They are a legit collection agency (Google and secretary of state should help verify that).  With any collection company calling: I would call back and make sure they have the right number or see if you owe something. Common sense would tell me 1. Find out who they are looking for (a.) if its not me inform them it is not you (b.) if it is me get the information on the bill that I owe 2. Verify the bill 3. Pay the bill 3 (a.) If I cant afford to pay it either set up a plan to pay or contact both the collection agency and original creditor in writing and explain that I cannot pay.

Just common sense when dealing with a collections office. In addition to paying my bills on time, I additionally take some extra steps to ensure I didn't miss one or to ensure I do not get repeated calls from agencies looking for the wrong person.

In my case they were looking for a woman who no longer had my number, I told them this and haven't received a call since.

Yes---but it does apply if they intentionally harass a non-debtor. Read on:

Under the TCPA, a consumer has a right to file a lawsuit and recover $500 for each call that violates the TCPA. The TCPA can also be used in conjunction with the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act in some situations.  

Generally, the TCPA does not apply to debt collectors making collection calls to debtors. However, if you are subjected to calls from a debt collector and you are not the debtor, you may file a lawsuit against the debt collector under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) and the TCPA.

This right was recently recognized by Judge Legrome D. Davis in a case called Watson v. NCO Group, Inc.  NCO Group is a debt collector that uses automated prerecorded collection calls.  In this case, Mr. Watson alleged he was getting hundreds of calls from NCO Group after he got a new phone number. Mr. Watson claimed he owed no debt to NCO Group, Inc.  Mr. Watson filed suit under both the FDCPA and TCPA.

David Israel, defense lawyer for NCO, argued that the TCPA should not apply to debt collectors.  Judge Davis rejected the argument made by David Israel. The judge ruled that Mr. Watson had a right to sue NCO Group Inc under the TCPA for $500 for each call.  Judge Davis wrote;

[The] Court is convinced that a non-debtor's rights are in fact violated when he is subjected to repeated annoying and abusive debt collection calls that he remains powerless to stop.

Judge Davis' ruling was based upon his interpretation that collection calls to non-debtors violate the privacy rights provided by the TCPA.  

So what can you do if you receive "wrong number" calls from debt collectors?

1. Sign up for the Do-Not-Call registry.
2. Save the calls captured by your voice mail or answering machine.
3. Contact a consumer lawyer.

http://consumerlawyer.typepad.com/blog/2008/02/the-do-not-call.html

Collection agencies do not need to send you certified notifications

Collection agencies make money whether you pay through them or not.

Collection agencies do not need to abide by the "no call list" as it is not a telemarketing call

Very strange call from ext 156 with NO information!!! I pay ALL my bills on time!! ALL of them!! Who are these people and if they are legit where is a letter and why can't you reach them to find out??!!!

I will come by, have your address, maybe we can straihten this out in person??? Thanks sallie mae

I will pay you your 50 a month if you stop harrassing me!!!!

Stop terrorizing my phone at odd hours, wheni miss your call I can't call uback

Frequent calls and hang up. Use a caller-ID number that is not in service (978)303-8001. Learned of caller's number when I caught call on first ring. It's Benuck & Rainey, a debtor that tries to anonymously harass and get away with it!

UMMM, what makes you think I have any unpaid bills you pompass a**!!! They are calling my free txt number on my ipad.

thatll get your bill paid.. good job.

you are stupid. all of you are idiots.. The BBB lists benuck and rainey as a legitimate company. do your research.  THe reason why you cant return the call, is because its a 13 people run buisness, and most likely the person that called you, is currently calling someone else.. Pay your bills so people dont bother you. Its that simple.

Kept getting those calls and no message was ever left. I had to block the number

<sigh>
I keep getting calls for long gone ex, who is apparently using my number as a contact number.
He has no address (lives in hotel)
Serves him right.

Any idea how to block this from happening (without changing my number)
I have repaired my credit after he did a job on it...Im almost there!
I am not paying every Tom, Dick, and Harry he owes money to..he has been gone years.

Bennuck and Rainey actually are in NH, not Mass.

