Expert: Ray A Miller - 10/15/2008

Question
I keep getting calls from a company called ER Solutions. They call just this side of legal time in the morning (as in, 8:01AM)for someone whom I have never heard of. I've been having lots of problems with this lately; there are two people giving out my phone number as theirs. Since I live in a small town in West Virginia that just got a new prefix, I've been able to clear up one of the mystery people by simply verifying that the person had my last four digits but the new prefix, and referring people there. That seemed to suit ERS just fine, and they haven't called back for her since. But I have no idea who this second person is, and this morning when I answered the call from ERS, I got smart and asked for the CSR's name before I told her this was the wrong number. I then said something along the lines of "it's really early and I'm not awake enough to be coherent yet" since they'd woken me up. At that point, the CSR told me that it was very rude to say things like that and if I didn't want to be bothered I shouldn't answer the phone. Then she told me I was a deadbeat and hung up on me. This is the third time in a month I've actually taken one of the calls, and every time I've told them they have the wrong number. I did refuse to give them my SSN, because I couldn't imagine why they'd need it. I've been hung up on every time, before I can ask for a supervisor. This morning just annoyed me, so I tried to call back. I was put on hold for about fifteen minutes, then hung up on. I tried to call the parent company, but the number for them isn't working. Then I tried to email the parent company, but the email address on their website is invalid. I finally gave in and filled out an automated complaint form on ERS's website informing them of the call and the employee's name, asking to have a supervisor call me today, and informing them of my intention to file an FTC complaint and send a cease and desist letter in the morning if I haven't heard back from someone. I guess my question is, what else can I do? After checking this company out online and taking into account my experience with them so far, I highly doubt anyone will call, nor do I think they'll pay the least bit of attention to an FTC complaint or the letter. Still, I'd love to sleep in, given that I just got out of the student-loan-collections years myself and was looking forward to the peace...

Answer
Stay on them until you get in touch with some one.  Go ahead and file your complaint with the FTC and the FCC to get their attention.


Short of changing your telephone number, there is not much you can do as long as this person gives out the wrong number.  The service providers are not at fault since this was the information they were given.  My concern is that they will not talk to you.  I would rather take a bad number out and spend my time looking for a good one.  Send them a letter and explain this simple rule of economics to them.  Maybe they will understand.  I wish I had better advice for you but, I have seen this happen before and it can be a real nightmare.

Best wishes in getting the peace you deserve!