Receiving calls from my son's creditors

[Avalon]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? NJ

My adult son bailed on his credit card debt. He lived with me on and off in his 20's, so his home phone number was my number. I moved from that state and got a new home phone number two years ago. He has never lived with me here. The collection agencies are calling my new number, which I know they couldn't have obtained from him. Once when I told them he did not live at this number, they said they couldn't change it unless they had a new number. So until then, they'd continue to keep my number in their records.

Is this true? Most of the time, I don't answer when I see an unidentified caller, but the calls are a pain in the a**. I am furious that they put my new number in their records, when he's never lived at this number, he's a grown man and I am not responsible for what he's done. He obtained credit cards on his own, without any help from me. Can I just tell them to get my number off their records without supplying a new number? I can't get rid of them by saying he's not at this number, or they have a wrong number, etc. They want to know who I am, what my relationship is to him, am I his wife, etc. One of them actually tried to intimidate me by implying I, as his mother, might be responsible for his debt. Any advice would be appreciated.

 

[Zigner]

What is the name of your state (only U.S. law)? NJ

My adult son bailed on his credit card debt. He lived with me on and off in his 20's, so his home phone number was my number. I moved from that state and got a new home phone number two years ago. He has never lived with me here. The collection agencies are calling my new number, which I know they couldn't have obtained from him. Once when I told them he did not live at this number, they said they couldn't change it unless they had a new number. So until then, they'd continue to keep my number in their records.

Is this true? Most of the time, I don't answer when I see an unidentified caller, but the calls are a pain in the a**. I am furious that they put my new number in their records, when he's never lived at this number, he's a grown man and I am not responsible for what he's done. He obtained credit cards on his own, without any help from me. Can I just tell them to get my number off their records without supplying a new number? I can't get rid of them by saying he's not at this number, or they have a wrong number, etc. They want to know who I am, what my relationship is to him, am I his wife, etc. One of them actually tried to intimidate me by implying I, as his mother, might be responsible for his debt. Any advice would be appreciated.

I suggest you give them your son's contact information.

 

[Avalon]

Well, thanks, but the question was about this tactic by the creditor. You're assuming facts not in evidence. Not every child keeps in close touch with his or her parent. If anyone has any comment on the actual question about what the creditor is doing, I'd appreciate it.

 

[TigerD]

Well, thanks, but the question was about this tactic by the creditor. You're assuming facts not in evidence. Not every child keeps in close touch with his or her parent. If anyone has any comment on the actual question about what the creditor is doing, I'd appreciate it.

I'll give you the collection agency point of view, but you are not going to like it.
Debtors lie. Their family members lie. Your son lived you off-and-on for years; therefore there is no reason to think he still doesn't or that you do not have his information. The law specifically allows CAs to contact people like parents as often as we feel necessary.

§ 804. Acquisition of location information
Any debt collector communicating with any person other than the consumer for the purpose of acquiring location information about the consumer shall—
...
(3) not communicate with any such person more than once unless requested to do so by such person or unless the debt collector reasonably believes that the earlier response of such person is erroneous or incomplete and that such person now has correct or complete location information;

That section of the law basically allows the CA to hound and harass you until you give up your son. They will call everyday. The computer will dial as often as they set it and calls will continue until they speak with you. There is no law that limits the number of times they can retry an unanswered phone. However once they talk to you, the calls should stop for the day.

DC

 

[Ladynred]

Change your phone number. Make sure the new number is UNlisted and UNpublished - then give it to NO ONE and do NOT put it on ANY applications or forms of any sort, for any reason.

You don't have to answer their intrusive questions, tell them to get stuffed and hang up -- or .. just hang up! I always liked the idea of putting the phone down in front of a radio playing loud gansta rap music.... and walking away

 

[nrknlknek]

Or, you can write the DC a very professional letter that acknowledges their attempts to contact your son at your home and state that he does not reside with you, that you are not aware of his whereabouts, that you have no knowledge of this creditor. Request that they stop calling you and that if they require additional information, please contact you in writing only. If, after sending this letter, they contineu to call you; you may possibly be able to obtain a C&D.

 

[FlyingRon]

Or, you can write the DC a very professional letter that acknowledges their attempts to contact your son at your home and state that he does not reside with you, that you are not aware of his whereabouts, that you have no knowledge of this creditor. Request that they stop calling you and that if they require additional information, please contact you in writing only. If, after sending this letter, they contineu to call you; you may possibly be able to obtain a C&D.

Chortile....yeah taht will work. I can't get NRS to stop calling my cell phone even for people unrelated to me. Seems this deadbeat put my cell phone down as his employer's number.
DC's are the lowest life scum imaginable. Even after I had their local police pay them a visit, they continue to call.

 

[Dandy Don]

What arrangements have you made with your son to accept responsibility for this matter so that HE can start making payments on what he owes?

 

[davew128]

What arrangements have you made with your son to accept responsibility for this matter so that HE can start making payments on what he owes?

The same as you and I have with him. She is under no obligation to do so.

I can't get NRS to stop calling my cell phone even for people unrelated to me. Seems this deadbeat put my cell phone down as his employer's number.

I get that from time to time on both my cell and home phone. Once I pick up or return the call and tell them they have a wrong number, that particular DC stops calling. What's asinine though is leaving a message for Mr. XYZ when the intro on my voice mail clearly says you have reached Mr. ABC. I even had an attorney leaving me phone calls for a third party I didn't know. People don't even listen to what they hear anymore.