Mark
Minneapolis,#2Consumer Suggestion
Sun, October 26, 2008
Unfortunately, this practice is not federally banned. There are only two states where a message is not supposed to be left with a third party: Minnesota and Wisconsin. That is because the States themselves banned it. After thirty days of non-contact at listed numbers for a debtor, they can "skip" the account. There are online subscription databases that will give names, numbers, and addresses for relatives, neighbors, and associates. It is completely legal to try and get a message to them using these means. The good news is that any number that is not listed to the debtor's residence can be ceased verbally. That includes cellphone and work phone numbers that are valid for the debtor. Also, collectors are only supposed to leave a message on a third-party's machine or with a third-party once. The thing about calling a collection company back to have them remove your number is that, well, you HAVE to give them your number or how else do you expect them to look it up in order to take it out? They already have your name and number and aren't looking to get money from you, so just verify with them that you don't want to be contacted because you don't know the debtor and your name will be taken out. Aside: Phone numbers get listed on credit bureau reports, associated with Social Security numbers. So if you are unfortunate enough to get the old number of a person who has defaulted on many debts to many people, then many collection companies will be calling you. You just have to tell them you don't know the debtor and you think you must have their old phone number and ask them to take your number out of their system.