Collection Agencies

[Prototype]

So, as someone who works in the financial industry, I know how damaging getting set to collections is.

Take you back 2 weeks ago, we get a call at the house, very unspecific, from a collection agency for us to call back. Sounded very automated. After a few phone calls that were not returned, I finally got a hold of someone at the agency. The name was nowhere near ours, although close to my wife's madien name, it wasn't us. They put a note on the account.

This past Friday, again, another message on our voicemail from a different agency. I got the message at about 3PM, which is way past closing time on a Friday in Toronto. Called them up today. They were looking for someone with my name, but the birthdays didn't match.

I have stressed out way to much over the last little while over these last two issues, due to my family and housing situation (nothing major, we just want a bigger house soon).

Not to mention, thoughts of Identity Theft danced in my head, cause I knew everything was up to date as far as our credit facilities go.

Not sure what I was looking for when I decided to start this thread, maybe just something to see if this had happened to anyone else. Is there anything I can do about getting these calls? Is it random that I've gotten two calls in the last two weeks? Any ideas?

[Dan02]

yes it's random, get a copy of your credit report to make sure they corrected their errors and move along.

Probably chasing a bad debt and calling everyone with the same name.

[Prototype]

Originally Posted by Dan02

yes it's random, get a copy of your credit report to make sure they corrected their errors and move along.

Probably chasing a bad debt and calling everyone with the same name.

I had my credit pulled both times (which I know hurts my credit, but not as bad as being sent to collections). Neither are reporting on my credit, as you said, they aren't looking for me specifically.

[ok, ok,....I get it]

Dude, I would do all my correspondance with these people by writing. You want to be able to produce a hard record of your dealings. This is important is it turns out not to be you.

BTW, you have a spelling mistake in you sig.

[Prototype]

Originally Posted by ok, ok,....I get it

BTW, you have a spelling mistake in you sig.

Ironic, don't you think? Thanks for the heads up.

[ok, ok,....I get it]

Originally Posted by Prototype

Ironic, don't you think? Thanks for the heads up.

lol.......true......

[Flash]

That's happened to me many times...there's someone else here in Calgary with my exact same name, only a different birthday. Aside from giving me a huge headache, it hasn't affected my credit (as far as I can tell). Most places just don't believe me when I try to explain things, which sucks because they think I'm just trying to shirk responsibility.

I don't know how to avoid getting the calls though...how are they finding you? Is your number listed? Then they could just be looking you up via 411.ca or something. I used to work in collections and would try to find old debtors that way, but if I ever found someone with the same name, I would call and ask if I had the right person first, not assume that I did like the two calls you've received.

Good luck with it...if you're concered about it affecting your credit, you could always alert Equifax and they can put a note on your file...they've done that for me in the past.