Android users can also block unwanted calls/callers with an app called Mr. Number. You can either send them straight to voicemail or hang up on them. I love Mr. Number!

There is a statute of limitations in every state unsecured credit cards 4-6 years depending on which state....doesnt matter whom buys it when however it is illegal for them to write it off per IRS and then sell it...time uncle Sam shut down these scammers

Most of the time, it's not them hanging up. It's a transfer from an automatic dialer because you answered the phone. The more often you answer,  the  more often your number is programmed to be dialed.

There is a statute of limitations on all unsecured debts in every state with the exception of student loans.  However, that doesn't stop these companies from breaking the law. Just add this number to your reject list on your cell  phone or  ask  for a V.O.D  letter  from them.

Answer their calls but put the phone on mute and don't talk to them. By answering their robo-dialer calls, you will cost them money.  If enough people do this, they will go bankrupt quickly.  Then maybe you can form a debt collection company and bug their execs for the next 20 years.

Just so you know there is no statute of limitations on debt. the bad part is that debt collectors buy debt for the original party for pennies on the dollar then try to collect the entire debt as theres..that's a load of crap..if I owed Wells Fargo 10,000 and they sell the debt for pennies on the dollar, they wrote of the rest of it. I don't feel you should have to recognize a second tier collector as owing the same amout...KMA

Federal laws are for the most part only effective against collection agencies operating in the physical USA, and anything beyond that you will need a lawyer to help you find treaties that may help you against them.

This does not help much when they are calling you from India, Philippines, China, or anywhere else. As the best way to deal with them is get a phone with selective ring, and have to ring for people that you want to talk to.

There really is no easy way to get most of them to leave us alone, even when it is not our bill, or a bill that has been paid when they are outside the country, and are basically pulling a variant on the Nigerian scams. I bought a cell phone, and have tried to contact the people that keep calling for those that I have never heard of before, and nothing works, even after 15 years.

Best to think of them as pond scum, and do not bother with them as you will get the yuck on yourself in dealing with them. Just ignore them, and hope that they will leave.

If you watch you will find that there are calls that are invalid numbers as well. Also now days even collection agencies have moved to other countries such as India and Philippines.

You really do not know where they are calling from, as I have known for almost 2 decades now people can have prefixes anywhere in the world, and be anywhere else. Phone numbers mean nothing to know where the person is calling from.

That is unless it is can be proven to be a landline, then those are ones where the number does correspond with the physical location. This goes back to Western Electric and when the area codes were first put in place to dial without using an operator for long distance. This applies to PacBell, GTE, and a number of others that are ones that provide landlines to people and businesses.

This is just another scam, and best thing to do is not answer them. You want them to waste as much of their time and resources as possible that way they will leave you alone.

I have had ones that are worse call my wife, and said that they were going to go to my job and arrest me if I didn't pay. I asked her to get as much info that she could, but all she could get is a wrong number out of the person. I told her what was going on, and she was no longer worried, but mad.

Also one other trick that they may try to pull is sending you a registered letter, and if you are not expecting one don't sign and don't refuse, just let it go as undeliverable.

This is not God's kingdom, and being honest with these scum is the worst possible thing that you can do for yourself and family. Even if you have not a clue as who they are looking for do nothing to help them, they are worse than rogue police in going after people. They are going after money and will lie cheat and steal from whoever they can. Does not matter if it not your debt, still best not to talk to them, as you will be on their sucker list.

As for collections, if you get a collection letter for something that you know you have paid. First call the place that it is said the money is owed, and then the collection agency and tell them how it is they are making a mistake and here is your proof.

I have had bills for a city that I used to live in that were that way they were paid in full, but two years later showed up as a mistake to a collection agency.

Basically I'm saying do not trust anything that you are told over the phone, as most of it is lies. Also cover your self by keeping proof that you have paid your bills with receipts.  Electronic copies are not good because they are easy to destroy just like the thermal paper receipts that we get from the grocery store. Make a good photocopy with waterproof ink, or a laser copy of the receipt. Computers make mistakes all the time, anyone that tells you differently does not know computers.

