SC Law (North: credit, attorney, house)

[MT Man]

I keep getting calls about my neighbors debt from a company called "United Recovery Systems" Their # is 866-891-6936. My question is: Is it legal for them to call me about my neighbors debts? I am on the do not call list.

Does anyone have experience in dealing with this type of issue other than saying "Stop calling me"?

[GlassPipe]

You may have to send them a cease and decist (sp?) letter or tell them that over the phone - simple as that "CEASE AND DECIST" write down the date and if you need to mail anything, do it registered with signature confirmation. If the phone calls persist you can sue them in small claims court for $1000 per call. Check into creditinfocenter.com They got lots of good info like that.

Good luck!

[Chromekitty]

You should inform that they are not to call your number again.
Then go to the website for the FCC and file a complaint on them.

Be sure and write down all the call info and be sure to get the name of the person calling.

I know that is a pain, hopefully they will stop soon!

[PalmettoGuy]

Why are they calling you? Are they claiming that you owe the debt, getting you confused with the neighbor? Or are they trying to solicit your help in tracking down the neighbor and getting him to pay?

[MT Man]

Originally Posted by PalmettoGuy

Why are they calling you? Are they claiming that you owe the debt, getting you confused with the neighbor? Or are they trying to solicit your help in tracking down the neighbor and getting him to pay?

I don't owe them anything - I'm an innocent bystander who happens to be in the phonebook.

They are trying to get me to go to my neighbors house to "give them the message" that they need to call this collection company. I assume my neighbor has caller id or something and this company thinks that I, as their neighbor, will shame them into paying up or something. I think it is a horrible practice, and I was wondering if it is even legal.

As of now, I have reported them in violation of the Do Not Call Registry and I reported them to the FTC.

Thanks to all that put up responses. I also found some info on Clark Howards website.

I'm still wondering if it is legal.

In the mean time, if you feel the need to cuss somebody out, please don't hesitate to call the number in my first post and have at it. Tell em' MTMan sent you

[janrey]

Found this:

Collection agencies may contact individuals other than the debtor, with important limitations. Under the FDCPA, a collector is permitted to call a neighbor or relative for help in locating the person who owes a debt, as long as there is no communication about the debt. Collectors must state their name and must give the name of their employer if the person specifically asks. A collector may contact each person once, unless it is believed that the person gave the collector incorrect or incomplete information at the time, but now has complete or updated information

Repeated calls to you are illegal. They can only call once and not to have you deliver a message just to ascertain that they live where the collection agency thinks they live. Report them to the FTC for violating the rules. Go here https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.go...d.aspx?Lang=en and wade through all the stuff at the top and start the questionnaire at the bottom of the page.

[Geechie North]

Originally Posted by MT Man

I keep getting calls about my neighbors debt from a company called "United Recovery Systems" Their # is 866-891-6936. My question is: Is it legal for them to call me about my neighbors debts? I am on the do not call list.

Does anyone have experience in dealing with this type of issue other than saying "Stop calling me"?

It's not about law, per se, it's about enforcement.

Some states allocate zero dollars to stop this kind of thing, and therefore give a wink and a nod to slimeball companies that they are welcome there.

Florida is one.

So is SC.

[pburgess68]

Wow how horrible! And here I thought the thread was going to be a play on how bad the laws here are in SC, or how whenever you try and call any particular office, no matter what it is, you get a machine and they NEVER return your calls!!! Guess I was close...

[berdee]

Originally Posted by MT Man

As of now, I have reported them in violation of the Do Not Call Registry and I reported them to the FTC.

Their calls really aren't a violation to the Do Not Call Registry. Reporting them to the FTC is one of the best things you can do. But, the FTC does not act on an individual basis. When the FTC gets a certain amount of complaints about a collection agency then they will act. Those actions can result in fines, some fines can be amazingly large (NCO), and other actions can result in total closure of the collection agency (Camco).
If you want to be a further burr in their butts then file complaints with the BBB, your Attorney General, their Attorney General and the SC Department of Consumer Affairs.

It's a shame some states are one party state, SC is one of them, when it comes to taping phone calls. But if you tell them you are taping and they agree to it then tape away if you want. More than likely if you ask them if they are okay with you taping the conversation, even if you don't plan on taping, they will hang up and go away.

If they continue to call, sue em

Originally Posted by janrey

Found this:
Repeated calls to you are illegal. They can only call once and not to have you deliver a message just to ascertain that they live where the collection agency thinks they live. Report them to the FTC for violating the rules. Go here https://www.ftccomplaintassistant.go...d.aspx?Lang=en and wade through all the stuff at the top and start the questionnaire at the bottom of the page.

FTC complaints about violating collectors are important. So is complaints filed with an Attorney General.

Originally Posted by Geechie North

It's not about law, per se, it's about enforcement.

Some states allocate zero dollars to stop this kind of thing, and therefore give a wink and a nod to slimeball companies that they are welcome there.

Florida is one.

So is SC.

Florida is one of several states that have some of the strongest consumer protection laws in the US. SC may not have laws as strong as FL, TX and CA, but SC really isn't much of a slouch when it comes to protecting its citizens. SC is one of a handful of states that has it's own version of a FDCPA.

[emilybh]

This national talk host, and consumer advocate, Clark Howard is up on collection laws and your rights. His general website is: www.clarkhoward.com. There you can find the answer or call them to have them help you. Below are a few of the tips offered on their site.

Check these links out:
Collection Agencies on clarkhoward.com

Know your rights when dealing with debt collectors on clarkhoward.com