Daily calls to wrong party while phishing for delinquent debtors
Complaint
Eliette G. Carroll
Country: United States
As far back as last April, I started finding calls from NCB on my Caller ID display, but although the answering machine had been tripped, no message was ever left.
They called usually twice a day, and as early as 8:o5 AM. When I happened to be home and picked up the phone, no one was there. I did a search on NCB, and found that they were a collection agency. Because I have a truly perfect credit record I realized that they were not looking for me, but were merely “phishing”.
So, I blocked their number, hoping they would eventually get the message and stop calling. Not so, the calls kept coming every day. (Even with a blocked #, the phone rings once, the calls keep cluttering my ID display, and I get the “call waiting” signal if I am engaged in a conversation.) Fed-up and having finally some time to spare. I decided Wednesday night 7/27, to “un-block” their #, answer the inevitable call that would come the next day, and wait whatever time it took to see if someone would eventually come on the line. The call came at 8:45 AM the next morning, and immediately so came a recording saying: “This call is for Elaina Carroll. If you are not Elaina Carroll please hang up or disconnect” I immediately did. I thought theses annoyance calls would be over. Wrong. They have kept calling EVERY SINGLE DAY since July 28 (Sunday included), although I have answered every call, disconnecting at the prompt to indicate that I WAS NOT ELAINA CARROLL.
I am facing an ophthalmic procedure that will require my spending 2 weeks in “quiet and serene surroundings”, with my head held down at all times and half blinded. I will not need the extra aggravation those maddening calls cause me. Therefore, I will be most grateful to you for any help you can give me in putting a stop to this form of harrrasment.
They called usually twice a day, and as early as 8:o5 AM. When I happened to be home and picked up the phone, no one was there. I did a search on NCB, and found that they were a collection agency. Because I have a truly perfect credit record I realized that they were not looking for me, but were merely “phishing”.
So, I blocked their number, hoping they would eventually get the message and stop calling. Not so, the calls kept coming every day. (Even with a blocked #, the phone rings once, the calls keep cluttering my ID display, and I get the “call waiting” signal if I am engaged in a conversation.) Fed-up and having finally some time to spare. I decided Wednesday night 7/27, to “un-block” their #, answer the inevitable call that would come the next day, and wait whatever time it took to see if someone would eventually come on the line. The call came at 8:45 AM the next morning, and immediately so came a recording saying: “This call is for Elaina Carroll. If you are not Elaina Carroll please hang up or disconnect” I immediately did. I thought theses annoyance calls would be over. Wrong. They have kept calling EVERY SINGLE DAY since July 28 (Sunday included), although I have answered every call, disconnecting at the prompt to indicate that I WAS NOT ELAINA CARROLL.
I am facing an ophthalmic procedure that will require my spending 2 weeks in “quiet and serene surroundings”, with my head held down at all times and half blinded. I will not need the extra aggravation those maddening calls cause me. Therefore, I will be most grateful to you for any help you can give me in putting a stop to this form of harrrasment.
Comments
https://800notes.com/Phone.aspx/1-215-244-4200
NCB Management Services, Inc.
Brett Silver, President
1 Allied Drive
Trevose, PA 19053-6945
Phone: 215-244-4200
There is no reason to put up with this sort of debt collection foolishness. Debt collectors are required by law (FDCPA) to not engage in abusive or harassing collection tactics, including specifically NOT making phones to ring repeatedly.
ALL users of autodialers are required to provide a means for anyone called by their autodialer to reach them and stop the calls. In addition, TCPA provides penalties of $500 to $1500 per call for making unwanted calls. Recent cases have resulted in court decisions that it can be used against debt collectors as well as telemarketers.
Send them a letter, mailed certified return receipt requested, notifying them that they have been making repeated harassing calls to your number (nnn-nnn-nnnn), supposedly to reach this "Elaina Carroll", that you do not know this person and she cannot be reached at your number, and that you are demanding that they cease all calls to your number, in compliance with FDCPA.
If you have further problems, file complaints with FTC and your state Attorney General.
If that doesn't stop the problem, find a consumer attorney. FDCPA and TCPA allow courts to award damages AND attorney fees, so you are looking for an attorney to take such cases on contingency, getting paid by the defendent if you win.
Let you attorney deal with this, as they are more likely to cease immediately when contacted by an attorney even though they just ignore you.
You might try www.naca.net
You have already told them to cease calling as best you can, even if they hang up or ignore you, so they are already in violation of both TCPA and FDCPA. (The cease communications letter is to document your notification assuming you need it in court.)
File FTC and state AG complaints now, and also check into an attorney.
FTC will probably just file it, but your state AG will likely send them a letter promptly, particularly if you explain the medical necessity. You need the harassing to stop now, for the best outcome from your treatment, yet you and your doctors still need access to your own phone to manage your care.
This will most likely get this to stop, but you might inquire with an attorney as well.
I gave them a fictitious name--which, lo and behold!--was "...on their collection list..." and that the balance due was $674.50. I agreed that I could do this over three payments and asked to be transferred to a manager, to whom I immediately introduced myself as his field supervisor. I cut him off to explain that this was a quality assurance test, that his screener did well and that we recognized their office as being quite resourceful. He thanked me and then inquired as to when bonuses for the first quarter of 2012 would be paid. I told him to call the fulfillment group that handles such payroll and human resources issues and gave him the phone number to the FCC.
No, I really don't have a lot of time on my hands but did that feel good, LOL!