Weird caller on answering machine
Date: Wed, 04/07/2010 - 07:51
No one has called my mother in law-except a month ago she did get an odd call asking her to give her social security number for verification. That caller wouldn't tell my mother-in-law where she was calling from. Finally my MIL asked for a supervisor who said they were calling from Chase Visa. My MIL doesn't have a Chase Visa...just Citibank & Amex. The man wanted her to verify her social (she didn't do it for him either). He read the last for number on the social security to my MIL and she did verify they weren't hers. He questioned her birthdate and the date he gave was not my MIL's. He asked if she ever lived at a certain address...she said she never lived there, let alone heard of that address. So they ended the call-she figured they are looking for someone with her same name (its a fairly common name).
My questions are...if Chase Visa was to give the debt to a Collector, who do they use? If it got to the point where they were calling & threatening to sue, who would they use for that? I was reading online that if the original creditor is handing off the account to a collector, they have to send information in writing. So far no letters like that have been received.
Are the two calls connected? Is it just a collector trying to find someone & just calling everyone with the same name in the directory hoping to find the right person? My MIL checked her credit report & nothing weird was on it-no new accounts either.
If it does go to court, how does somoene prove this isn't their debt?
The other weird thing is that the caller never used my MIL's las
The other weird thing is that the caller never used my MIL's last name...she just kept saying "Miss Ann". Her answering machine says that "This is Ann & I can't come to the phone, leave a message"
I would tell them to take it to court. Don't delete the voicemai
I would tell them to take it to court. Don't delete the voicemails and IF they take it to court and it is not her debt then there is nothing to worry about. then you can give them the single finger salute. LOL
Your mother in law did the right thing by not giving out any per
Your mother in law did the right thing by not giving out any personal information over the phone. Do you know if she has ever been in default of any type of debt? The next time they call, tell her to tell them that until she receives a letter of collection in the mail, as required by the federal law (FDCPA) she will not speak to them again. I would report them to the FTC (link in my signature) and the BBB. Provide as many details as she possibly can (phone number) etc. After she tells them to send her a letter of collection tell her not to speak to them again, as soon as they call, hang up. Keep checking back for more replies.
Thanks for the answers! She has never been in default. She i
Thanks for the answers!
She has never been in default. She is very prompt in paying. Her car is paid off, her house is paid off & her cards are all current.
I figure if it was a totally legit claim, then they would have sent her communications in mail & called her left and right. She hasn't changed her address or phone in nearly 30 years! I know I've been behind on bills and I always got a call and they ALWAYS sent letters.