is this illegal?

[flower04]

our in-laws started receiving phone calls last week. other than the same last name, we have no financial affliation with them whatsoever. Then, two days ago my sister started to receive calls from B of A. My in-laws know, my sister doesn't. I have NO IDEA how they got her phone number, as we have never put it down for any reason and she has a completely different last name, etc.

Is this illegal or fair practice? Our attorney is out of town until this coming Monday so I thought I bounce this idea off of you first.

Thanks!

[soleprop]

not illegal, referred to as skip tracing, you can put the kabosh on it by sending a letter to your creditors asking them to stop calling regarding the debt. there are template letters in books and online. good luck!

[epiphany]

Better yet (and I learned this the HARD way), return those phone calls so that the creditors, CA's, etc, don't go hunting for you through a third party.

Hard as it was, and it was, I had to bite the bullet after a few called my relatives. But the more creditors I talked to, the easier it got. I found that by returning their phone calls, and telling them I was filing BK, most of them pretty much left me alone.

Look at me...I am speaking in the past tense. I like it!

ep

[MomIcantFindmy]

I had the same issue with Amex calling inlaws. I sent them a letter making sure they had my correct address and told them that was the ONLY way they could contact me. It stopped them. Good Luck!!

[Aaaaah!]

I'm having problems with this right now. All from American Express and its henchmen...NCO and Nationwide. They keep calling my parents. I've told them to stop, I've made sure that they have my address and phone numbers and I've sent C&D letters, to no avail. Worst is, NCO in particular likes to leave messages on my parents' phone that say "we are debt collectors and this is an attempt to collect a debt". I hate to say it, but whereas, I may have felt guilty and tried to pay back some of the debt, American Express is making it very easy for me to say "who cares?"

[magyar123]

I'm having problems with this right now. All from American Express and its henchmen...NCO and Nationwide. They keep calling my parents. I've told them to stop, I've made sure that they have my address and phone numbers and I've sent C&D letters, to no avail. Worst is, NCO in particular likes to leave messages on my parents' phone that say "we are debt collectors and this is an attempt to collect a debt". I hate to say it, but whereas, I may have felt guilty and tried to pay back some of the debt, American Express is making it very easy for me to say "who cares?"

Did you send them (NCO & Nationwide) the cease/desist letter by CMRRR? If they signed for it then they are violating the law.
American Express, the original creditor, is not bound by those laws.

[Pinkie86]

AmEX was my big problem too. Citi worked with me. And when I gave them my lawyer's number they immediately stopped bugging me.

Anyway, back to the original issue: I told Nationwide NOT to call my parents and they went and called AGAIN. This being after they gave my Dad specific information - how much I owed, that I defaulted (was behind ONE MONTH) They were actually the ones who made me throw up my hands and say "ENOUGH!" And call my lawyer. I know it sounds terrible, but I have no sympathy for BKing on them.

[flower04]

Thanks for the responses. Yes, I've had the "NCO" calls and now we seem to get "call center" calls from who knows where in the country. Our lawyer told us not to answer the calls and have no contact with them, she would take care of it....except for us to tell them her name and number when we answer the call (if we answer it).

Thanks Again, glad to see I'm not the only one.