Anyone have any experience with unwanted calls from a collection agency?
I've had two calls so far looking for Mike somebody, with the strong insinuation that I was in fact Mike or knew Mike. I said I wasn't, they tried asking other questions about me but I refused to answer (no need to give out personal info).
First time I googled the phone # and found it was from NCO Financial Systems, a collection agency. So I simply blocked their phone #.
They called a second time tonight, this time using some kind of system to call me (when I answered hello a lady answered "hold while I connect your call", then the guy came on asking for Mike). Same thing, asking if I was or knew Mike. I said no, then I asked "May I ask who's calling" and they said no and hung up.
This seems like the kind of thing that could go on and on, anyone have any experience with these kinds of things? NCO Financial Systems seems pretty big and they have a consumer help website, though I'm skeptical of calling in, maybe they just have the "consumer help" section to gather more info.
I really don't want to have to start recording phone calls or something.
__________________ Uncertainty is an uncomfortable position.
But certainty is an absurd one.
I screw with these guys when they call. If they asked for a "Mike" l would say one moment. Then l pretend to knock on Mike's door and walk in while he is jerking off. I then join him. All while the caller is on the line. After 3 weeks of calling into a gay encounter, the calls stopped. No need to change your #, have fun with them! Sometimes l will turn on some porn from the net and leave the phone active right beside the speaker.
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Next time they call tell them if you are not off their list and you receive another phone call from the company you will be contacting the CRTC for harassing you.
When I first moved to Victoria and changed my number I kept getting the same phone calls and one day I said this to them and never phoned back again. So either it worked or they found their guy.
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Originally Posted by henriksedin33
Not at all, as I've said, I would rather start with LA over any of the other WC playoff teams. Bunch of underachievers who look good on paper but don't even deserve to be in the playoffs.
I screw with these guys when they call. If they asked for a "Mike" l would say one moment. Then l pretend to knock on Mike's door and walk in while he is jerking off. I then join him. All while the caller is on the line. After 3 weeks of calling into a gay encounter, the calls stopped. No need to change your #, have fun with them! Sometimes l will turn on some porn from the net and leave the phone active right beside the speaker.
That's funny, I used to do the same thing with solicitors if I was in the mood. I would pretend I was interested then start to act like an inbred idiot. Get them to repeat things many times. Ask the same questions over and over. I'd tell them I couldn't understand them because they talked to fast etc. They'd get so frustrated, they'd just hang up. Surprising how long you could drag some of them on for.
ALBERTA REGULATION 194/99
Fair Trading Act COLLECTION AND DEBT REPAYMENT PRACTICES REGULATION
...
Prohibited Practices
Prohibited practices for collection agencies
12(1) No collection agency or collector may
...
(d) if a collector, collect or attempt to collect a debt without providing
(i) the collector’s name as shown on the collector’s licence in all contacts and correspondence, and
(ii) the name of the collection agency as shown on the collection agency licence in all contacts and correspondence with the debtor;
...
(g) make any personal call or telephone call for the purpose of collecting or attempting to collect a debt on any day except between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. in Alberta;
...
(i) contact or attempt to contact the debtor, any member of the debtor’s household, any relative of the debtor, the debtor’s employer or any neighbour, friend or acquaintance of the debtor by any means in such a manner as to constitute harassment, including without being limited to
(i) the use of threatening, profane, intimidating or coercive language,
(ii) the use of undue, excessive or unreasonable pressure, or
(iii) the use of telephone or e‑mail to call or send messages excessively;
...
(k) continue to collect or attempt to collect money from, or continue to communicate with, (i) the person, where the person has informed the collection agency or the collector that the person is not the debtor, unless the collection agency or collector first takes all reasonable precautions to ensure that the person is in fact the debtor, or
...
(p) communicate information about the debt or the existence of the debt with any person except the debtor, a guarantor of the debt, the debtor’s representative or the creditor of the debt unless the debtor has expressly consented to the communication;
...
(v) exceed 3 unsolicited contacts on behalf of the same creditor with a debtor in any period of 7 consecutive days, not including contacts with a third party to locate a debtor, mistaken contact with a third party, or contacts by traditional mail;
...
Offences
Offences
24 A contravention of section 3(2), (3) or (4), 3.1(1) or (2), 4, 9, 10(1) or (3), 11(1), 12(1) or (3), 12.1(1), (3) or (4), 13, 16(1), 17, 18, 19(1), 20, 21(1), 21.1, 21.2(1), 22, 23(1) or (2), 23.1 or 23.2(2)(b) is, for the purposes of section 162 of the Act, an offence
Quote:
FAIR TRADING ACT Chapter F‑2
Non-compliance with regulations
162(1) A person who contravenes a section in the regulations the contravention of which is designated by the regulations to be an offence is guilty of an offence. (2) The Minister may make regulations designating provisions in the regulations the contravention of which is an offence.
