How did they get my new number?

[southernbelle]

I haven't had a home phone in about 2 years and mainly just use my cell. Since the cell is the only number I gave to creditors, I felt confident that they would call, but I would ignore the calls until I file Ch.7 in about a month. Since my home security system requires a LAN line, I just subscribed to AT&T about 3 weeks ago.

Discover called me today and asked to speak with me (I stopped paying them about 2 months ago). When asked if it was a "sales call", the person said no. I'm very concerned that my brand new number has been found by a bill collector already. Since I don't really use the phone anyway, I could just turn off the ringer, but it annoys me that they could find my number so easily. I even had AT&T to list it using my middle initial and last name so my name isn't even listed as what the creditors have on file.

Sorry to ramble, but it just burns me up when my information can be found so easily.

[EveryDayAdam]

If your number is listed and it has your address on the listing, then all they need is your last name and the address...sometimes they even just go by the address. You should have gone unlisted, and they probably wouldn't have found it (if you don't give it to anyone).

But, as you said, just turn off the ringer and let them pound sand.

[Lindsay]

Discover is good at tracking people down. My husband changed jobs long after our last credit card was applied for and Discover was the only one of our creditors to find his new work number. None of the others ever did.

[Keebler]

Check this out...

I last lived at home in High School and my parents retired to a new place more than 100 Miles away after I graduated. Since then, a couple decades have passed, my Dad died, my Mom got re-married and sold the place they retired to and moved in with her new Husband. I live more than 1,000 Miles away and I haven't used my Mom as a credit reference since High School and I've never given her address or phone number to anyone.

One of my creditors called my Mom at her home looking for me!

Keep in mind that this is a creditor that already has my current home phone number and address. My answering machine announces my name and my wife's name and I even talk to this creditor when they call.

[JoeBlow]

Land line phone companies sell your phone record - they are the enemy. Get rid of the land line and get a prepaid cell phone. Or keep the landline if you can afford it, turn the rigger off and the answering machine. Forget the number, never call your work from the landline phone as they will then know where you work from your phone records.

I haven't had a home phone in about 2 years and mainly just use my cell. Since the cell is the only number I gave to creditors, I felt confident that they would call, but I would ignore the calls until I file Ch.7 in about a month. Since my home security system requires a LAN line, I just subscribed to AT&T about 3 weeks ago.

Discover called me today and asked to speak with me (I stopped paying them about 2 months ago). When asked if it was a "sales call", the person said no. I'm very concerned that my brand new number has been found by a bill collector already. Since I don't really use the phone anyway, I could just turn off the ringer, but it annoys me that they could find my number so easily. I even had AT&T to list it using my middle initial and last name so my name isn't even listed as what the creditors have on file.

Sorry to ramble, but it just burns me up when my information can be found so easily.

[Flamingo]

When you have a land line that you allow to be listed in the phone book, that is public information and can be obtained by anyone calling Information, via Google (i.e., White Pages, etc.) or however else they want to find it (searching via address, etc.).

It's the age of the internet - you can basically find anyone you want and everything about them. All you need is a name and address.

[treehugger1]

Or, if you have a cell phone, get another line added in the family plan with a different number. Use the new number for your personal calls, and keep the original number for the CA's and creditors to call in to. You can even "answer" on occasion so they have your current "phone number on file." This is not rocket science. The biggest issue is that if they do not have some way of contacting you, the seediest of debt collectors will assume other tactics. Just my 2 cents. On your older line voicemail, leave a clear message as to your name and the number called. I once had 18 voicemails on my old land-line vocice mail and finally returned the call. After that I only received 1 - 3 calls per week from the CA. They seemed perfectly happy that they had a "good" number. LOL