Excellent advice! I cannot emphasize enough that the majority of these calls (often when you phone, the recorded voice will roll over to another recording and ASK FOR EITHER LAST 4 DIGITS, OR THE ENTIRE S/S NUMBER. Any person in the world can go on line and find out the rest of your S/S number. There are bogus sites that will supposedly (if you pay) provide full S/S numbers plus b/dates. They "blame it on the computer--that is, these massive dialer systems." You were wise to block it, and to ask her the last 4 digits. These people are moronic goons who sit in a back room and wait for a computer to blast their screens. Then, they start (if you call back, and I suggest you never return any call unless you know exactly who it is--if it's legit, a voice mail will tell you who it is and you may respond ONLY if it is germane to your life) with the S/Security number (!), or birth date, or full account numbers. Then, it may be (and increasingly IS) passed on to any country, site, city or town and your ID is gone). Thank you for an intelligent post. Protect yourself because these machines are owned by millionaires and the drones get $7./hr. Your life and ID is worth far more.
I just read an article on Fox news within the past week all about debt collecting. They buy these debts from the companies at pennies on the dollars, they harass until it is obvious they won't get it that way, then they threaten you with court, the lawyers file at least 50 a day and won't show up for court so it was said to tell them to take you to court - you show up and win by default! WIll try to find that again and post a link here for any of you who actually owe something.
If they are running your phone bill up file one against them for the amount you have been charged plus anguish... Have to find that article...didn't know anyone who needed it. Wish me Luck in finding it!
Go to the link, send em the letter requesting them to validate "your" debt and while ur at it you can get it of your credit :D my husband had a collection acct with RPM n this letter stopped the calls and it was deleted by thw credit bureau per RPM's request. Make sure u send it certified mail so you get a signature of recepit in return, keep a copy of the letter u sent em so u have proof ypu were attempting to sort this confusion out regarding the debt that you suspect is not yours :'( lol I've also worked for other carriers n know that none keep contracts and even if stores kept em they are impossible and a waste of time to track down..... N according to Fair Credit Reporting Act, no contract=non existant account=collection not necessary. And if as the letter states they have laws to abide by as well and if they choose not to u can take em to court and they dont waste their time with one individual so they never show and u win by default..... Telling em to take you to court might irritate the collector you r talking to but thag agent has no power, they r the bottom of the totem pole thats why they r calling you and aggressively trying to collect so they can receive an incentive for making you pay up. Think about it...