339 US Rte 4
Barrington NH
(603) 868-5566  <-- Direct number
(888) 697-5566  <-- Toll free (so they can trap your call back number)

Received collections message, asked to call back to ext 126. They called on caller ID 617-849-9478 which is a cell number.

I won't even speak with a machine. I just hang up!

This is a scam.

If this was something critical, a collection agency or a legal matter they have to notify you in writing (certified I believe).  

If you ever see those posters on the side of the road to call (xxx) xxx-xxxx to make money and work from home, it's these telemarketers.  I searched the number that the call originated from in 603 area code and it belongs to a calling service.  Pay these calling services, tell them what you want to say and they will call a range of people.  The people making the calls are paid per call, so that is why they talk fast.

If you really find they are annoying you can report them to the local police.

Alot of the #'s are provided by the original creditor. Very rarely does a file get sent over without the original creditor doing the research. (why would you use a cills toons office, and pay them, without doing everything you can to get the money yourself?)

I got a call from the above number, at least that was the call back number but the number that came through on my caller ID was 603 868 2453 She said her name was Courtney and that she had to speak to me about an important business matter.

You state "All of the information and phone numbers they have are provided to them at the time they receive the debt"...I do not agree as most or all go farther.  The information they are provided with is just a stepping stone to get relative's information..numbers....etc. they trace and thier business (collections) is to find the person to pay the bill.

I do believe if they call you TWICE within (1) one day ....even though it may be (2) different representatives calling they can be fined.  In the State of NH (the last time I knew) up to $10,000.00.

(this is also posted under the number that showed on my caller ID first, 603-868-2469)
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Odd ... the message that I just got from this number was to call a different number back (888 697 5566), and she left her name and extension ... but not the name of the company. She said it was regarding a "personal business matter." OK, so I'm going to call them ... be right back ...
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(I'll post this under the 888 number, too). As it turns out, it was for someone with my same name. Once I told her the last four digits of my SSN, she said it was a different person and apologized for calling my cell phone.

BIG SIGH ... bad business practice to call everyone with the same name when you're trying to collect on a bill! There are many other people in the country with the same name as mine!!!

Call from LeeAnne. Legit Bill Collector. Old Hospital bill I owed. Was able to work with me on making payments too!

A man called from this number and left a voicemail on my private mobile phone, asking for either myself or my partner. Do they really think I'm going to call back? They said it's a "personal matter".

They're simply another parasitic collection agency just trying to get your attention.  They most likely bought a bad debt from someone else you owed money to at a lower rate, and now they are attempting to harass you into paying them.  Standard MO.

Oh and as far as why they leave such vague messages, unless you give them permission, they can't leave the details as to why they are calling (exeption being if it is a commercial or company debt). And doesn't that protect us? I know I would not want everywhere they are leaving a message to say that I owe money, would you? Call the collection agency and work out a payment arrangement. Most of them will work with you. Most Agencies that do not buy their debts, don't and can't put a charge onto the account. If there is one and the agency has not "bought" the debt then the original creditor added the fee and you should not be angry at the collections office. I worked in finance and we used collection agencies quite often. All were very professional and treated our customers great.

Benuck & Rainey Inc is a legitimate collections agency. They do not buy their debts. All of the information and phone numbers they have are provided to them at the time they receive the debt. If you call the original creditor, they will probably tell you that there is a zero balance because they have to do a charge off to place it in collections. Also many of the entry level customer service reps at the creditors office probably wouldn't know which collection agencies are used. If you feel you do not owe a debt, submit a letter in writing as well as via fax and most collection agencies will address your concerns. If you aren't the person they are looking for, pick up the phone and tell them so that they can remove your number. Most likely the person they are looking for used friends or family for references or alternate contacts. Try to use your common sense before you get pissed off at a collection agency and make yourself look like an idiot. Pay your bills or if you don't owe them, send in the documentation supporting your claim. Otherwise, it only negatively impacts you.

I got a TEXT message saying to call that number. It came up on my cell as "Text Message", it usually comes up with the number of the person who is texting or a name if they are saved in my phone.
The messages reads "Please call 888-697-5566", no name or anything about what this number is. It seemed really suspect to me, so I haven't called it and just decided to check online to see what the number is.

i refused and Deleted the message