14 February 2009

Debt Collection. The rights of a 3rd party?

| JC
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Every six months I get a call on my mobile from what I believe to be a debt collection agency looking for a phone number for a second cousin of mine. He used to live in my parents house, and oddly shares the same first, but thankfully different last name.

I believe they have my number because my mobile was once listed in the white pages at my parents address and my parents have a silent phone number, so I guess it is the only number that comes up on an historical reverse white pages look-up.

Every time they call I tell them I will not give them his phone number (indeed I now don’t even know it) and to never call me again. But six months later, like clockwork I get another call. What really pisses me off is I can never get the name of the company, it is “trans” something, I think maybe Transcom and when I ask them to repeat it and spell it for me they refuse to answer me. Normally the people on the phone are Indian sounding.

So three questions. Anyone know what company Snap-On tools uses for their debt collection, as I believe my cousin owes money to this mob? Normally when they call it is a silent number, but once it was from a number I believe to be on the Gold Coast.

Secondly as a 3rd party to all this what right do I have in the ACT to be left alone and never be contacted again? Thirdly who do I complain to about this to have it stopped? Bearing in mind I don’t know the proper name of the collection agency.

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Whatsup said :

Ask for the callers name, company name address and phone number. If they will not give it to you hang up. If they do provide it ask to speak to a manager / supervisor, tell them that you do not have details for the person they seek and request that they do not contact you again. Follow it up with a letter advising that you will be taking further action if the harassment continues.

The further action threat can be enough to encourage them to back off sometimes.

That is what I have been trying to do but they will not repeat the company name, never give their own name nor will the fool on the end of line put me through to his supervisor. It really seems to be a nasty company this one. I guess come august I will be awaiting the next call to see if I can get the company name and try some of these other tricks on the buggers.

Ask for the callers name, company name address and phone number. If they will not give it to you hang up. If they do provide it ask to speak to a manager / supervisor, tell them that you do not have details for the person they seek and request that they do not contact you again. Follow it up with a letter advising that you will be taking further action if the harassment continues.

The further action threat can be enough to encourage them to back off sometimes.

Tell them your relative has decided to pay the debt and is putting 10c a fortnight in your bank account to pass on to them. Give them a street address to write to, and ask them to write to you so you can make formal arrangements. they won’t write – but if they do, come back to the forum for advice on next steps!

give them chopper read’s phone no…

or the terrorist hotline’s…

as a kid, our home no. was two reversed digits from a popular club in another suburb and we got myriad calls for this club, often asking us to get some patron or other – we used the ‘nag on, i’ll page them’ line and left the phone for a while…

The Brad said :

If you can’t beat ’em, have some fun with them.
JB’s suggestion of Moshi moshi is good, or just go even sillier. Ask them if they

– have a voucher, or would like coke with that.
– Say “And then” every time they speak (spot the movie that refers to).
– Give them the number….of Pizza Hut…..no, Domino’s.
– tell them you already gave at the office
– ask them to hang on a second and you’ll get the number, then walk away. Come back every minute to see if they are still there. If so, tell them you’re still looking. Repeat.

The time before last I did have some fun with them because they called when I was in the UK for a holiday and it was 2am. Every second word I used started with the letter F and had 4 letters, as well as the occasional 4 letter C word, the guy was not ammused and was starting to get angry.

Actually indeed that is what I dislike so much about this is the people are really rude and pushy. This last time they called I told them to never call again (as I usually do) and the response from him was give us his number and addresses and we will stop, but if you don’t then we will keep calling.

All this for about $1000.

PS The little turd does owe me about $100 so might use the line someone else suggested of saying when you find him let me know too.

One call? Every six months?

geez, that must really throw your life into turmoil. Such an imposition….

It is not the imposition that is the issue but the fact it has been going on for about 4 years and every time I politly tell them I do not have his number and to never call again. Also the issue has nothing at all to do with me (and I am pretty sure they are aware of that) so why keep flogging a dead horse by calling me?

VYBerlinaV8_the_one_they_all_copy9:01 pm 14 Feb 09

Tell them he’s had gender reassignment surgery, and has recently been involved in a court case where he successfully sued a doctor because his lesbian life partner and he now have two kids to look after instead of one…

Tell them he is dead….

I thought after 12 months of no payment being made to the debt collectors that they can’t pursue it anymore and it needs to go to court.

I’d say ask them politely to never call again, and if they do then they are conducting business in a harassing way.
There is quite a bit of law on debt collection – brush up on that and you will def find something interesting.

Why not throw the Privacy Act at them.

Next time they call say the clearly hold incaccurate information about you (ie you are not who they think you are), and if they don’t f#ck the hell off then you will ask the Privacy Commissioner to make them f#ck off.

Say to them “he owes me money too – when you find that B@stard let me know”

They will probably give up.

If you tell them you do know him and where he is, but won’t tell them, then of course they’ll keep trying

….and no and then

And theeeeeennnnnnnn.

And then and then and then and then and then. 🙂

Ruby Wednesday11:10 am 14 Feb 09

The Brad: Dude, Where’s My Car?

*loves that movie*

if they refuse to tell you the name, say, “Allo, allo. Sorry, my mother doesn’t allow me talk to strangers” and hang up the phone. Or take up The Brad’s suggestions. Sounds fun & will definitely cheer up your day if you can’t get anything out of it.

If you can’t beat ’em, have some fun with them.
JB’s suggestion of Moshi moshi is good, or just go even sillier. Ask them if they

– have a voucher, or would like coke with that.
– Say “And then” every time they speak (spot the movie that refers to).
– Give them the number….of Pizza Hut…..no, Domino’s.
– tell them you already gave at the office
– ask them to hang on a second and you’ll get the number, then walk away. Come back every minute to see if they are still there. If so, tell them you’re still looking. Repeat.

I once saw off Yakuza debt collectors in Tokyo by:

a) Not being the small japanese woman they were looking for

b) Calmly saying “I’m sorry I don’t speak japanese”

c) Closing the door in their face.

In this case you could take to answering all number unknown incoming calls with a cheery “Moshi Moshi” and if it’s the debt collectors rattle on in japanese sounding gibberish before hanging up.

Either that or speak to your telco about the harassing calls?

captainwhorebags9:20 am 14 Feb 09

Without knowing the name of the company and being a third party, I don’t think you really have any recourse apart from dealing with this as a nuisance call.

You could report the nuisance call, but I doubt that the AFP will be putting a trace on your phone if they’re only calling once every six months.

I’d recommend something along the lines of saying “oh yeah, I’ve got the number written down somewhere, let me go get it”, putting the phone down (but don’t hang up) and then go outside for a walk. Bonus if you’ve got a Kenny G CD you can use as “on hold” music.

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