Wrong number
Complaint
Michelle
Country: United States
We have called this company 4 times requesting they not call our home as they have the wrong number. Their message clearly states to call if this is a wrong number. I was assisted by a gentleman who identified himself as Mr. Johnson and claimed he was protected by Federal law and did not have to tell me the full name of the company. When I asked what I could do if I get a call again (we had complained this morning about the same message) he said good day and hung up on me. The number they left was 866-530-3819.
Comments
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-866-530-3819
"I was assisted by a gentleman who identified himself as Mr. Johnson and claimed he was protected by Federal law and did not have to tell me the full name of the company. When I asked what I could do if I get a call again (we had complained this morning about the same message) he said good day and hung up on me."
Pretty typical response from a debt collector using an autodialer in an irresponsible manner. Hanging up is usually their response to ANYTHING other than that you are the debtor.
"Protected by Federal law" is a bunch of BS. Debt collectors are not supposed to disclose to other parties that a person they are trying to collect from owes a debt. But that is all. They are not "protected", on the contrary they have specific obligations under Federal law.
If they use autodialers, they come under FCC and FTC rules requiring accurate disclosure of name and number on caller id, and responding to Do Not Call requests. Even messages left on voicemail require disclosure that they are collecting a debt, based on recent case law.
Give them a dose of law. File complaints for their harassing calls with FTC, your state AG, and apparently the Kansas AG (since they appear to be based in Kansas). Also send them a "Cease Communications" letter, as provided for in FDCPA, notifying them that they are calling your number, xxx-xxx-xxxx, in error, that you do not know the person "John Smith" they are supposedly trying to reach, that that person cannot be reached at your phone number, and that they must cease all further communications with you, by all means including phone, as provided for in FDCPA. Send your letter certified, return receipt requested.
When you have received back verification of their receipt of your letter, either via the on-line usps site, or via green card, if they continue to call, notify them that they have been notified to cease communications, and log all calls and anything they say. File additional complaints with FTC, your state AG, and Kansas AG, for violations of the FDCPA cease communications notice, and start contacting consumer protection attorneys to file suit for their violations.
Under FDCPA, you can sue them in your own state, in either state or federal court, and the court can award your attorneys costs on top of damages. Look for an attorney who will take it on contingency, or you can file suit yourself in small claims court.
For details, read the FDCPA on the ftc.gov site.