My family got 3 strange ph calls asking for my hubby

[Marc and Olga 0]

If it is a debt collector, this website may be useful to find out what this alleged debt and make sure that hubby knows to not admit to it, especially if he does not know what it is for.

There is a good letter there which he can mail to them requesting proof that he owes these people money (on behalf of anyone!)

[Kathryn41 3,207]

It could also be a case of mistaken identity and they were fishing looking for hits on the name. It sounds strange that they would call YOUR parents looking for their Son-in-law who lives in a foreign country and is not a US resident. It may have nothing to do with him at all. If you do get in touch with them, ask them to send evidence in writing providing proof of the debt - and have them send it to your parent's address which they probably already have, or get a po box address for them to use.

Edited November 2, 2006 by Kathryn41

[rebeccajo 14]

Mistaken identity, stolen identity, fraud - whatever the case may be you can rest assured that this 'collection' is not for a bad debt anywhere but in the United States.

It might be wise to check your own credit and have your parents do the same.

[diadromous mermaid 36]

Mistaken identity, stolen identity, fraud - whatever the case may be you can rest assured that this 'collection' is not for a bad debt anywhere but in the United States.

It might be wise to check your own credit and have your parents do the same.

Maybe it's another prank!

[rebeccajo 14]

Mistaken identity, stolen identity, fraud - whatever the case may be you can rest assured that this 'collection' is not for a bad debt anywhere but in the United States.

It might be wise to check your own credit and have your parents do the same.

Maybe it's another prank!

If it is, it's not very funny this time..........

[kitkat1 5]

All kidding aside, seems more than doubtful that it's a prank. Seems rather clear that he has some debt in the US and that "prank" was nothing but the truth.

[Birdysboy 5]

The other is a mobile number. Try texting them from an undisclosed computer at a library using a service like Messenger. That's the hi tech way to uncover it.

[The_dip_sticks 0]

Well we have been doing some thinking before calling as to what in the world it could be. The only thing we could come up with was back when I came home from college I had some debt and my husband helped me set up paytment arrangements on my bebalf. Because the collectors were constantly harrasing me and calling my parents home while I was away at college. I did not want to deal with them so he said he would call them for me and sort out the situation. Then the collectors called me to my parents house at the time to get my consent to talk to Adiel regarding my debt issue. I approved, then my husband called them from london and talked to them about that acount and he made the arrangement and we payed off that debt. So now I wonder if that collection agency disclosed our information to some other collector if the account was bought out before we finished paying it off. But I dont know if that is it because we payed that over a year ago.

[rebeccajo 14]

So now I wonder if that collection agency disclosed our information to some other collector if the account was bought out before we finished paying it off. But I dont know if that is it because we payed that over a year ago.

If it's paid off why would it be in collection?

Possible, but not likely.

[Marc and Olga 0]

So now I wonder if that collection agency disclosed our information to some other collector if the account was bought out before we finished paying it off. But I dont know if that is it because we payed that over a year ago.

If it's paid off why would it be in collection?

Possible, but not likely.

They will try to collect more if they can...collection agencies and even some creditors are scumbags...I'm dealing with some of those now! Collection agency and creditor scumbags...though the creditors I have now have been very pleasant to deal with...then again I have never been late...stupid work burning down on 9/8/01!

[kitkat1 5]

But I dont know if that is it because we payed that over a year ago.

If it's paid off why would it be in collection?

Exactly. Why would a debt collection company make three calls to someone if they DIDN'T owe money? I would just call them and get to the bottom of it.

