I have someone who comes up as CBE Group calling my work number about a thousand times a day. It's a debt collection agency looking for someone who is not me and who I've never heard of. The first time I answered I figured it was just a wrong number and told them there was nobody named so-and-so at this number. The second time I told them to stop calling here and take my number off their list because THERE WAS NO ONE NAMED SO-AND-SO AT THIS FREAKING NUMBER.
They continue to call every single day. This has been going on for weeks and now I don't even bother to answer. I either ignore it or hit the Talk and let them listen to air.
Why do spammer orgs do that? I can think of no reason except for the pure harassment of it. Obviously it's a robocall, but what is the purpose of that? Do they think so-and-so is suddenly going to magically appear in my office? Are they just trying to piss me off? There must be money involved in some form - that is what always motivates these callers/spammers/junk mail idiots - but I cannot think for the life of me how that would transpire.
Anyone?
This is a robocall with a live person on the other end?Correct?
Next time they call, take the time to talk to them and ask for the name of their organization and the caller 's name you are talking to. Then tell them you want(demand) written verification of the debt they are alleging you owe.(it is required they respond in writing-it is the law)
It is important you use the term "verification" because that invokes the FDCPA(Fair Debt Collection Procedure Act)
Once a demand for verification(or validation) exists, and you respond in writing,the law states they MUST CEASE AND DESIST from all collection activities immediately pending debt verification.
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Read the law here and maybe even cite the law to them so they know you know!
The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act
§ 809. Validation of debts [15 USC 1692g]
(a) Within five days after the initial communication with a consumer in connection with the collection of any debt, a debt collector shall, unless the following information is contained in the initial communication or the consumer has paid the debt, send the consumer a written notice containing --
(1) the amount of the debt;
(2) the name of the creditor to whom the debt is owed;
(3) a statement that unless the consumer, within thirty days after receipt of the notice, disputes the validity of the debt, or any portion thereof, the debt will be assumed to be valid by the debt collector;
(4) a statement that if the consumer notifies the debt collector in writing within the thirty-day period that the debt, or any portion thereof, is disputed, the debt collector will obtain verification of the debt or a copy of a judgment against the consumer and a copy of such verification or judgment will be mailed to the consumer by the debt collector; and
(5) a statement that, upon the consumer's written request within the thirty-day period, the debt collector will provide the consumer with the name and address of the original creditor, if different from the current creditor.
(b) If the consumer notifies the debt collector in writing within the thirty-day period described in subsection (a) that the debt, or any portion thereof, is disputed, or that the consumer requests the name and address of the original creditor,
the debt collector shall cease collection of the debt, or any disputed portion thereof, until the debt collector obtains verification of the debt or any copy of a judgment, or the name and address of the original creditor, and a copy of such verification or judgment, or name and address of the original creditor, is mailed to the consumer by the debt collector.
(c) The failure of a consumer to dispute the validity of a debt under this section may not be construed by any court as an admission of liability by the consumer.
I will tell you how to deal with robo messages on another post if that is a problem.