OH.. So it's the Republican owned company of Portfolio Recovery. Thanks for the notices.

Just rec'd a call on my cell which no body had except my son & work. Not in my address book so I didn't answer and they didn't leave a message. Marking it spam.

I get at least one call a week from this number. I never answer and they never leave a message.

Called this morning and didn't leave any message. wrong number, I guess.

We have received verification that there is no business in the name of Portfolio Recovery Associates, LLC registered with the Commissioner of the Revenue of Norfolk, Virginia at either 140 Corporate Bvd. or 120 Corporate Bvld., Norfolk, Virginia. (Letter of Commissioner of Revenues, Norfolk Virginia)



http://caught.net/caught/laing.htm

that number called me and hung up.

And thank you!  Due to their shady practices, I've collected several thousand dollars off of Portfolio in settlements =)

Calls from every area code in the US.  Makes it easy to block when they call because I  have their number and its one step to ignore them! Thanks D-bag recovery! =)

Mentally Retarded Might be it....This group has called me concerning a supposed debt that I have never had... tried to explain that there has been some action concerning ID theft with me and the account that he/she is speaking about is not mine.  So these people then proceed to ask me questions like what is my address, my last four digits of my social security and so on... and my reply is are you kidding me!!!  Just told you about issues with ID theft and you think I am going to give you my personal info on the phone.... to many fakes out there using the names of some legitimate companies, plus you are told to never confirm or give out information to unsolicited callers!
Even the IRS this year has sent out a warning about fraudulent letters that look official asking information be sent... people bewary!!!

This group has called me concerning a supposed debt that I have never had... tried to explain that there has been some action concerning ID theft with me and the account that he/she is speaking about is not mine.  So these people then proceed to ask me questions like what is my address, my last four digits of my social security and so on... and my reply is are you kidding me!!!  Just told you about issues with ID theft and you think I am going to give you my personal info on the phone.... to many fakes out there using the names of some legitimate companies, plus you are told to never confirm or give out information to unsolicited callers!
Even the IRS this year has sent out a warning about fraudulent letters that look official asking information be sent... people bewary!!!

told me I owed a dept on a credit card I never owned! I never took out a credit card....also they asked for my social it was defiantly a scam

Debt Collector, People speaking in the background sounds like Arabic or something. Actually it was kind of scary maybe should be reported.

These people have been harrassing me since I turned 18. I get at least 2 or 3 calls a week. I have no debt so there is no reason for them to be calling me even if they are a "collection agency." I have learned to never answer and I hope you will too!

You need to wake-up man.
He said they're trying to collect on a 20 year old debt. Look at all the other posts that pretty much say the same thing. They collect (try) old debts.
Get off yer Mom's computer and go outside and play.

didn't answer and Mr. Number blocks calls not in my contacts.

Callas repeatedly and never leaves a message.

Why,  Bless your little heart.  Thanks so much for the heads up.  It is nice to know that YOU are going to make Me suffer for the rest of my life.  It will be a bit difficult for you to ruin my life, since I have no outstanding debt.  Still, good luck in your pursuits.  Say hello to Charon once you meet him by the river!

Hi  from Bank of America - bet you wish you had paid us now - we are going to make you suffer for the rest of your lifes - it does not matter that we played dirty tricks on you - we sold your inflated debt to Portfolio Recovery Associates for pennies on the dollar to torture you for the rest of your lives.

Just received a call from them but I didn't recognize the number, so I came across this website to find out its a debt collecting agency!

It is true. I know in my State unless you give them specific permissions to record the phone call, they cannot do it if you tell them so!

It appears that these people might be 'Work from home commission sales employees' hence the numerous phone numbers and locations. So, to get these idiots to stop, that is if Reason doesn't work. Find out where they live, and start parking near their homes and maybe following them around town for awhile when they leave the security of their nest. I am sure it would not take long for them to reconsider the true value of their chosen profession!