Call from debt collector
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Anonymous
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I got a call from a debt collector today (missed the call, got it on voicemail). They left no info on what bill it was for, just to call them back. Wouldn't I have received something in writing if a bill had gone into collections?
BTW I'm up to date on all my bills, I have a lot of medical bills but I'm in payment plans and haven't defaulted on anything. |
Anonymous
| I wonder if it was one of those scammy debt collectors who finds out you have a lot of money owed somewhere (in your case medical bills) and call you to say they will collect on so and sos behalf. My aunt got a few of those calls when she was going through cancer treatment and was on a several payment plans for various things. |
Anonymous
| Did you google the number? I've gotten weird calls like this and then see on a website where people log these numbers that it's a scammy call that tons of people get. I would definitely NOT call back. |
Anonymous
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Should I call back just to find out what bill it's for and not give any info over the phone? I haven't received any letters, I would have thought they'd send a letter before calling.
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Anonymous
| If it's a company called Worldwide Liquidators, it's a scam. |
Anonymous
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Wait for something to come in the mail, especially if you pay all your bills on time.
I have several nuisance calls showing up on my phone, not voicemails though. There's probably a way to block this. |
Anonymous
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Several years ago I received a series of very threatening, abusive phone messages from a debt collector. Turns out they thought I was someone else. No apologies, of course, the phone calls simply stopped after I happened to take one of their calls and pointed out I wasn't whoever they thought I was and owed no money. I guess they verified what I told them and went on to harass the debtor using her correct contact info.
There'd been no written correspondence prior to the calls. |
Anonymous
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They were definitely looking for me, not anyone else.
One other thing is that I always give hospitals and doc offices my cell # because I rarely use the house phone. This call was on the house phone which makes me wonder how they got the number. From tracking me down? I'm nervous about actually owing this money and it being in collections. I would like to know WTF it's from so I can settle it but I'm not paying anything without seeing something in writing. |
Anonymous
Then if you're current with all your bills, it sounds like you need to start out by contacting whoever's administering the hospital accounts - likeliest place where some sort of mix-up would occur - and work with them to sort this out. Sorry you're going through this. I'm the PP who was mistakenly contacted by harassing bill collectors, and even though I knew my finances were in good order and that they had the wrong person, it was still unsettling. Just be proactive - the sooner you sort this out, the sooner you'll regain peace of mind. |
Anonymous
| I would call back in case it's real. But there's definitely a chance its scammy. |
Anonymous
More than a chance. I got one of these the other day too, and I am current on all my accounts. Sometimes it's an offer to consolidate the debt, which is a total scam. Steer clear, Google the number as you said. If you legitimately owe money or are delinquent without your knowledge, you would be notified in writing. Do not call them back. You could inadvertently say the wrong thing and they might say you agreed to whatever ridiculous service they're selling. It could also be a trick to get you to call one of these numbers in the Caribbean that charge you $25 a minute when they answer the phone. Do not call back. |
Anonymous
| Why don't you get a copy of your credit report? |
Anonymous
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I had this happen recently to me. Turns out three years ago, I had an ER visit and the radiologist never billed my insurance or contacted me for payment.
At this point, it is not likely on your credit report. So getting a credit report isn't going to help if it's not yet there. What you are entitled to is verification of the debt in writing. This will include the creditor, the amount and the service provided. They must provide it immediately. What I would do is return the call, ask who the creditor is and how much the bill is, the date on which the purchase or services were made. Then ask them to mail you verification. In order to do that, you will have to verify that they have your correct information. If you moved in the past few years, the information might not be current. If you ignore it, you run the risk of being sued and having a black mark on your credit. It is far easier to deal with things at this level than responding to a lawsuit or trying to fix your credit. |
Anonymous
| Before you call back, google the number http://www.slate.com/blogs/future_tense/2014/02/06/missed_call_from_antigua_jamaica_grenada_the_one_ring_scam_gets_money_by.html |
Anonymous
| Ok looked them up. It's a medical collection agency so probably legit. I just don't like that they're calling without sending a letter. |