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Expert: - 8/6/2010


Question
My minor daughter just received a collection call at her summer job employers office from Calvary Portfolio Services.  They had the same name but the wrong person (wrong last four digits of SS# verified by me).  How in blazes did they get her work number, and how dare they harass her to tears on an initial call?  I am very upset.  They acknowledged the error but that's not good enough!  How does this happen?  And what can we do besides writing a letter to our elected officials?  This process of obtaining and using of information is wrong on so many levels!  Help?

Answer
They got the number by using a tactic called skiptracing.  It is sometimes hit or miss so mistakes happen.  Since they acknowledged their mistake, there is little else that can be done.  It sounds like they may have pushed a little too hard for information if they made your daughter cry but there is nothing I know of that you can do about about it.  I know this is not what you wanted to hear but it is the best I have to offer.

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Ray A Miller

Expertise

I am qualified to answer questions on the following subjects: FDCPA, FCRA and HIPAA as well as medical collections, general collections and collection agency related issues. I trained these subjects at a nationwide collection agency and customer service call center and audited around 150 representatives for compliance to the laws. I have been in the Collections Industry for over 30 years. I feel that everyone deserves to be treated fairly and with compassion and that is the way I trained collectors. Even though I worked for a Collection Agency, I get great satisfaction in helping those who have been mistreated or in need of help with these confusing issues.

Experience

I was the Compliance Administrator with a nationwide collection agency and customer service call center-I have trained hundreds of collectors on the above referenced topics. I have been in the medical collections industry for over twenty years and research these topics on a daily basis.

Organizations
ACA International

Education/Credentials
Some college ACA Certified Collection Specialist

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