MCCS Call Center

February 17, 2010 3:35 PM

I keep getting calls from MCCS. How do I get this to stop?

The past few days I have been getting calls from "MCCS" which is what comes up on the caller ID. They call around 8-9 times a day and are always very rude. They ask for my parents who have not been living in this country for the past few years. The one time they identified themselves, they have said they are from Macy's and are looking into business matters. I have constantly told them my parents do not live in this country and their response is "then we'll keep calling back".

A quick online search brings up multiple complaints:
http://phoneowner.info/Number.aspx/7275565772/2
http://whocalled.us/lookup/7275567300

Some say its a scam and others say its credit centers. Regardless, how would I get these calls to stop?

Or even go about getting even or annoying them?

posted by telsa to Society & Culture (11 answers total)

Pardon the Comic Sans.
posted by rhizome at 3:46 PM on February 17, 2010 [1 favorite]

I was actually considering posting something to Metachat soon about how to keep companies from calling you repeatedly to try and sell you things. I feel I need to karmically balance out all my years of working in call centers/sales by at least letting people know what to say when someone like me calls. I promise you, I don't like making the calls any more than you like getting them, but it's about my only option right now as far as jobs are concerned.

Anyway, I don't know if this situation applies since it's not a sales thing but more of a debt collection thing, and also considering that you've already talked to them and adknowledged that you know the people they're asking for, but my main advice is always to just tell them they have the wrong number. You can also ask them to put you on their do-not-call list if it's a sales type situation.

Anyway, since this sounds more scammy and harassing than what I'm used to dealing with I probably can't be of much help, but you could at least ask the next person who calls if you can speak to their manager. Explain to the manager that you are not the person they are looking for and not to be called again. I'm not sure if threatening to "report" them to the BBB or the authorities would be of much help, but that might be your next option?
posted by a.steele at 3:48 PM on February 17, 2010 [1 favorite]

In the short term, add the number to your contacts and set the ringtone to silent (this is assuming you're using a cell).
posted by desjardins at 4:07 PM on February 17, 2010

Yeah, after reading through the comments on that second link, it seems like this is going to require more than a "wrong number." The only person (at least among the comments I read) who was able to get them to take them off the list was a guy who kept getting the call at his business. He asked to speak to a manager and told them it was a business they were calling and that he was going to "report them."

Speak to a manager, tell them you are NOT so-and-so and ask that you be taken off "the list" as soon as possible.

Good luck!
posted by a.steele at 4:09 PM on February 17, 2010

Say this calmly: "I'm going to record this call, so bear with me for a second [long pause, don't bother actually recording the call if you don't know how.] Sorry about that. For the last time, my parents don't live here, and I won't contact my parents on your behalf. You have called me excessively, I have documented your previous calls and it is harassment. Do not call here again under any circumstances. If you do, my next calls will be to the phone company, the attorney general and my lawyer. Good day to you."

Then hang up. Something along that line seemed to work (substitute "Alicia doesn't live here and I don't know her") after I moved and got a bad debtor's phone number.
posted by Mayor Curley at 4:17 PM on February 17, 2010 [2 favorites]

This if it is a debt.

This if it is sales.

There are people who make money on these violations, FWIW.

Anywho, your mistake was acknowledging that you know the person they were calling. That shouldn't matter, but they're sneaky.

Next time they call - ask for the person's name and ID #. Note the time and date. Tell them they have the wrong number and never to phone you again.

If they call again, repeat the procedure & file a complaint with the FTC. Wait for the money.

Cha-Ching!
posted by jbenben at 4:18 PM on February 17, 2010 [1 favorite]

unless your parents have been charging things at macys, then it sounds like a case of fraud/identity theft. i'd get more information the next time they call.
posted by lester at 5:47 PM on February 17, 2010 [1 favorite]

Macy's Credit and Customer Service
9111 Duke Boulevard
Mason, OH 45040-8999
[phone]

They are calling about store credit card issues. If this was related to your parent's unpaid credit card debt, it would have been sent to an outside collection agency a long time ago. Since it's Macy's calling, the issue is relatively fresh. Get more details. It may in fact be identity theft.
posted by probablysteve at 7:19 PM on February 17, 2010

If it's a fresh debt issue, you get letters in the mail, not rude collection calls. Read jbenben's "This if it is a debt" link. The next three times they call, tell them "This is not Mr. and Ms. X's phone number; you have the wrong number. I insist that you correct your records and stop calling this phone number for Mr. and Ms. X." If they persist, you can get further into citing the "failure to cease communication upon request" portion of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act.

Note that they may give up and sell the alleged debt to another collection agency lower on the food chain, in which case you'll have to start over again. But it will be easier next time if you keep it simple: "Ms. X? You have the wrong number. Please correct your records. Who am I? None of your business! Goodbye."
posted by gum at 8:56 PM on February 17, 2010

Well, there's the "complain to the FTC and hope" route, or you can try what has worked for me in the past.

1) Document when you told the callers that they had reached the wrong number. Go for dates and times, as well as a name if you can. Get at least two of these.

2) After you have a few, try to get the next caller to reveal a payment address, preferably one for payments sent via an overnight service as these addresses will generally not be a lockbox address. Verbiage like "oh, I had no idea about this; where can I send the payment? I want to get it cleared up fast, can I express mail you a money order?" may work.

3) Once you have this address, and even a "reference" or "file" number if at all possible, send a letter to the address, certified mail return receipt requested (i.e. a "green card" letter), stating that you are giving notice that you are not the person who is responsible for the debt and to stop calling you at $your_telephone_number.

These three steps should stop the calls. If they don't:

4) Document the next time a caller rings your number. Fire off another letter, similar to step 3, stating that they have violated the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and that you intend to sue as of the next call received and with no further notice to the company if such a call is received.

You may wish to read the Credit Forum of CreditBoards.com for more information on dealing with these people.

As usual, your circumstances and mileage may vary.
posted by fireoyster at 2:39 AM on February 18, 2010

Fun reading, not like you'll necessarily want to take it this far.
posted by look busy at 7:49 AM on February 18, 2010