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'I don't see what's threatening or intimidating about "Have your friend Melanie call me." Seems pretty innocuous to me.' It doesn't take too many of those 'inn
by YooLi 16y ago
'I don't see what's threatening or intimidating about "Have your friend Melanie call me." Seems pretty innocuous to me.'
It doesn't take too many of those 'innocuous' messages for someone to figure out what they are. If your friends suddenly get 15 messages from strangers asking them to have you call, it's pretty clear what it is.
I get calls from debt collectors all the time. The problem is it's not me they are looking for; I just happen to have the same fairly unique name and live in the same city. I know it's not me because it's for a credit card debt from when I was 7. I really don't want my friends all getting messages from strangers asking me to call them. Sure, the example cited in the article was pleasant sounding, but I can guarantee you they will quickly degrade into threatening/harassing messages if Facebook gives debt collectors the signal that it's okay to use their service. I know because I deal with them on the phone all the time yelling, calling me a liar, etc. when I try to explain it isn't me they are looking for.
- RK 16y agoI had a similar problem when I got a new number a few years ago. I would get calls, usually very early in the morning asking for someone else. Even though I would say they had the wrong number they would just continue to call back day after day. The number was from a debt collection agency.
- nkassis 16y agoI have this problem right now and it's pissing me off. I'm starting to wonder if I can do anything against them. The guy doesn't even have the same name as me. He hasn't had this number for years yet I still get calls.
- andrewbadera 16y agoYou can press harassment charges, and potentially litigate civilly.
- lusis 16y agoUnder the fair debt collection act, all you have to do is tell them to stop calling you. Seriously. Just say something to the effect of "under the rights granted by the fair debt collection act, I'm informing you that you are calling the wrong number, I am not the person you're looking for and to please never contact me again" if they do, you can sue them for up to 10k for violating it. You have to do it with each distinct debt collector though. Check clarkhoward.com for more information.
- enjo 16y agoThere is an absolute dead-beat who happens to have the same (extremely rare) name as my brother. Several times a year I'll get a call from someone looking for him. Usually it's one call and that's it. However, I've had a few collectors who would harass me for weeks. I have no damn idea who the guy they are looking for is (it's not my brother, they're looking for someone who has been in the military)... it can be really annoying.
- chopsueyar 16y agoThis has happened to me, as well. My cellphone number previously belonged to someone who owes lots of money to many people. If I have the time, I make it a game, and see how long I can keep the debt collector on the phone, simply by making various grunting noises w/out any actual speech. These are not nice people.