CA MESSAGES

They aren't suppose to call your work place once you tell them not to, have you explained that you are not suppose to receive calls at work? I'm curious, which CA is this if you don't mind me asking? :)

They can only leave one message per day...some states may vary.

I would definitely recommend calling them back, verbally telling them to stop calling you at work, and following up with a limited Cease and Desist letter advising the same. You could also request validation of this alleged debt in the same letter. Even better if you have a way of recording the call, when you tell them to stop calling you at work. Be sure to check if your state is a one-party/two-party state when it comes to recording calls.

Be sure to send the letter Certified Mail/Return Receipt Requested.

Once they receive this letter, they cannot call you at work, and they cannot continue any collection activity until they have validated the debt.

I know some people don't like returning a CA's phone calls because they just don't want to get caught up in the typical cliche' collections calls (threats of arrest, abusive language, ect.); however, ignoring a CA just makes them try that much harder. That's usually when they start calling your friends, family, neighbors, second grade teacher, family dog, etc. The trick is, whenever you do communicate with a CA by phone, is to remain in control of the conversation. If they start baiting you with their foolishness, then just start the "broken record" routine; keep repeating to them you don't want them contacting your job or any other third party.

Don't deviate from the point you are trying to get across to them.

If you head them off at the pass, you take away a lot of their harassment powers by advising them to only contact you by mail, and not call your job or any other third party.

hang on--what kind of messages are they leaving?

It is against the law for them to disclose anything about the matter to any third party, so if they are leaving a message that is simply "please have him call me at 800-xxx-xxxx about a business matter", thats one thing. But if they are identifying themselves as a debt collector or mentioning anything about the reason for their call, then thats illegal. This could mean the difference between you getting harassed and them having to eat the cost of violations....

It's PDM leaving the messages at my work, they have not even attempted to contact me on my cell or at my home they just call my office all the time apparently the man that called yesterday had a little fit on the phone because I was in surgery and wasn't available to take his call for the third time.

Good point, Guest. I had not even thought about the types of messages they are leaving.

I would still recommend advising the CA to stop calling you at work, though. By phone and also by letter.