If it is a wrong call..

When a collector calls your house asking for someone who doesn't live there and never has don't say "No they aren't here" and hang up. That gives the impression that this is a correct# and gives a collection agency grounds for believing this number belongs to the debtor and that you are a liar when they call next and you say it is a wrong#.

Also, never take a message for someone you don't know because you think it's going to get the calls to stop. It isn't. Again it's grounds to make the collector think that the debtor lives there and you are either the debtor or covering for them or a liar.

The correct steps to get a number removed is to first of all let them know your name isn't John Jane Mary and you have never heard off John Jane Mary.

If it is a new number tell them it is. For new numbers you might want to go reverse look up your number on all telephone databases on the internet to make sure it is reporting to you and not someone else.

If you've told a collector before that it is a wrong number make sure it is even the same agency calling. Write names numbers and agencies down.

If the same agency keeps calling explain to the person on the phone that you are going to file a complaint and then hang up. Be sure to get names and times. Then follow through with your threat.

It could be a long process especialy if John Jane Mary has recently defaulted on a lot of credit.

The only other alternative is to get a new number and make sure that you don't get the recording when people dial your old number on how to get the new number.