Hello!

When I moved to Austin, I got a local phone number. It's become apparent to me that the person who had the number before me owes money to several people. I get about 3 messages a week from recordings saying that it is "urgent that you get in contact with us". Sometimes they state that they are debt collectors, sometimes they don't. I called one back, because it happened to be the same credit card company I use, and they agreed to note that the phone number had changed hands in their file.

So, is there some way that I can get rid of the rest of the callers? I really don't want to call every one, since it involves going through voice-mail, and you know how debt collectors are when you say that you aren't the person that they are looking for. I've signed up for the No Call list, but the person before me did have a legitimate business relationship with the companies she owes money to, so I don't think that will stop people from calling trying to collect. But I can't be the only person this has happened to!

Any advice appreciated!

Short of calling the telephone company and changing your phone number - I am not sure what you can do. Calling these companies is not working. Have you thought of writing the companies - keeping your documentation - and stating that you are not the person they are calling. Might not make any difference.

When I moved here I got someone's phone number - a guy who had a trucking firm that he sold, but left many bad debts. People called all times of the day and night. 3 a.m. One woman told me I was lying and I told her to come on over and look for the character she wanted. She did and even talked to the caretakers, who told her I (and my youngest son) were the only ones on the lease. Some people just do not take no for an answer.

Oddly enough, I ran into that guy about a year after I changed my phone number and told him what all happened to me. He and one of his friends went into a different trucking business. You know, that guy never even apologized. He thought it was funny.

Calling the phone company and requesting a number change - and explain that you are being harassed by these companies. They should change your number for free. Best of luck to you.

Sorry, nope, unless you call each one, ( and some may not still believe you) but you can go and change your number, but this is just the risk, better a dead beat than a drug dealer, people calling you to buy drugs at all hours.

But if it is only a few companies, best bet is just to call them back.

*sigh* That's kind of what I expected. I don't really want to change the phone number (it's catchy and easy for me to remember), so I think I will start by just adding "the person you are looking for is no longer at this number" to the answering machine message and see if that gets rid of the live people, and call the other companies later.