How to deal with somebody else's bill collectors....

[AJAY]

So two years ago, after being greatly annoyed by all the phone calls from "organizations I had previously done business with," I switched to an unlisted phone number.

Unfortunately, my new (unlisted) phone was once owned by Frank Kelly and his lovely wife Desma, who, it seems, skipped out owing a lot of people money.

I cannot tell you how many bill collectors call my house. In fact, I'd say one out of 5 calls is for Frank or Desma. I'm usually polite to these bill collectors - heck, they're just people doing they're jobs, instead of deadbeats like Mr. and Mrs. Kelly. I tell the bill collectors that this is an unlisted phone number that we have had for two years. I have no knowledge of Frank Kelly or Desma and I would appreciate it if they could update their records and please remove our phone number from their call list. The bill collectors usually say yes, they understand, and agree to remove the number from their list. BUT IT NEVER DOES ANY GOOD.

I'd block the incoming number, but these calls come from all over the country. I already ignore all calls that say phone number not available. I'm starting to think I should start effing with them, but that would probably bring more trouble than good.

Any ideas about how to get this madness to stop?

P.S. Frank and Desma, go eff yourselves!

RANT OVER

 

[R-DEL]

Google Tom Mabe and watch how he deals with telemarketers. Same idea applies, the murder scene one is hilarious

 

[VaBusa]

You could give 'em some other bogus number to start calling; eventually they'll forget about you since they may overwrite your number

"Oh yeah, the Kellys gave me their new number...here it is..." You have an ex you want to annoy? Give 'em her number

 

[skydivr]

Be done with it and make the phone company give you a new number. It will probably never stop otherwise.

 

[Fastfrog007]

"hello, this is officer Johnson with the state police, when was the last time you spoke with Desma and how do you know her? Shes come up missing and we think the harassing phone calls have something to do with it".

Or, just talk dirty to em,,thats what I do

Smellphone via Forum Runner

 

[SKECHE]

i tell them that i just buried them in the back yard and not to tell anyone.

 

[heavybusa]

Honestly, change your number.
Skip tracing will always find previous numbers whether that agent deletes it or not.

 

[GNBRETT]

just give them ur ex-girlfriends number and tell them this is their new number....

 

[outlawbusa]

I like keeping a little air horn off my boat handy.

 

[fast08busa]

Me and my dad always had an understanding when a telemarketer called he would start yelling at me really loudly while slapping the wall or table and I would start acting like he was beating me and start yelling really loud. Most times they would hang up real quick

 

[VaBusa]

I learned it's pretty funny to put a toddler on the phone with a telemarketer...they are determined people!

 

[mrsBusawhipped]

I just ignore them. That is what caller ID is for. They do give up after awhile.

 

[BlondeOnaBusa]

I just act like I'm crazy. I ask them off the wall questions like....are we having spaghetti tonight? Or just yell out random stuff like...Bubba, don't lick yourself there we have company! They usually hang up and never call again.

Sometimes it hard to keep from laughing but it's fun to hear some of the reactions.

 

[Stoney McSloth]

my favorite is "answer the phone, find out who it is, once you know it's a bill collector or telemarketer tell them hold on one minute. set the phone down and go back about your business. after 5 or so minutes go back to the phone find out if they are still waiting, if they are tell them hold on one more min and repeat the cycle till they hangup". It's fun to see how long they will sit there and listen to nothing.

And as a side note remind me never to call Fastfrog unless i'm lonely and want to be talked dirty too.

 

[VaBusa]

I just act like I'm crazy. I ask them off the wall questions like....are we having spaghetti tonight? Or just yell out random stuff like...Bubba, don't lick yourself there we have company! They usually hang up and never call again.

Sometimes it hard to keep from laughing but it's fun to hear some of the reactions.

I have two coworkers who will mess with 'em when they call work, and it's all I can do to maintain composure. I know I would lose it if I tried what you do, but I wish like hell I could! Love it!

 

[SKnight]

I've always liked the tell em to hold and wait for the off the hook tone to start.

Plus you could always try to find them yourself. With google anything is possible. Then pas on the new number.

 

[lil charlie]

I put them on hold until they hang up. Sounds like you need a new number.

 

[Stoney McSloth]

The only problem with getting a new new number is you just get new bill collectors looking for someone else. You just have to hope they weren't as dead beat as the last number you had.

 

[zukracer]

I had that problem with an old roommate. The only way it made them stop, I answered with "hello? Oh you are looking for Tony, who is calling? I'm sorry to tell you he passed away in a diving accident in the Cayman Islands 2wks ago. I really cant get into the specifics but please know he is in fact dead and please do not call again as he is not a resident here or anywhere." After the first few they all stopped calling



My old roommate as it turned out wasnt actually dead but found buying a house 10yrs later was a real mother trucker since his credit was great but he showed up as deceased on all 3 credit reports

 

[binx]

Put on nasty porn in the background ! I normally tell them I just bought the house from there estate as they recent ly died. Nothing works with these people, your number just gets cycled to all different collection agencies throughout the us.