Bad Credit Agency

Can a credit agency call me regarding a family members debt?

I just received a call from a collection agency looking for a family member. I dont know how they got my number but he has never lived here and would never have given my number out. I am on the do not call list, I feel this is harrassment. Can they call me and if not, where do I report this?

Public Comments

1. If it is a loan and you are the co-signer, then yes they can. Other than that, no they can not. Get their info the next time they call and tell them to never call again because they are violating the law. Report them to your State Attorney Generals office. They will be able to take a complaint and then steer you to the appropriate course of action.
2. 1. Block the number. 2. Pay the bill 3. The FCC report page doesn't work. 4. Beg the person on the other line to remove you, your not the person their looking for. 5. Don't answer.
3. The Federal Communication Commission is the agency that's in charge of solicitors (2nd link.) But this isn't a solicitation call. They are making a reasonable effort to communicate with a debtor. If you told them the person wasn't at that phone number, then they shouldn't call you back. If they do, call the Federal Trade Commission and report them for harassment (1st link.)
4. The Do Not Call list does not apply to Collection Agencies. Now per the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act(FDCPA) they are allowed to contact anyone they feel may know where the debtor is. But only in reference to try and locating the person. Once you tell them you don't know they are not allowed to call again. They are not allowed to give you any information about the debt when they call. Just that they need to talk to them about a "personal business matter".
5. OK, hold yer horses... one call is not "harassment." The company got your name and number from your relative who at some point put you down as a reference on this loan. Collection companies do NOT scan the phone books calling everyone who has the same last name as your relative in hopes of finding family. Instead, they start with the listed phone number, and then work their way through employers, and personal references hoping to find the borrower who is either not answering the phone or has skipped. Of the many business loans I've taken out in the past, I've always been asked for the names and phone numbers of 2 close relatives "not living with me." The point of this is if the borrower ends up moving, the company has some way to track them down so they collect on the debt owed. If you've made it clear that the company can NOT call you again, and they do so, THEN it becomes harassment and you have a valid claim. You can contact the state attorney's office ~ they have all sorts of consumer complaint resources that will get you pointed in the right direction.
6. Call your relative and ask them to pay up. It's really the relatives fault that you are getting calls. You must either have the same last name or your relative listed you as a reference on their original credit application.
7. Inform them that you are not the party they are looking for and that under the Fair Debt Collection Practice Act (FDCPA) they are in violation of section 804(acquisition of location information) and section 805 (Communication in connection with debt collection). If they contact you again, tell them you will report them to the FTC. You do not have to give them any information on your family member.
8. Yes they Can. They try every number they can. They can't continue as long as you tell them you are not the person they are looking for.