Expert: Robin Sexton - 6/10/2008

Question
I have received numerous calls from a collection agency for my son's x wife.  She does not live with me nor do I know where she lives.  I have told the people this and yet the continue to call me.  All I have is their phone number from caller id.  The name says operations div.  I have asked them to let me speak to a supervisor and they hang up on me.  Tonight I asked to talk to a supervisor that the person they were looking for did not live here and she said she didn't believe me.  I have not asked who they represent but I will the next time they call.  What can I do to stop these annoying calls.
Thank you in advance for your answer.

Answer
Jacqueline,

Collection activities and regulations are not normally criminal in nature so outside of my expertise.  However a couple of suggestions.
1) Credit collection is regulated by the Federal Trade Commission. You can file a complaint with them, however they are going to need to know the Credit collection companies name and what account they are trying to collect on.

2) Your state Attorney General will probably have a consumer advocate unit that may also be able to help.

Each state has different regulations that govern collection practices in their state. Including frequency of calls, time of call, complaints etc.

The best thing you can do is to build a case against the collection agency, record the phone call, take detail notes, log every call that comes in as to date and time.  That will give the regulators something to work with.

Good Luck

Robin