Would my mother had to have given the bill collectors my phone number or did they get that on their own?

Question

My mother swears that she never gave these bill collectors my phone number but I'm wondering that if she actually gave them my number when she applied for the credit cards as a reference. Now that she can't pay her bills and she refuses to answer her phone (and she disconnected her phone) they are calling me! the first time they called I gave them her phone number and told them not to call me and they treated me like c**p and said they would take me off their list. Then several moths later (today) I get a call from a different company and they said they would take me off of their list. Why am I the only relative they are bothering? Do bill collectors go through the trouble of finding relatives (especially with a different last name) and harass them to get to the person who owes them money? My mom doesn't lie (but she does play games and it is like talking to a wall with her) but I'm not sure how this whole thing works either. How low will these bill collectors go?

Answer 1

You might have been as a reference on the application which would give them your name.  If the collectors had the names of any other relative, they would be calling them too.  This is a pressure technique.  They hope you will get the debtor to pay something.

You don't have to talk to these collectors.  Just tell them to stop calling and hang up.

Answer 2

I had this happen to me with my x husband.  He gave me as a reference while we were married.  After the divorce, I get all these calls.  well, I told them that I am in no way responsible for his debt, I have signed nothing that says that I am, and so help me if you call me one more time I will file a formal complaint with the FTC for harassment.  

I did not get one single call after that threat.  You just have to stand up to them and not be afraid of them!

Answer 3

how is playing games different from lying? - you better check your credit report and see if HER cards are actually registered under your name - there is no reason they should be calling you unless you are also listed as a user of the card

Answer 4

Skip tracers have all kinds of methods of tracking down people, and one of those is calling relatives or suspected relatives and asking for the debtors contact information.

It could also come from neighbors or information databases.

Answer 5

Contact them and let them know that you are not the person who is responsible for the debt. Refer them to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and inform them by law that they have to remove you. You can then report them to the state Attorney General, the FTC and they can be civilly liable also.

Alan

Answer 6

Bill collectors weather they be personal or commercial have a ton of tools and resources at their disposal.

One such tool is called accurint. With it, they are able to view details about yourself as well as your family and even associates that are not even related to you.

One thing that is available to them is updates on phones as they are registered to your name. Therefore, it is entirely possible that they obtained your number by their own research and not necessarily because someone gave it to them.

Answer 7

If you do not owe them money do this:  When you get the next call ask to speak to a supervisor, when they get on give them the date of the last call and then tell them if they you told them then not to call, and now that they are calling again.  If you call again I will take your company to court for harassment.  Then ask for his name and contact information.

Check this out as well

http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/edu/pubs/consumer...