1998 cF‑1.05 s162
...
Penalty
164(1) Any person who is convicted of an offence under this Act or the regulations is liable to a fine of not more than
(a) $100 000, or
(b) 3 times the amount obtained by the defendant as a result of the offence,
whichever is greater, or to imprisonment for not more than 2 years, or both. (2) Each day that an offence continues constitutes a separate offence, but the total term of imprisonment that may be imposed on a person in respect of a continuing offence may not exceed 2 years.
So basically, if they call back, tell them they are now in violation of Subsections 12(1)(k) and (p) (possibly also (v) if they call more than 3 times in a 7 day period) of the COLLECTION AND DEBT REPAYMENT PRACTICES REGULATION as you have previously advised them that you are not the debtor and do not know the debtor. Tell them that each violation exposes them to a fine of up to $100,000 and revocation of their licence pursuant tot he FAIR TRADING ACT and that you are officially notifying them that you are not the debtor they are looking for. Advise them that if they call you again with respect to this debt or debtor you will be reporting the matter to Service Alberta for handling and you are keeping track of the dates and times of their calls.
(I included d,g,and i in the subsections quoted just in case there is anything applicable in there as well)
Failing that... try
"These are not the debtors you are looking for"
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onetwo and threefour... Together no more. The end of an era. Let's rebuild...
Last edited by onetwo_threefour; 12-21-2009 at 08:59 PM.
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You may want to confirm their business name as well so that if you do make a complaint that it actually gets the right guys. Keep a notebook by the phone and mark down when these pricks call.
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"OOOOOOHHHHHHH those Russians" - Boney M
That's use #35 for my new baby: give her a little poke and let her scream into the phone for their listening enjoyment. Nothing like a screaming baby to get rid of unwanted phonecalls/visitors!
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I found the Fair Trade Act stuff, however if the guy refused to identify himself on the phone he's already not playing by the rules, but I'll try that request thing as well.
They haven't called many times yet but I'll try the regulations thing if they try again.
__________________ Uncertainty is an uncomfortable position.
But certainty is an absurd one.
Probably Bell making up a bill to charge you for. Lemme guess, already sent to collections, so Bell has no idea why they charged you, and the collection agency doesn't know why they have the file.
Have fun.
I found the Fair Trade Act stuff, however if the guy refused to identify himself on the phone he's already not playing by the rules, but I'll try that request thing as well.
They haven't called many times yet but I'll try the regulations thing if they try again.
I didn't read your post carefully enough, if they refuse to identify themselves then they are absolutely already in violation of Subsection 12(1)(d) and you don't need to wait for them to call back. Call Service Alberta right away, give them the times dates and phone numbers that called, advising them that you have the numbers from caller ID and tell them that the caller refused to identify himself and called back again after being told you aren't the debtor and still refused to identify themselves. Mention 12(1)(d),(k), and (p) of the regulation and tell them you want them to investigate these phone calls since they are violating the regulation.
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onetwo and threefour... Together no more. The end of an era. Let's rebuild...
I didn't read your post carefully enough, if they refuse to identify themselves then they are absolutely already in violation of Subsection 12(1)(d) and you don't need to wait for them to call back. Call Service Alberta right away, give them the times dates and phone numbers that called, advising them that you have the numbers from caller ID and tell them that the caller refused to identify himself and called back again after being told you aren't the debtor and still refused to identify themselves. Mention 12(1)(d),(k), and (p) of the regulation and tell them you want them to investigate these phone calls since they are violating the regulation.
Well the collector can get away with this one, because he cant identify if you are the debtor or not..however he has to stop calling you ify ou tell him to stop calling based on you NOT being the debtor.
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POSTER FORMERLY KNOWN AS AJCGY
In the words of Ron Burgandy
"I am going to punch you rite in the baby maker, a shot right to the ovaries"
I always hand the phone to my nearest kid when I get unwanted calls. Whomever is within arms reach gets it, so the solicitor either gets stuck with a five year old who talks about poo non-stop, or a two year old who asks them non-stop if this is grandpa. Its gold I tells ya!!
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"Sticking feathers up your butt does not make you a chicken."
I always hand the phone to my nearest kid when I get unwanted calls. Whomever is within arms reach gets it, so the solicitor either gets stuck with a five year old who talks about poo non-stop, or a two year old who asks them non-stop if this is grandpa. Its gold I tells ya!!
I do the exact same thing, hand the phone off to my 2 year old, and put them on speaker... gold!
Calls from a collection agency...
