[GeoGeo]

We keep getting phone calls looking for a certain person that we don't know. I assume it is a collection agency trying to track someone down. I have told them every day that we do not know this person and please do not calls us again. 99.9% of the time the guy just hangs up on us. The next day we get the same phone call. I tried calling the phone number on the caller ID, but you could not get anyone and could not leave a message because the box was full. We do not know this person they are looking for. How do we put a stop to these annoying calls?

[Mike&Marilyn]

We have had the same thing happening with us. We use Century Link for our land line and I presume they gave us a phone number that was used by someone else as the calls are looking of the same. Very annoying. I do the same thing tell them that the person by the name does not have this number any more and I don't know them. Used phone numbers should be on a rotation of years before used again. Hope it stops soon. I feel your pain.

[golf2140]

Speak to is boss. Let them know that ypu will be contacting an attorney because of these calls. Get the company name then file a complaint.

[zcaveman]

If you have Comcast voice you can put them on a blocked list and you will never hear from them again - unless they are on a rotary.

Z

[Barefoot]

Originally Posted by GeoGeo

We keep getting phone calls looking for a certain person that we don't know. I assume it is a collection agency trying to track someone down. I have told them every day that we do not know this person and please do not calls us again. 99.9% of the time the guy just hangs up on us. The next day we get the same phone call. I tried calling the phone number on the caller ID, but you could not get anyone and could not leave a message because the box was full. We do not know this person they are looking for. How do we put a stop to these annoying calls?

Collection companies are very persistent.
That's how they get paid.
If you were sheltering a debtor, you would probably say you don't know that person.

If you have caller ID, don't answer your phone when their number appears.
If you don't have caller ID, just put down the receiver after they identify themselves and walk away.
If it really intolerable, call your provider and ask for a different number.

[GeoGeo]

We may have to just put up with it. They will not tell you their company name or anything about what they are calling about. They almost always end up hanging up on us. Forgot about talking to a supervisor. I wish I owned a whistle. I may end up having to get one. I could tell them we don't know that person and them let them have it. Maybe they would get the message. It is a New York number (or so it says). We always answer it because it could be one of many relatives calling from NY. I guess I could post the phone number on all the phones so we would know. But they will just call back later in the day. So not answering doesn't solve anything. We really don't know this guy they are looking for. Do they think that if they call enough we will eventually say that we do know him? I agree that the phone company should have to wait longer than it does to give out phone numbers. Whose to say if we change numbers that we wouldn't get an even worse case of crazy phone calls. Our luck. <LOL>

[Carl in Tampa]

Tell the caller that you heard that the person they are looking for was executed in the Florida State Prison several months ago.

[OBXNana]

Our daughter had a similar situation. She changed her number. AT&T told her that was the only option other than ignoring the call or answering and telling the caller she wasn't Roxanne. This was her cell phone.

[Carl in Tampa]

Who is your telephone provider? Virtually all providers have some way to protect you from this kind of harassment, including getting the police involved.

If it is Comcast call the Comcast Legal Demand Center at 1-866-947-8572, opt 2, 1, 1 and discuss the problem.

If it is another provider, call them and ask for help.

[karostay]

I had the same situation no amount of telling the caller that the person they were looking for does not reside here would work.
Week after week the calls would persist..
Finally one day I had it
I answered the phone and sure enough they were inquiring about the person they presumed resided at our home.
I paused briefly and said Thank You you must be calling to express you condolences .It was so unexpected .We are having rough time dealing with our sudden loss of a loved one
I thank you for thinking of us during our time of need
There was complete silence and a appolgy for disturbing us and never got another phone call

[Ecuadog]

When I first moved here and got a Century Link copper landline, the same thing happened to me. I searched online and found out that the calling number belonged to a certain "recovery company." Then I did a lot of research online in an effort to identify as many of the company employees as possible, especially the ones at the top of the pyramid. Then I tried to find email addresses for as many as I could. I know, a lot of work, but I came up with about eight addresses for people that might have some sway. Then I emailed all of them the following note. I did get an email back from someone at the company saying that they would remove my number from their database. I still get an occasional call here and there, but that doesn't mean it's from a collection agency.



I have been receiving phone calls from XYZ Recovery Company, LLC, that are meant to collect a debt from a John Doe(sp?). I am not that party, nor is that party a member of my household.

Please stop calling my recently acquired phone number, 352-nnn-nnnn.

Thank you,
Jeff Mylastname


Fair Debt Collection Practices Act
…
§ 805. Communication in connection with debt collection [15 USC 1692c]
…
(b) COMMUNICATION WITH THIRD PARTIES. Except as provided in section 804, without the prior consent of the consumer given directly to the debt collector, or the express permission of a court of competent jurisdiction, or as reasonably necessary to effectuate a postjudgment judicial remedy, a debt collector may not communicate, in connection with the collection of any debt, with any person other than a consumer, his attorney, a consumer reporting agency if otherwise permitted by law, the creditor, the attorney of the creditor, or the attorney of the debt collector.
...

[rubicon]

If the OP's problem is a collections agency they will continue to call
ad nauseam We tried everything but the agency called for three years.

If the call is from a tele-marketer again we placed them all on a do not call list. and did the screening calls with Comcast to no avail. Called Comcast (telephone Section) no help
Perhaps the legal center at comcast might do the trick

[quirky3]

Even telling them that the person has died will not work - I get calls for an elderly person who lived in my house before I did. They died a few years back and now I get calls wanting to know if I am responsible for paying their remaining debts, or if I know anyone who might be responsible.

[Carl in Tampa]

Tell the caller that the person they are looking for is fleeing from the police, who have a warrant for his arrest for murder because he killed a bill collector.

[TNLAKEPANDA]

Most phone companies have a block list especially cell phones like Verizon you can do it online. If we get a call that says Anonymous we don't answer.