I understand the privacy laws, but I have had very high medical expenses and ended up in collections (one went two months after the visit - never even got a statement, figuring it was still going through insurance).  Anyway, I don't appreciate that if I don't answer (they tend to call during the day and I work 7-6 most days, they leave a message for me.  It says at first "if you are not "insert name", please hang up.  If you stay on the line you agree you are "insert name" and we will give you 3 seconds to find a place you can listen to this call"  Now, if it wasn't for me someone else would hear my name, and if they received the call and it went to voicemail, they would get my name and why the call was placed.  Second, I can't confirm if I am that person or not if it goes to voicemail.  So my phone is "continuing to listen to this message you confirm you are "insert name", not me.  So my complaint is that I don't know if someone else ever gets calls like this for me.  I have certainly gotten them for other people when I had a new number.  I've spent quite a bit of time trying to convince them I am not that person.  Which I have done because I really don't want someone else's information.  On that note, I received a call once from a utility company verifying the address they were checking on.  My new number, so it wasn't for me, and I received the name and address of someone else and knew what work was being done.  That's scary.  Anyway, I will talk with these companies.  Some are really nice, some will be belligerent (had one that claimed I owed $25 from a cable company I had not used in years, for equipment not returned.  I had returned the equipment.  I kept getting these calls, and instead of going to the cable co, I just paid it (Yeah, I did, but this same thing happened again, this time I had a receipt - got smarter-) I know the collection callers are doing their job, and if I owe it, I want to work something out.  I won't work with someone who acts like I'm a criminal from the start.  I will call who I owed and tell them I won't go through their collection agency.  I've had medical bills non-stop (one year $16,000 out of pocket, not uncommon amount for us) for decades, so I've had some experience.

called my very private cell phone. I did not answer.

They've been calling for over a year over some hospital bills.  Finally some Paula left a message this morning, no one had left a message before that.  They can harass all they want but the fact is that we don't have the money to pay it or we would.

I just block the call.  Done!

Got a call from the number, didn't pick up since I did not recognize it. Googled it and ended up here. There was a woman talking but neither I or my husband could figure out what she was saying. It sounded like "Lion King" but I doubt that's what she said. lol
In any case this number is being blocked, sounds like some unpleasant people.

This company is VERY rude.  I work in customer service with a company that also handles debt collecting, but the way this business goes about it is very ILLEGAL.  I do know my rights and laws.  All you need to do to have them stop contacting you is write them a letter, sign it, and mail it to them.  By Wisconsin law, if you have that given to them, they can no longer contact you.

I once had Rachel contact me during the recession.  I was looking for second/third job to help pay my debt, and wasn't finding anything because no one was hiring.  Rachel said "have you tried looking for a second job" and I said "yes I have, but the economy isn't very good".  She said "what does the economy have to do with anything"....Very rude, very unintelligent.

They call me several times a day.I have several collections with them. They are all related to my failing bars. I just give them someone elses number.

Hell I'll never pay.

none vague

I just got a call from Sara Adams tel # 920 431-2139, and she is available until 7 pm.
Stupid people they think other people is going to call them without checking who they are.
they sound desperate for a $15 bill, wowwwww.

You are right, but they moved, I know where they are, but I can't remember the address, i'll get it and post it. they are really mean, unscrupulous people.

I have no problem with paying my debts.  However after a lost job and a divorce I am well under poverty.  Since the divorce I also have no credit.  I cannot take out a loan, I can not borrow against my house even, that is paid for due to bad credit and no job.  not everyone is out to screw over our debtors.  Some of us trust in the Lord to meet our needs. The relentless harassment by collection agency's is uncalled for.  Everyone I owe money to has been contacted on a monthly basis.  Guess I should file medical bancrupcy

