Collectors Ask FCC to let them call cell phones

Yeah sure, as soon as the per-minute charge for cell phone use is paid by the collector. :) I'm still peeved that cell phone numbers were released to telemarketers.

Collectors have already been calling my cell phone for at least a year or so.

The argument is really about auto-diallers, which collectors and telemarketers use. These auto-diallers could call up your cell phone several times per day.

so when Allied was using an auto-dialer to call my phone 7 times a few days ago, that was illegal? Interesting. And yes, they knew it was a cell phone number.

set4sail, no it's not legal, yet, and probably won't be in future.

I'd seriously think of suing them. I'd also urge anyone who has this sort of problem, complain to the FTC. I recently read the FTC Report of the fdcpa for 2006, released a few days ago. It says that complaints from the consumer is how they learn about transgressions by collectors. Enough complaints about a company, such as Sherman Aquisitions and NCO, and they are investigated and fined.

Complaints about collectors breaking the law are up again (over 14% over last year). This now makes complaints about collectors their top category.

Thanks mwtx. Do they have to have a true 3rd party collector relationship? Since Allied has some kind of quasi in-house relationship with Cap One.

They are a third party collector. Cap One has retained them to collect debts. The collector's name is on letters, etc.

For some reason Cap One is fond of this "cloak and dagger" scheme. Several years ago, they were using a team of criminals out of Houston called Risk Management Alternatives in the same manner. Of course, Allied will probably pretend not to be third party. They've lied and extorted more than organised crime ever thought of doing.

I had heard that about a few companies, that they hired criminals to do collections. lol kind of funny.

Thanks again for all the info. I think I need to call Cap One tomorrow...

I have a setting on my cell phone that I can block all unknown name unknown number and I will be enabling that feature. These collection agencies and telemarketers will not be using my minutes to threaten or try to sell me something. Last night after reading this post, I listed my hubby and my cell phone on the do not call list.

Good idea Tammy. Some resort place got my cellphone number somehow and have been calling me for a week. After I answered the first one and figured out who they were I just ignore it now but I think I'll add my cell # to the do not call list.

Be sure to also add it to the state do not call list also.

If they can call cell phones, I would deduct the cost of the call from the amount I owe. I'm not paying for it..

(tammy)

Many cell phones also have a "personal" and "business" setting for differnet rings. I put anyone who should have my number in the "personal" setting. I don't answer any calls with the "business" ring. If a message is left, I call up my voicemail from my home phone (this way it doesn't cost anything).

I have all the unknown name unknown numbers set on the default ring. I feel if they really want to talk to me, they will leave a message. I will not waste my minutes on a call from someone I don't know.

Why give them you cell in the 1st place?

I have learned. In the future the only number I am giving out is my home. I am not givig out any cell or work numbers. Especially work number. They don't have a right to have that as someone else is paying for your time not them.

I've given out the cell phone number because I can turn it off. If I don't recognize the number I don't answer. And I've noticed we receive almost no telemarketing calls at home, and I've only received one or two on my cell phone. The only real reason we have a home phone now is the unlimited any time long distance through the cable modem, and fax capability, for $25 a month. lol I know I would have spent more than that on faxing documents in the last month, at the rate I've been going. But that's what works best for us.

Lessismore,

That's one of the reasons we went to Vonage. Also, since all of our family is in other states, we make a lot of long distance phone calls lol.

After I fax a document, I print out the fax log and staple the papers together. In the last month I would have spent at least $30 on outgoing faxes, so it really helps. Somewhere we have an old e-fax number, plus I noticed that Earthlink now does incoming e-fax with their mail server. Haven't tried that yet.

Yeah, I've read about that. They have changed their practices though.
But I'm thinking about switching to the Earthlink version anyway. My dad has had really bad luck with his Vonage service, and they don't seem to care to help him.