[suse 0]

these calls to parents are not at all unusual. before the web, debt collectors used to go to city criss-cross directories, phone books, etc. and look up your parents, neighbors, etc. they would call your neighbors and ask them to "give you a message." this, i believe, is against the law -- but the chance of them being caught is so low.

also, i bet you anything, you put your parents' names down on a doctor's form, credit card forms, etc. to be contacted "in case of emergency." they always want someone "other than your spouse." why on earth would you want to contact someone other than your spouse if you had an emergency??? you wouldn't!!! they want the number so that in case your bill isn't paid, they can hound your family. in other words, you might drift around -- but chances are, your parents are sitting still somewhere. they bug your little ole law-abiding parents and tell them if you leave the city/state/country with that t.v., radio (whatever you put on visa/mc/amex) which is actually "unsecured" credit. which means unlike your house, car, etc., they cannot come take it away from you. they want to make you think this is not true -- but it is!!

never put down a neighbor, parent or anyone else on an application, doctors work-up, whatever. just make someone up if you have to!! they are not going to go call it! i had one doctor that has a sign that says if you refuse to give her your social security number, she will not treat you. this is because insurance companies do not use this number anymore. they have assigned a new number to keep your ss number from getting into too many hands. DO NOT put your social on that form!! just repeat your insurance card number . . . or make one up!!! they only want it because if your insurance company doesn't pay, they will smash your credit!! if they don't have the number, they have nothing to hit you with!!

the moral is DO NOT give your ss number to anyone that doesn't need it! your doctor/hospital doesn't need it!!! and if you have an emergency -- call my spouse -- not my neighbor, parents (!! i'm 46, after all!!). pay attention!!! think when filling out applications.

last, but not least, if the number does show up on caller i.d. dial *60 and block it!!! (i think that's it. you can google "call block" to get those directions).

hope this helps. email me if you want and i'll try to help you if i can.

[Mephys 2]

these calls to parents are not at all unusual. before the web, debt collectors used to go to city criss-cross directories, phone books, etc. and look up your parents, neighbors, etc. they would call your neighbors and ask them to "give you a message." this, i believe, is against the law -- but the chance of them being caught is so low.

also, i bet you anything, you put your parents' names down on a doctor's form, credit card forms, etc. to be contacted "in case of emergency." they always want someone "other than your spouse." why on earth would you want to contact someone other than your spouse if you had an emergency??? you wouldn't!!! they want the number so that in case your bill isn't paid, they can hound your family. in other words, you might drift around -- but chances are, your parents are sitting still somewhere. they bug your little ole law-abiding parents and tell them if you leave the city/state/country with that t.v., radio (whatever you put on visa/mc/amex) which is actually "unsecured" credit. which means unlike your house, car, etc., they cannot come take it away from you. they want to make you think this is not true -- but it is!!

never put down a neighbor, parent or anyone else on an application, doctors work-up, whatever. just make someone up if you have to!! they are not going to go call it! i had one doctor that has a sign that says if you refuse to give her your social security number, she will not treat you. this is because insurance companies do not use this number anymore. they have assigned a new number to keep your ss number from getting into too many hands. DO NOT put your social on that form!! just repeat your insurance card number . . . or make one up!!! they only want it because if your insurance company doesn't pay, they will smash your credit!! if they don't have the number, they have nothing to hit you with!!

the moral is DO NOT give your ss number to anyone that doesn't need it! your doctor/hospital doesn't need it!!! and if you have an emergency -- call my spouse -- not my neighbor, parents (!! i'm 46, after all!!). pay attention!!! think when filling out applications.

last, but not least, if the number does show up on caller i.d. dial *60 and block it!!! (i think that's it. you can google "call block" to get those directions).

hope this helps. email me if you want and i'll try to help you if i can.

You just dug out an old thread (Nov 2006)

But Im sure those tips are useful, thank you !

[*JG* 2]

If it is a debt collector, this website may be useful to find out what this alleged debt and make sure that hubby knows to not admit to it, especially if he does not know what it is for.

There is a good letter there which he can mail to them requesting proof that he owes these people money (on behalf of anyone!)

If you do find out what it is for and that he may owe it.....I have a letter you can use that tells them not to make any calls to any places of employment or 3rd party calls (pretty much everyone else but him/you) that I got and used when I was going through the same thing. I'll e-mail it to you if need be. Just PM me if you need it eventually. Those people are brutal sometimes.

As a side note thing to this too......we get calls all the time from friends and family in Jamaica and sometimes those calls come up with all kinds of crazy area codes and numbers on caller ID. Since they used unlocked phones and chips.....All I can figure is that it is the nearest cell tower or something.

[Privateer 0]

Maybe someone left your husband an estate in a will......