Received a call today on my cell phone. Automated message asking for my wife and requesting to press 1 if it was her, 2 if need to put on hold, 3 if wrong number. Did not give the company name. "This call is for xxxxxx, it is very important that we get a hold of xxxxx, if this is xxxx press 1, etc....."
Richard described a fairly typical "Foti" message from a debt collector, dancing at the edge of privacy breach. If you confront a live rep, it is illegal to refuse to name the company calling you. Beyond that, a compliant agency will tell you nothing other than "important business matter" and how god-awful vital they think it is that your son should return the skip trace calls. However, the agency could be calling you first even though it has a working number for your son, pretending he cannot be found, for the purpose of creating anxiety and false shame.
FTC and CFPB material on US federal collection law:
http://www.ftc.gov/os/statutes/fdcpajump.shtm
http://www.consumerfinance.gov/askcfpb/search ... debt-collection
My advice for "not me" cases is found here:
http://800notes.com/forum/ta-34af6a034ba34b6/unending-collection-calls