A CA to call and leave an 800 number that directs you to call a 900 number after you call the 800 number.
Sounds like an excuse to get you CCv number to mess with the debt. Send them a communication by mail only letter. Which CA is this.?
From the FDCPA section 808: A debt collector may not use unfair or unconscionable means to collect or attempt to collect any debt. Without limiting the general application of the foregoing, the following conduct is a violation of this section: (5) Causing charges to be made to any person for communications by concealment of the true propose of the communication. Such charges include, but are not limited to, collect telephone calls and telegram fees. Anyone think what this CA did falls under this?
Oh Yeah it certainly does fall under that section. A 900 # can charge you $50/minute. If you owe them $200, all they have to do is keep you on the line for 3 minutes and 1 second. Don't call, give the number to your state AG. Dancer
'Concealment of true purpose of communication' I think that is the catch... anyways who is this CA and what is the 800 number?
I think lbrown might have just been suggesting a "scenario", and not something that actually happened to him, although, if this really did occur, I'd like to know what CA did this as well. As far as 'Concealment of true purpose of communication', I don't see that as a legal loophole for the CA. If a CA contacts a consumer and they are just leaving a message on a machine (as lbrown said) they cannot give information as to what the call is about, other than their name of business, phone # and their own name perhaps. - So far they have not given a purpose of communication. Now, by asking you to call a 800 number that forces you to call a 900 number (if you want to know what the original phone call was all about) which as we all know can range from $1 per minute to $50 + as suggested by a previous poster, they are concealing the true purpose of their communication by hiding it behind a toll number which can cost big bucks. Nowhere in the FDCPA does the CA have the right to charge a consumer x amount of dollars per minute/phone call when "attempting to collect a debt".
MIL has an unlisted phone number. The only ones who have it are creditors and CAs. She is beeing flooded with calls from several CAs so lets her answering set take all calls. On 4/9/2 the following message was placed on the Machine. Jane call KEN MEYER at 1-800-521-3230. I called this number for her as she does not return calls to CAs. When I did call I was instructed to call a 900 number. Anyone here ever heard of KEN MEYER? Feel free to call the 800 number and post the results you got here if you wish.
Are you sure it is a CA or a CRA? Or, are you assuming it is because those are the only people who call her? There is a very common scam that has gone around for years. They call you, leave a message like this (making you think it is very important). When you call the 900#, they keep you on the line as long as possible to rack up charges. There is no purpose other than to cheat you. I got something like this a few weeks ago. The guy called, very aggravated, left a message saying he had wasted enough time trying to resolve the problem, and if I did not call immediately, he would take other action. When I called back, I got a call center that was selling something. At least it was not a 900#. I think you may have been doing credit repair too long if you assume everyone who calls is a CA or CRA.
1* Like I said she has an unlisted phone number so how could somebody like you are talking about call her? 2*So what's to stop a CA or creditor who has her phone number from leaving that 800# on her machine?The purpose here would be to harass her. 3*When you have been getting an average of 3 to 5 messages per day over the past 3 months on your Answering set asking you to call an 800# And every time you have someone to call the number it turns out to be a collection agent or a creditor what would you assume ?? ?? ?? BTW I'm not doing credit repair - just investigating the calls for her. The question is which CA or Creditor left that #, not did one do it!! There must be 4 to 6 CAs and about the same No. of creditors bombarding her with collection calls.
I have an unlisted number as well. However, folks who I have never given my number to (i.e. telemarketers) have still found a way to get a hold of my number. My phone companies these days have something called privacy block (might have a different nake where you live) I added it to my line recently, and the "hang-up" calls, telemarketers, or whoever else shouldn't be calling me in the first place have stopped.
FTC opinion letter re leaving a message to call an 800 number in an effort to collect a debt. This kind of thing is done in order to get the individual's phone number, BTW. http://www.ftc.gov/os/statutes/fdcpa/letters/levine.htm
I called my "LOCAL" phone company asking about all the "OUT OF AREA" calls that hang up...the answer is they have a computer that may call 100 numbers at a time...if you answer the phone and they have a sales person available...you will be connected (that's why you can say HELLO---HELLO---HELLO!!!)...if they have nobody available, it hangs up. They may call over 100 people at a time with ONLY 20 sales people available... In reference to UNLISTED phone numbers...THEY DON'T USE THE PHONEBOOK!!! A COMPUTER IS PROGRAMED TO CALL...SAY DENVER (303) 861-0000... (303) 861-0001...(303) 861-0002...(303) 861-0003... (303) 861-0004...5...6...7...8...9...0010------>
This is not a CA, the 900 number is for a service where you can find out a companies 800 number. Its like a directory assistance. NO CONSPIRACY.
Who is not a CA.?Do you mean the 800# or the 900# Also do you have to be over 18 to use this service ?this is what i was told at the 800 #. Aren't many of the 900 numbers for phone sex calls thus the requirement for age 18? Did you call the 800# to see what kind of message you would get?
Neither are CAs, I called both numbers, and yes it states you have to be 18 to call it, because there is a charge. The 900 number gets you to a directory service, like 411 or (area code) 555-1212, which also charge, this particular service will give you information on 800 numbers, like I coudl ask for Providian in San Fran, CA, and they would give me toll free numbers they have listed. I think your friend wrote down the wrong number, or the person left the wrong number....
