal? Is there some way, or something, posted to your Facebook page/account that identifies you as the person that owes the debt (allegedly)? If it's simply based upon name, it easily could be a case of mistaken identity.
I was attempting to be sarcastic in my post. I think anyone
I was attempting to be sarcastic in my post.
I think anyone that has read anything I've posted knows how I feel about CA's calling friends/relatives/neighbors/paperboys/1st grade teachers. I believe strongly that debtors, no matter how much they owe, should expect a reasonable amount of privacy from CA's while attempting to collect on debts. I truly think a message on Facebook is ESPECIALLY not the correct way to contact a debtor. If I were the OP, I would be checking with an attorney to see if this was possibly a violation of the FDCPA, along with taking it up with Facebook, the FTC, and the proper state's Attorney General's office.
Oh, as well as notifying the CA in writing that this is not the proper way to contact me and what legal action I will take if they do it again.
That's just my thoughts on the subject. Sorry if my sarcasm was misunderstood.
If they posted the message on your "wall", which is viewable to
If they posted the message on your "wall", which is viewable to others, then yes it violates the FDCPA as well as the financial privacy/safeguards rule of the Gramm Leach Bliley Act.
As far as sending a private message which only you can see, what law are they breaking? Don't get me wrong, I'm not defending them and I think it's unprofessional. I just think we're too quick here to get the FTC/AG/FBI/CIA/NCIS and attorneys involved, and what are they really going to do?
Uhm, hold them accountable for violating the FDCPA? Well, I t
Uhm, hold them accountable for violating the FDCPA?
Well, I think we've all heard stories of hackers breaking into websites and stealing information, haven't we? What if this CA had posted the OP's personal information like SSN, Address, DOB and some hacker got hold of this? I know the OP didn't say this information was posted; however, some idiot collector could have just as easily have done so.
It's hard enough keeping information like that from being stolen when sent through the mail, a debtor shouldn't have to worry about it being stolen off the internet because some CA tried to be clever.
That's why I suggested contacting an attorney and inquiring on the legality of it. If anything, I'm sure, as someone pointed out, this has to be against Facebook's TOS somehow.
I think it's important that we do be quick to get the proper authorities involved as CA's have gotten away with their violations of the laws for far too long. Sure, if it was an honest mistake, I could see it might be jumping the gun; however, I'm sure this collector had to really work to find this person on Facebook.
It was no "honest mistake" to post that letter on a Facebook account. Facebook is not meant to be a vehicle for CA's and collection activities.
OK, now I have really heard everything here. What's next, doing
OK, now I have really heard everything here. What's next, doing the same thing on MySpace?
Obviously, it's extremely unprofessional; goes without saying. And let's not forget a violation of their TOS--but it really depends on how much information is given and where it's posted. What did this guy think our friend was going to do--friend him? I mean, really!!!
That is just...incredible. Will they stop at nothing? Apparent
That is just...incredible. Will they stop at nothing? Apparently not...this is like those jerks who kept coming to my door (they don't now..guess they got tired of me calling the cops on them each time).
Besides reporting it to facebook, you should respond with something like this:
Dear Mr. Harmlow
I believe you may have the wrong person for I have received no calls, nor any messages left from you this past week. Further, I do not owe anyone the sum of $1080.61. I must say that contacting anyone for a debt in this means is very unprofessional, you should try sending a letter in the mail like any normal, rational business person would.
Regards,
You