Same thing here. The guy I spoke to was an absolute jerk and said this debt was from just a couple of years ago but I haven't gone by that name since 2001!
Received a call from this number at work, didn't answer it as I am at work. They never left a message...unless it's a 15 minute message. I thought it was illegal in UT to call for collection at work?? Second time this number has called, and not left a message. Not gonna answer it.
Inform this collector the next time she "calls you on the wrong number" that you intend to file a lawsuit against her and her employer for intentionally harassing a non-debtor under the TCPA:
Generally, the TCPA does not apply to debt collectors making collection calls to debtors. However, if you are subjected to calls from a debt collector and you are not the debtor, you may file a lawsuit against the debt collector under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and the TCPA.
This right was recently recognized by Judge Legrome D. Davis in a case called Watson v. NCO Group, Inc. NCO Group is a debt collector that uses automated prerecorded collection calls. In this case, Mr. Watson alleged he was getting hundreds of calls from NCO Group after he got a new phone number. Mr. Watson claimed he owed no debt to NCO Group, Inc. Mr. Watson filed suit under both the FDCPA and TCPA.
David Israel, defense lawyer for NCO, argued that the TCPA should not apply to debt collectors. Judge Davis rejected the argument made by David Israel. The judge ruled that Mr. Watson had a right to sue NCO Group Inc under the TCPA for $500 for each call. Judge Davis wrote;
[The] Court is convinced that a non-debtor's rights are in fact violated when he is subjected to repeated annoying and abusive debt collection calls that he remains powerless to stop.
Judge Davis' ruling was based upon his interpretation that collection calls to non-debtors violate the privacy rights provided by the TCPA.
So what can you do if you receive "wrong number" calls from debt collectors?
1. Sign up for the Do-Not-Call registry.
2. Save the calls captured by your voice mail or answering machine.
3. Contact a consumer lawyer.
I just got a cl from that same number, Which i'm wondering how they got my number, because I'm under my sister's plan. And i havent any new debt since like 2000. And i know in the state of texas its like after 7years, they have to drop it.
I just got a ring from these folks. If this is as you say, I am not picking up. I have only JUST gotten a car loan, so that would be the reason that they have my new number, in which case someone is selling our private information to scammers. I had not lived in this country for 7 years, and I left here debt-free. So I am not even going to waste my time picking up this phone call.
Is there anything we can do to punish whomever sold our information, (ie, I'll bet it was Wells Fargo in my case, as that is who my car loan is through)?