Debt collector voicemail
April 17, 2013 9:48 PM Subscribe
I got a call from an unknown number that says it's a debt collector. What do I do?
The call left a voicemail with a robotic recorded message: "This is a message for MyName. If we have reached the wrong number for this person please call us back at ____ and press 22 to remove your number. If you are not MyName please hang up. If you are MyName... etc etc." They said they were Progressive Management Systems and that they're attempting to collect a debt.
I believe I've paid every bill I've been sent, but I had a couple medical procedures performed before I changed addresses last fall, and it's possible I was sent bills I didn't receive and then they were forwarded to a debt collector.
What is the process here -- i.e., what is the right thing for me to do? Do I call the number they gave me?
The call left a voicemail with a robotic recorded message: "This is a message for MyName. If we have reached the wrong number for this person please call us back at ____ and press 22 to remove your number. If you are not MyName please hang up. If you are MyName... etc etc." They said they were Progressive Management Systems and that they're attempting to collect a debt.
I believe I've paid every bill I've been sent, but I had a couple medical procedures performed before I changed addresses last fall, and it's possible I was sent bills I didn't receive and then they were forwarded to a debt collector.
What is the process here -- i.e., what is the right thing for me to do? Do I call the number they gave me?
Get your Free Annual Credit Report. Only use this one linked from the Government Federal Trade Commission. This also has information about imposer websites.
That will show you if you in fact have any outstanding debt or any debt errors. If so, you can contact the agency directly and they should forward you to their debt collection company.
posted by Crystalinne at 10:13 PM on April 17, 2013 [5 favorites]
That will show you if you in fact have any outstanding debt or any debt errors. If so, you can contact the agency directly and they should forward you to their debt collection company.
posted by Crystalinne at 10:13 PM on April 17, 2013 [5 favorites]
Seconding Chrystalinne: check your credit report first, and if it's clear ignore this call entirely.
posted by easily confused at 6:00 AM on April 18, 2013
posted by easily confused at 6:00 AM on April 18, 2013
Checking your credit report is a good first step, but there can be mistakes in those, too.
US specific information, assuming this is a third party collection agency: If you don't think it's a valid debt or are not sure it's yours, you have the right under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) to have them validate the debt. Some info on that here. They need to cease collection efforts until they obtain proof that it's valid.
If it's not a valid debt - excellent, you've proved it's not yours. Even if it is valid, the FDCPA also allows you to notify the debt collector in writing that you want them to cease contact about this debt unless they are ceasing collection efforts or taking a specific legal remedy (like a lawsuit).
posted by marshmallow peep at 6:32 AM on April 18, 2013
US specific information, assuming this is a third party collection agency: If you don't think it's a valid debt or are not sure it's yours, you have the right under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) to have them validate the debt. Some info on that here. They need to cease collection efforts until they obtain proof that it's valid.
If it's not a valid debt - excellent, you've proved it's not yours. Even if it is valid, the FDCPA also allows you to notify the debt collector in writing that you want them to cease contact about this debt unless they are ceasing collection efforts or taking a specific legal remedy (like a lawsuit).
posted by marshmallow peep at 6:32 AM on April 18, 2013
Sort of in the same boat -- I also received a call from a debt collector (in the evening) but they were looking for my sister, and asked for her phone number. I refused to give it to them without knowing what the debt was for, and they refused to tell me and hung up on me. They had left a bunch of voicemails previously, asking for my sister. I live in NY. Is this a scam?
posted by qzar at 7:45 AM on April 18, 2013
posted by qzar at 7:45 AM on April 18, 2013
I was getting a similar robo-call for awhile, except it said something to the effect of, "if we've reached this number in error, please hang up now." They were in error, so I hung up as instructed. But then they called back. Over and over and over again. I finally just called them back, got a human on the line, and told them they had the wrong number. After that I never heard from them again.
Humans 1, Robots 0.
posted by spilon at 8:59 AM on April 18, 2013
Humans 1, Robots 0.
posted by spilon at 8:59 AM on April 18, 2013
Get your credit report to confirm that you're in good standing but . . . it's probably a scam. I had the same thing happen to me this fall. They called me relentlessly, and then eventually stopped.
posted by ablazingsaddle at 10:53 AM on April 18, 2013
posted by ablazingsaddle at 10:53 AM on April 18, 2013
Why don't you just call them back? They can't reach through the phone and steal your money.
Not proud to say, but I have been called by debt collectors a generous handful of times in my life, and it was always for an actual debt. Keep your credit card number to yourself, sure, but if you call them and get somebody on the phone they will tell you exactly what the deal is.
posted by TheRedArmy at 6:07 PM on April 18, 2013
Not proud to say, but I have been called by debt collectors a generous handful of times in my life, and it was always for an actual debt. Keep your credit card number to yourself, sure, but if you call them and get somebody on the phone they will tell you exactly what the deal is.
posted by TheRedArmy at 6:07 PM on April 18, 2013
Why don't you just call them back? They can't reach through the phone and steal your money.
If you do this, be careful to not reveal any personal information (that they don't already demonstrate that they have) - it could still be an ID theft scam.
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 7:23 PM on April 18, 2013
If you do this, be careful to not reveal any personal information (that they don't already demonstrate that they have) - it could still be an ID theft scam.
posted by His thoughts were red thoughts at 7:23 PM on April 18, 2013
This thread is closed to new comments.
posted by LukeLockhart at 9:52 PM on April 17, 2013 [2 favorites]