They found my new phone number!!!

[GoingDown]

I was getting calls from Providian (now Washington Mutual) about 5 times a day, so I cancelled my telephone service, and went down to the Safeway store and bought a pay as you go Net10 phone. And then I didn't hear any more calls from their collection department for a long time. But then yesterday I got a call from an out of state number, and when I answered it, it was Washington Mutual asking for me. So now they are calling me 5 times a day again, and because they are the original creditor, there's nothing I can do to stop them.

How did they find my phone number?

[newstart]

Have you already filed for bk? if so is this a new creditor?

[AMISLANDER]

for $100 your cell phone bills can be bought...

I was getting calls from Providian (now Washington Mutual) about 5 times a day, so I cancelled my telephone service, and went down to the Safeway store and bought a pay as you go Net10 phone. And then I didn't hear any more calls from their collection department for a long time. But then yesterday I got a call from an out of state number, and when I answered it, it was Washington Mutual asking for me. So now they are calling me 5 times a day again, and because they are the original creditor, there's nothing I can do to stop them.

How did they find my phone number?

this is probably the latest way for bill collectors to find you...nothing is sacred anymore...

[FilingOnMyOwn]

Yeah you can get pre-paids at walmart for cheap, 30-50$, including starter airtime. I paid $40 for mine.

[edwards2]

I dont know how Wash Mutual is but Providian was a pain in the neck to deal with. I had a master card with them for 10+ years and was NEVER late but the month before we filed(didnt pay them of course) they were relentless about calling me. They told me my payment was double despite my payment being 2 weeks late....then on my credit report they nailed me for 30 days late. They can get away with it because the file date was 30 days from the time the payment was due. I dont know how they found you but I agree with everyone else - get another phone card. Good luck...

[SinkingFast]

I heard commercials on TV, but didn't see the story.

A local news station ran a story last week about a "Cell Phone Directory". Evidently there is one available. The news story was gonna tell people how to keep their number outa the directory. It was late nite news so I didn't see the actual story.

I got a call today, on my cell phone, from BOA.

One of my daughters set up my phone so all the people in my phone book ring one way and calls from numbers not in my phone book ring another way. Depending on the how the phone rings, I'll know if the call is from a person I know or not.

[Jenny]

A registry of cell phone numbers is a myth. It doesn't exist, and there are no plans to create one. There's also no need to add your cell phone number to the Do Not Call Registry. This is one of those things that has been circulating the internet and local news channels for a few years. Search the internet for cell phone registry hoax, and you can read all about it.

The original collector probably got the number either from a friend or relative you gave it to or even a company you do business with (cable/satellite company, magazine subscription, etc) that asked for a phone number. Once it's out there, it can be bought and sold, but there are limits on its use. Telemarketers can't call them, but original collectors can.

[pink_amulet]

A registry of cell phone numbers is a myth. It doesn't exist, and there are no plans to create one. There's also no need to add your cell phone number to the Do Not Call Registry. This is one of those things that has been circulating the internet and local news channels for a few years. Search the internet for cell phone registry hoax, and you can read all about it.

The original collector probably got the number either from a friend or relative you gave it to or even a company you do business with (cable/satellite company, magazine subscription, etc) that asked for a phone number. Once it's out there, it can be bought and sold, but there are limits on its use. Telemarketers can't call them, but original collectors can.

http://www.snopes.com/politics/business/cell411.asp

[tracy1878]

lol, that was me pink... and she must have done something about it cause I haven't heard anything from them in a while

[CRRAVOSA]

If you filed bankruptcy if the creditor is listed they violated the automatic stay (some exceptions i.e. serial filers) and you can bring an action against them and seek damages. If they contacted you after the discharge they are in violation again but this is more serious.

[GoingDown]

I found out that one of my friends gave them my new number. I should have just stayed with my old phone number and just kept the land line. I have decided to just go back to having a land line phone and forget the pay as you go cell phone.

[butterflyness]

You know its amazing how creditors get numbers. I remember they started calling my bf. How the hell they got his cell phone number, ive no idea. It was only one creditor that had it. I remember telling them to not call him, they of course denied they had his number which was a total crap of lie. Cuz they called him at least twice after that.

[KevinR]

Never mind, you said original creditor.