this number has called me several times over the past two months. I looked it up and saw that it was Target, but I've never had a Target account. I don't even shop there!! I answered it by accident and to make a long story short, someone had used my SS# to open a credit account. They charged to the max$2000 and never paid the debt. The adress was for Maine, but all the information was mine. I don't know how someone got my phone and SS#, or how this happened, but they are opening an investigation and told me not to worry. The signature they have on file isnt even close to mine! They don't ID at checkout either. I just hope this doesn't hurt my credit score; my husband and I want to try for a house in a few months...
These low-life, unprofessional pirahnas call my elderly, widowed father 5-6 times per day. Many times they call after 9pm, which they know is a violation of consumer rights. They repeatedly harass him and pressure to pay off my deceased mother's account. She's only been gone a month. My mother was always up to date on payments, there is no need to pay the entire amount off. Has anyone else encountered the same issues with this company? Things must be bad for them financially, if they have to resort to swindling a senior citizen out of a couple of grand. I'll never set foot in a Target store, EVER.
If these guys are calling before 8am or after 9pm, they are in defiance of the FDCPA (Fair Debt Collection Protection Act), and should be notified as such. There are also limitations as to how many times they are allowed to call a specific number throughout the day, but that varies by state. Unfortunately, I worked for a collections agency, which is how I gained this knowledge.
RE: Do Not Call lists. Because these calls are not technically solicitations, the only way to have your phone number removed from their files is to politely explain that you don't know the person they are trying to contact, or don't have any way to get in touch with them. Honestly, being rude to a collector usually tells them that they've gotten in touch with who they're looking for. Hanging up on them tells them that the 'debtor' (in this case, mistakenly as it may be, YOU) do not want to deal with the matter in a cooperative way, which makes them want to call even more.
RE: If you've already squared up your account and continue to receive calls. If you have the proper documentation, whether it be an official letter from the Agency/Company that signifies your balance as ZERO, notify them of this, get their fax information and send it along. Unfortunately mistakes do happen, files are incorrectly documented, etc., which in many cases causes the Agency to continue to try and collect on a debt that doesn't exist.
PLEASE remember that these are people too. They're trying to do a job in a very competitive industry where the only things that matter are numbers. If you are not the person they're trying to reach, or have no means to contact that person, be calm. Be polite. Be respectful. The problem will be solved.