Stop calling me!
So I need some help with this one.
Earlier today I received a call on my home phone from a creditor looking for a family member of mine who lived with me about 9 years ago. (If you know to whom I’m referring, please keep it to yourself) This person was looking for my family member, and left a message asking if ____________________ would please call them back.
Here’s the thing: This family member has not lived with me for 9 years. During that time, we never did any business together (I didn’t sign any loans or purchase anything for them), and no one has ever called me about this family member. This is the first time. Also, we didn’t share a number, and I didn’t even have a home phone number at the time. In fact, Carie and I just starting using a home phone number less than a year ago.
So, how did they connect my family member with me? Do they end up guessing who the family members are and start calling every person with my last name? Could it be that they are calling someone other than my family member?
I’m trying to figure this thing out and have no clue how they obtained my phone number (a phone number that didn’t exist back in the day) to get ahold of my (or not my) family member?
Do you have any informed guesses?
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Did they stay at the address associated with that phone number? If so, that’s probably how they found it. If not, I’m guessing they looked for relatives, found you, and called.
Nope. we just got the number in early 2008. That’s my guess too.
in one of my former illustrious jobs i did some bill collecting.. they prob used your old address (from 9 yrs ago as theirs) they prob then traced your move from that address to where you are now
I hope you took the time to tell them about the kingdom of God.
Hasn’t your address been the same for like 9-10 years? Your relative would ahve used that same address back in the day, the creditor saw that address in your relatives history, probably then looked up records for who is currently living there, then saw it was your name and figured you two were related and you would be able to relay the message. It happened to a firned of mine a few years back. They had just gotten a home phone, and he started getting calls all the time from collectors for his brother. Jesus loves them too Marty!
Sometimes when you sign up for a loan they ask for phone numbers of relatives. It’s not like a reference or even a cosigning deal. It’s more of a “If we ever lose touch because you’ve changed phone numbers, we want to be able to reach you through those other people.”
Is it possible that the relative put you down– perhaps years ago– and has actually changed information or just not returned calls to them?
I have been having a similar thing happen – creditors calling for a relative I haven’t lived with for 14 years, and who hasn’t been part of my “life” in 12… through 4 cross country moves, 2 house purchases and sales etc. I’d opt for Jeff and Al’s answers. We usually pull the ol’ “Wha? Who? Omigosh, I haven’t spoken to them in 20 years! Are they alive? Do you know where they live? What’s your name???” Maybe not particularly christian in attitude but lottsa fun! But it is a whole weird big brother is watching kindof thing isn’t it?
We have creditors that call for the guy that lived here previously (different phone number). They look up the address and call and bug us. Nice!
my office line – apparently the guy who worked here before me owed a ton of people money – i get collections calls pretty much every day for him
I’d just keep it simple. Ignore the call at first and hope they don’t call back. If the calls persist, just call the collection outfit back and tell them the relative in question does not live with you, and in the immortal words of Ray Charles, they can “hit the road, jack” and STOP CALLING YOU. No need to lie to them, if you have a problem with that (I wouldn’t)… just tell ‘em the relative doesn’t live at the number they called. You need make no further explanation.
I get phone calls for the guy that lived in the Basement of my building. He is by brother-in-laws(my landlord who also live on 1st floor) brother. Yet they don’t call him only me.