Question:
Twice this has happened to me. I get a call, but the person asks for
one of my neighbors.... a very strange experience to pick up the phone
and be asked for a person you know, as if they might be at your house.
One, a number of years ago, was an elderly neighbor with medical
bills-- there was no reason to associate me with her other than she
lived above me. How would they have even known that? Is there some
list or map of phone numbers such that they knew I was her neighbor?
The other (yesterday-- "NCO Fin Systems" on the caller ID, and I've
kept the number in case there is something I should do) is deceased,
and I know my name was on some of her medical papers as who to call in
case of emergency, and the caller stated that is why they called me.
(Though, I don't think this counted as an emergency. No more
emergencies for that person! And how would they have had her medical
records in the first place?)
So, what is the legal status of this? Can collection agencies call
neighbors or people other than the one who owes them money in their
efforts to collect?
Answer:
You can check with the attorney general of your state, but as I
remember they are allowed to call your neighbor, but not allowed to
say its for a debt collection, a friend of mine who did owe a legal
debt had his work place called, and they even sent someone out to find
him, however the manager refused to allow them in the complex. My
friends sister who was laid off, took up a job as a PI- as she said,
any phone number $69.00, and of course most PI have contacts at the
phone Co, and every other company.
after my mom died, they started in on me about some unpaid medical,
letters and phone calls. I just told them to go out to the ocean
(cremated)find her, and try to collect.
