January 20, 2012

Collection Calls … Assholes, You’ve Got the Wrong Guy!

Filed under: Uncategorized — Jim @ 7:59 pm

Over the past few weeks, I have received numerous recorded telephone calls from XYZ, Inc. (a financial institution to be named if this crap continues) directing me to call a telephone number to “manage my account.” Never having heard of XYZ, Inc. and, as such, not having an account with XYZ, Inc. I didn’t answer the phone when I saw that it was XYZ calling, hoping that the annoying phone calls would cease. As you probably have already guessed, the phone calls did not stop, but rather increased in frequency. Finally, I decided to call the number to put an end to the annoying calls.

I called the number that was stated in the recorded message, and – guess what – I got a recording, directing me to enter my “account number.” Not having an account and, therefore, no account number, I did not enter anything. The automated voice then said, “No problem, we can use your Social Security Number. Please enter your Social Security Number.” Oh, sure. I don’t know who or what XYZ, Inc. is and I have no account with XYZ, and you want my Social Security Number? Fat farookin’ chance.

When the calls continued, I went to the web page indicated in the recorded message, hoping to sort this out there. Once again, I was asked for my account number. Duh. I then tried the “Contact us” option with the idea of sending them an email. No dice. I was provided with a snail mail address.

I decided to call the number again, this time doing whatever was necessary to speak with a human being. It wasn’t easy, but I finally reached a human being. The call began with the person asking me for – wait for it – my account number.

I explained that I have no account number, because I have no account, and, indeed, I had never heard of XYZ, Inc. I advised the representative of the repeated, annoying calls to my home and my desire that they cease immediately.

She advised me that they are trying to reach a person with my first and last name, but with a different middle initial. I said, “That is not my middle initial; you have the wrong person.” She wanted to “verify my Social Security Number.” I advised her that there is no way I was giving her my Social Security Number. I agreed to give her my date of birth, which was enough to convince her that XYZ, Inc. was looking for a different person. She apologized “for the inconvenience,” (Don’t you love that?) and advised me that my telephone number would be removed from the system.

Guess what.

I received three more automated phone calls today.

I just finished writing these assholes a nastygram on legal stationary reminding them of my telephone conversation wherein XYZ, Inc. conceded that I am not the person they are looking for. I also reminded them of their obligations under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and demanded that all telephone calls cease immediately.

If the calls continue, it’s going to get ugly.

Assholes!

9 Comments »

  1. Well, you’re the lawyer and would know for sure, but isn’t the complainant under that act entitled to some of the money collected in fines? If yer gonna dance with these people, might as well do it for fun AND profit.

    Comment by Charlie — January 20, 2012 @ 8:15 pm

  2. Phew! thats a close shave

    Comment by keeskennis — January 20, 2012 @ 8:36 pm

  3. I hate calls like this. Used to get them often in the early days of my cell phone ownership – apparently the prior owner of my number skipped town on a lot of financial obligations. Honestly this doesn’t sound legit to me; it sounds like a persistent phishing operation. I hope you send them scurrying back under the rocks from whence they came.

    Comment by nightfly — January 20, 2012 @ 10:18 pm

  4. My spidey-sense tells me this is not annoying incompetence, but deliberate trolling to collect SS numbers for the purpose of further criminal activity. In addition to throwing scary lawyer-talk at them on paper, you just might want to alert the authorities.

    Comment by Ken Adams — January 21, 2012 @ 12:28 am

  5. The past few weeks? Try 3 years.

    The collection agencies have been after one “Peter Bruno” for 3 years and have somehow convinced themselves they can reach him at my office number.To say it’s irritating understates it.

    Comment by Cripes Suzette — January 21, 2012 @ 12:39 am

  6. When I get those calls, I google the number they want me to call – amazing the number of people who complain about the same number. They are all fake!

    Comment by Guest — January 21, 2012 @ 8:33 am

  7. It’s a phishing scam. Let me guess, you told the rep your name and then she claimed they were looking for someone with a different middle initial – because that is what normal people do, they call up a company, announce who they are and try to clear up the mess. Therein lies the basis of their scam to get your SSN. Have you verified your Do Not Call registration? You can check on the website to make sure your number is correct.

    Comment by Harper — January 21, 2012 @ 11:12 am

  8. Might want to contact the state Attorney General’s office, they might be real interested in a SSN phishing scam

    Comment by Michael in CT — January 21, 2012 @ 7:31 pm

  9. the title made me laugh out loud, it’s straight from the heart, lol

    I would go public with this info and THEN remove it if they stop calling you or contact you. I would also recommend reporting it to http://whycall.me

    reputable companies have people scanning the net for mentions of their company name so if they come across your article they may actually reach out and do something about their barrage of calls

    Comment by ludwig — January 21, 2012 @ 7:55 pm

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