May I know what's happening after that? I have the same issue.

Companies like ARL, buy bad debts from banks at a fraction of what is owed.
Then they ruthless to recover the full outstanding amount so they can make big profits.
The best way to deal with these rude and threatening phone calls is to not give personal info.
In the event that you have already done this and harassment increases ask for your contract to be sent to you. If they do have your contract, which they never do!! Tell them to take you to court.
If it goes to court, which it never does!!! They can't sue, cause you don't have a contract with them.
That's the reason they don't have your details.

Got a suspect text message - no details and we have no outstanding debts. Reading all these posts, it seems very dodgy. Why won't they give us any clear information about the debt?

I just had the same thing and ended up telling the lady I spoke to stop playing games as she refused to answer any of my questions - like what is that you do?  In the end I told her to go f&$k hereself.  

The reason they dont give you any information is so that you will confirm all details then they will continue to hassle you for payment.  Under law that cant do anything until they are sure they are speaking to the correct person.

Dont admit anything and dont enter into arrangements.  Infact if they dont give you information just hangup.

I got a call and email from Arlcollect.com.au.
I told them that I have no agreement with Optus and that I have no money to pay them.

i got my 2000$ bill for my optus late fee ( it was just late for 1 month) then the optus customer service told me to call to this number to reactive my service. I have no idea what going on here.

They called me today and left a message, similar to the above. I think they were looking for the previous owner of the phone. There was talking in the background, as if from a call centre.

i just had text message with QUOTE number , i called them and they were looking for different person, , they are financial recovery company based in Australia. They taking care for optus mobile/landline accounts.

ARL is Australian Receivables Limited, which is affiliate of Australian Collectors & Debt Buyers Association (ACDBA), a part of the network of Statewide Mercantile Services, and associated with CreditCorp who referred my file to them. They have been harassing me for the past year about an old Internet/phone line from Optus about four years ago in a building complex that was demolished. I told them that I was unemployed, being treated for serious medical injuries, and I was only on welfare. You know what how the b*****ds treated me? They interrogated me and ask me endless questions like a criminal and called me when I was in hospital or in college even though I warned them that they have no legal right to demand me pay sh#t when my welfare barely covers my living expenses! I referred a debt counsellor to deal with them and they ignored her! Then I gave them over to a financial lawyer, and instead of waiting for the lawyer to call them they wanted information about the lawyer before I could even arrange appointment with my lawyer to call them! DO NOT CALL ARL BACK!

I received frequent harrassing calls from this agency two years ago. It never was resolved because they refused to tell me who they represented. They insisted that I tell them my home address, date of birth etc.
All I asked was who they claimed to represent. They would not tell me. I said i'd be happy to confirm my identity if they can confirm who I am accused of owing debt to. They were -completely- uncooperative, rude and eventually threatening.
It's completely absurd for a supposed debt collection agency to not inform those they're seeking debts from where those debts originated. Whose privacy are they violating by giving such general information? Particularly when they are (rudely) demanding such specific personal information from us, on a personal contact number in our personal time.

Don't be bullied by these fools. Tell them nothing.

I have just responded to a text message on my mobile number.  I called the number [1300 730 151] and mentioned that I had no idea what this all about.  With the reference number it was apparent that the number that they had on record was out-of-date.

In any event in order to avoid a potential scam it would be advisable ONLY to divulge sufficient information to identify the (alleged) claim against you.  Sufficient, information would be any reference number that has been quoted.  Should these people require further information before answering any questions, then simply ignore such requests.  After all if they were a genuine credit collection agency then they would freely divulge any general information - this can ONLY help them to better do their job of collecting debts on behalf of third parties.

They sent the message to my bf with a Ref Num
should we call back???
Never heard this company be4

They keep calling my wife, we have no debts either.
:-( Grrrr

Not giving them any information

I too getting text and call from this name of company . Oh my god ! They dont know what time they have to make call at 2100 hrs i got call from them and start asking my name daye of birth. I told many time i am busy can ring in business hours but no changes . Keep calling and texting.

OK so they ring me three times and ask for my DOB to confirm identity....from a blocked number! DONT GIVE THEM ANY INFORMATION, this is identity theft waiting to happen

I just got the same text message! From ARL! at just
after midnight!! Startled me!!
I rang it... worried of course..I don't have any outstanding
debts :( Asked for credit card.. or speak to consultant.
Of course ...closed. I am not ringing back! If was legit call,
from a legit business . .. who contacts people at midnight????
Good night :( !

I keep getting text saying please call arl regarding an urgent matter. When I phoned back there was a generic answer message with no business name mentioned just 2 options, 1 an option to make a credit card payment, or 2 speak with an agent, and when someone answered they asked for my reference number. Gave them the reference number, at which point she started asking for my personal details, I asked what this was about, said she could not tell me until I gave them my personal information. I refused.

i also just recieved a a call from them 5mins ago with a lady with a accent and she gave me reference number i said i wasnt home and i said whats it in  reguards to she wouldnt say and i have them ring me all the time and its getting annoying. ive told them before to f*** off  but they dont get it. who are theses people ringing at 9pm at night.

I have had about 6 phone calls from ARL (Australian ReceivablesLimited) asking all the same things: can I please confirm your last name, date of birth, phone number and address. Each time I refuse, the last phone call I said stop calling me I won't give you this information. She said they would continue to call me. I asked for her name, she stuttered the name "GAL" and I asked for her phone number. The number I was given was 130070151. When I phoned back there was a generic answer message with no business name mentioned (dodgy) and an option to make a credit card payment, I opted to speak with an agent, and when someone answered they asked for my reference number, and I also heard giggling in the background. THIS IS A SPAM: do not give any information!!

I too just received a phone call at 7.30pm by someone from "ARL" asking for my personal details. I didnt give them and wrote down the phone number and reference number she gave me. I'm concerned because in the background of the conversation I could hear people laughing and having a jolly old time.. No one actually confirmed whether or not they know if this company is legitimate? Should I call them back?

operator calls me at 8pm at night asking my personal details for example ............... my phone number, address,date of birth and when i asked the operator who they were and whats it regarding they replied until we verify your details we cannot give you our details so i gave them what they asked and then when they continued to ask my mobile i replied to them i have already given you too much information. the operator then said this is our phone number and reference number. i replied i will give you a call back on tuesday in buisness hours.

I also had a call from this number which left a message to call them back with a reference number, who is ARL? I can't even find information on google!

i receavied a call from this number wat u mean by dept collection agency

This number called my mothers house and spoke to mum asking for me, i dont know what its about, the company was called ARL,i called them back and said that i had a missed call from them and asked what their company did but the woman wouldnt say.

i have received a message on my phone from this number but it was for my husband??? they wouldnt tell us who they were and wanted our dob and address etc... we never gave it to them we hung up.... who are these people?

@Vic: By "debt collection agency," he means precisely that - they collect unpaid debts. To wit, they are a mercantile agent.

Their web site is at http://www.arlcollect.com.au/

I have recieved text messages from ARA stating a reference number and I need to urgently call them back.
Anyone know who this is?