I know I owe a hospital bill, but I will never pay any debts through a collection agency unless the company I owe it to says I have to. I had an old debt I was actually trying to pay a few years ago. The company I owed kept moving the debt to various collection agencys. I never did pay it cause I couldn't find out who to send the money to. Oh well. Ancient history now as its past the 7 years & off my credit report.
I will not respond to agencys like this one as they are liars & just plain rude,

Actually I got a phone call from this person on my cell, trying to figure out how others are getting my cell # but anyways yea I don't have bankruptcy and I've tried telling people that the person they are looking for does not live here anymore and they still keep calling so I just report them for harassment using the "No Call List Complaint Center"

Keep getting calls from this number, when call is missed and goes to voicemail there's 5 seconds of dead air and then a click want to know who this is calling me

calls show up on caller id as   a
i usually answer calls as long as a name or company shows up on id but this looks like someone trying to hid identity and refuse to answer to an a.

So much ignorance on here!  I'm aware of this, but clearly MANY more people need to read your post

I received numerous calls from this number, so I called them back.  When the person picked up it was just hello, like I was calling a friend.  So, I said, this number called my phone, I was calling back since no message was left on my voicemail any of the times I called.  I knew something was strange because I have had a debt collector after me, and every time they called, they always left a message as to what they needed, and who they were looking for.  The person on the other end said they didn't have this number as someone to call, and then said give me your information, including an SS.  I first demanded to know what collection agency/company they were with, and the refused to share it with me.  

I understand that a debt collector isn't just going to give out information, but they are required to tell you who is calling, and state that it is an attempt to collect and debt, without any information upfront, or as to why they are calling, they get no information.

Wow "living downthe street from 3004 webster" you are actually quite wrong!!
See here's what happened...consumers cried and complained to the government that they wanted more privacy. That they didnt want other people knowing they had debts that were in collections. Finally the government said ok. Now there are very strict privacy laws for collections agencies. Because of this they need to identify who they are speaking with before they release where they are calling from because saying this is (insert name) from ABC collections, would imply that they have or could have a debt there. And its very much not illegal. If there is no answer or a message left, they can call back later. I won't deny that there are some sketchy agencies out there, but mostly the things i see about these agencies are just comments from very misinformed "debtors" complaining that they are getting collections calls. If you are not the person they are calling or that person doesnt live there, you really need to tell them that. Not doing so does nothing. And as far as the police, they are basically useless. All that is done is the privacy law is explained to the cops and thats that. And yeah, I was a collector for 10 years. And I actually knew what i was doing.

Well...as a former collections agent i understand the calls can be annoying. But they are paid to collect debts. And if there is a payment arrangement, there are no more calls. When it defaults, the calls continue. It really is better to talk to them than just ignore the calls (as many of us do). And there are many times that we are given bad or old information. They have to follow all leads. So when they come across a potential hit on someone with the same name/city they follow it (although good collectors will do more research) And as far as asking a few times if that person is there, they hear people lie to them all day long, so they want to make damn sure the time they spent searching for new info wasnt wasted. And then there is the real job thing. As a collector, you go to an office, punch a clock, do work, then get paid...sounds JUST like a real job. And by the way...you can make a pretty decent amount of money as a collector. My personal best in a 10 year career was close to $50k.

Thanks!

ps...Not my real name! :)

.I got a call asking for my Husband, I told him he wasn't home at the moment, and asked what it was regarding. He told me it was a private matter, and I said I am his wife, What is it regarding? He then says, Oh, let me make sure I have the right person, and gives me a birth date that isnt his. I so nope thats not his birthdate, and he then asked what is it? I said sorry you have the wrong guy so take him off your calling list. Good bye!!

That's awsome! Do it! Then I could have more fun too!!!!  Please post all ya got on them.....please!!!

