I'm on the list of PRA (Portfolio Recovery Associates), so this could indeed be them. "Trying to us *a* different number," HAH... they use ZILLIONS of different numbers.
I recently switched to a google voice number. After they call you can save the number to your google phone book and block it so when they call they get the "This number has been disconnected" message. Your phone won't ring when they call and they can't leave a message.