These people call my house several times per day, including weekends. For many weeks I simply would not answer, since I do not know anyone from Mason, Ohio. I am pretty sure no one from there has an interest in attending my church or receiving counseling from me, and it is not on my list of places to visit. Then one day I picked up the phone to see what was going on. After the obligatory wait for the automatic dialer to transfer connection to a robotic-but-real human being, the person on the other end asked for my daughter. So, this was what was going on! Obviously my daughter owes a delinquent bill. And they think she lives here. I told the person on the other end of the line that she does not live with me and that I am not responsible for her debts, and to please not call again. Without acknowledging my request, this person immediately asked for her current number. Well, I know her current number. But unlike my daughter, I am not going to give her number out indiscriminately. So I asked the company he represents? He was not at liberty to disclose that information. I asked his name? He would only divulge a first name. So, I queried, he wants me to disclose pertinent and personal information when he is not willing to do the same? I reminded that I had not called him, but he had called me. And I instructed again that I be taken off the calling list.
Next day, and the day after, they called again multiple times. I dialed the number on the caller ID, at my expense I add, to try once again to get these people to stop their harassment. After explaining my dilemma, I was asked if I had an account with Macy’s or Bloomingdale’s? Aha, another piece of the puzzle! No I do not. Then he asked again for my daughter’s phone number. The easy thing to do would be to give to them her number. But by now I do not want to reward such mistreatment of an innocent party- myself! Again I solicit and a receive a promise not to call again. It does not matter. They call.
I envision a big boiler room of cubicles, manned by folk who obviously cannot find a better job, with the mission to call and harass those like myself. Their job is to call. They do not care about who they call, what the story may be, or even whether they are calling the right person. If I explain and am able to provoke a promise not to call again, chances are the next day it will be a different caller with no knowledge of the previous conversation.
A variety of tactics have been tried:
*I am already signed up for the No Call List. Obviously, it does not impede these people.
*There is the obligatory explanation that what they are doing qualifies as harassment, and that I will report them to the FCC and seek grievance under the Fair Debt Collection Code. They only laugh. So I resort to guerilla tactics.
*Checking the caller ID and hanging up on the call is the simplest. But it facilitates their job, and doesn't impede the next call.
*Here was a favorite, for a while: My polite response: "Let me go get her. Please hold on for a minute." Then I set the phone down for five minutes, go back and ask them to hold on for just a little while longer, and continue to repeat the procedure. I have found that I can bait them for about fifteen minutes of wasted time. The problem- it is also wasting my time.
*Right now I have a police whistle next to the phone. When the person calls, I respond with a low voice. Then, when I feel he is listening carefully for the next word, I blow it loudly.
*Later today I will purchase a compressed air bullhorn.
As of this morning, the calls continue, although hopefully some of the harassers are having to utilize the other ear.
Your suggestions are appreciated.