Debt collector.......won't. Leave message. Did try to work with them, but they made it impossible to work out a payment plan with. All or nothin.....well, I have a lot of nothin and offered that. Steve sounded as annoyed with me as I was with him. Kinda cheered me up to mess with these folks.... I've answered his calls and waste his time as much as I can. You can hear the frustration in his voice..... lol, HI STEVE!!!!

after these people continued to call my new cell # for some person i've never heard of i finally got fed up with it...i told them the person they are looking for is not at my # and if they called again id be forced to take action. so after the 30th call this month (yes thats 30 calls after i told them the person they are looking for is unknown to me and to stop calling) i decided it was time to gain entry to their database. i had a lot of fun messing with the totals of everyones debts. those that owed lots owe none and those that owed none now owe lots. have fun finance systems, next time do your job the old fashioned way (through the mail) and don't harass people (by phone) especially individuals who have no idea who you're looking for no matter the # of times you call. enjoy cleaning up the mess i made :)

n00bs

if i get a call from them again i'll be displaying their entire HR database on this webpage. names, home addresses, home phone numbers, cell numbers, insurance information, pay, emergancy contact information...etc

it's up to them if they want that all made public

Thank goodness for Google & this web site ... it can save one from a lot or un-needed extra stress. Today I first received 2 'Private' calls to my phone (which may or may not have been someone I knew or the following caller) ... followed by a call from this number (920) 431-2100 which I did not recognize so I did not answer. Anyone of importance who would call my cell phone, is labeled in my cell phone book, so I don't answer unidentified callers. I then quickly looked up the number via Google & was led to this website & as I read through the comment list, .... I came across a familiar posting .... from 2008 ... LOL .... which I had posted & forgotten about. Oh too funny!!!! At any rate, I have now labeled this number in my cell phone book as *IGNORE, so if they call again, ... I won't even have to think twice about it. Also, I don't have voice mail (I got rid of that nuisance a while back, as it was such a time waster ... too many people calling leaving messages I really could survive w/o), so they can't bother me in that way, nor try to trick me into calling them back. Taking charge of my cellphone was the best thing ever, ... especially since I pay for it (& 3 others).  Thanks so much 800notes.com & all who post their experiences here. Very appreciated!

I have been recieving calls from this number. After many times not being able to recieve the call, and no messages left, I was finally able to talk to them. I have owed many debts in the past so have delt with numerous number of debt collectors. I now do not owe any debt, and the person I talked to was probably the rudest person I have ever had the displeasure of speaking with. I can confirm my identity but will not give my fill social security number over the phone or to someone I do not know or trust. This person would not tell me what company they worked for , but would only tell me that I owed over $1000 in bills. When I asked specifically about the bills (where did I owe the money to?) she was not able to answer my questions and kept pushing that I send the money to them. All I was told was that it was past medical bills. I then said I was not going to pay anything until I did my own research. I contacted every dr./urgent care etc. to find out any outstanding balances and there was nothing outstanding. Not sure what this comany is trying to pull, but they should get their facts straight before harrassing people.

So you either work for these b*****ds or someone else just like them.
I only have to works for people in the collection business...

F*CK OFF!

he is just a putz who cannot find a real job and probably has 10 of these phone calls waiting at his house...just a looser..and he has the stones to call someone with a real job a looser...

I had received a call from a Leah stating they have sent several letters trying to claim money a old hospital bill...I then asked when the services were and Leah refused to give me any info. Was extremely rude to me and stated "if i just sent a payment , she'd send me a receipt". That's it. Stated I have no problem paying if I knew what I was paying for. Refused again. Told me to send 300 sum dollars. She proceeded to scream @me because I refused and then hang up on me. I ended up calling the hospital that Leah claimed I owed and they had no problem giving me the information I needed. Turns out I owed a sum of $25 only! Not $300!
This company is bogus!!!

Gotta love reverse lookup.....now their calls go to voicemail automatically.... no more 730 a m wake up calls when i get to bed at 615 a m.

Your not a turnip and they are not asking for blood.  You are a debtor and you owe money to a creditor who trusted you into paying them for services they provided to you.  Why dont you live up to your obligations and pay them then you dont have to worry about getting calls from them anymore