Do collection agencies know if you call them back after not answering?

[albacore44]

Just played around with my free invitation GV phone number. Wow, like you, i could have used this 18 months - two years ago. LOL. I really like the feature that allows you to block (or send to voicemail) any unknown callers.

It doesn't cost me anything for a change in cell number from my cell phone provider. I may just change my cell number, and inform everyone of my GV number. Who knows what the future holds.

The only downside of changing my cell number with my current provider is that I would be given a number that has been recycled. I could start getting other folks' collection calls. Then again, it could be fun; especially since GV allows me to decide what numbers (callers) can actually get through to my cell. Very cool!

I have an ooma system on my land line that has the features of your GV # the only problem I found was that with all various CC calling for collection, there is virtually hundreds of Ph #'s they call from so i just locked on the direct to voicemail feature, so everything goes directly there where the message identifies both me and my wife, to try to stave them off from calling neighbors etc.

you are right about the recycled cell #. we changed my daughters a couple of months ago she had some undesirable old friends who were messing with her.. she recently started getting missed calls from creditors. i looked up the missed #'s. i dont think they are for me, i don't know how they would get that #, but I told her to answer a call and find out who the ask for, that way I'll know if the CC's have some sneaky way of finding unlisted cell #'s of family members

[treehugger1]

Just played around with my free invitation GV phone number. Wow, like you, i could have used this 18 months - two years ago. LOL. I really like the feature that allows you to block (or send to voicemail) any unknown callers.

It doesn't cost me anything for a change in cell number from my cell phone provider. I may just change my cell number, and inform everyone of my GV number. Who knows what the future holds.

The only downside of changing my cell number with my current provider is that I would be given a number that has been recycled. I could start getting other folks' collection calls. Then again, it could be fun; especially since GV allows me to decide what numbers (callers) can actually get through to my cell. Very cool!

[treehugger1]

BB, This is a bit off of topic. But, I did receive an invitation to Google Voice. It's pretty cool! Supposedly, I can bounce an outgoing call through my cell phone through GV, and the call shows the origin as my GV number. I can't figure out how to do this, but I intend to.

I also heard that I can choose to activate the "unknown" and "private" call block. Supposedly, the message states that I do not accept blocked calls of any kind. Please hang up, unblock your number and retry the connection.

I'm very excited to get GV up and running. I then intend to abandon my long-time cell number and either get a new number, or go to a pay-as-you go cell phone.

[thereshope]

They have caller id and know what number you are calling from. I learned to make my number appear unavailable on my cell phone if I called them back, so that they didn't get my cell phone number (they have my home phone number and i don't care if they have that number). So once when I called back a creditor on my cell after blocking the number she asked me where I was calling from (because it was showing unavailable). It was a feature in the phone settings, not a *67.

[frogger]

But, I once called a CA from my less used Grand Central number and within a few weeks that number was on my CR as my "new" home phone number...LOL I had my virtual number show up with sorts of creditors as soon as I called them. I knew it would, but I think I was more shocked on how they shared the info with other CA's. I mean I would get a call from another CA who I know I never gave that number too.

So, I fully support the virtual phone numbers or disposable cell phones.

Collection agencies are not sharing your info with other agencies. What is happening is that the lexis/nexis database is getting updated with your new information and most all of the agencies use that database for their skip tracing. There are many different suppliers of skip trace info, but the best ones use lexis/nexis as their database. Most of the credit reporting agencies are also tied in. I know that Equifax is big in lexis/nexis.

[treehugger1]

That's fantastic! A while back I noticed that Transunion (True Credit) informed me that I could not get immediate updates from all three CRA's. But when I signed up they said I had immediate access to updates from all three CRA's. I even printed the agreement out! They kept charging me the amount of the monitoring scenario, so I refused to pay them and closed the account that they were debiting. The original agreement stated I had continuous access and updated credit reports at any time. They (TransUnion) sent my account to collections. I contacted my attorney general's office and have not heard a peep out of TU. The CRA's are all part of the game, and they can take some (maybe a lot) of the blame for the current credit fiasco.

I think that eventually the entire credit-worthiness ability of consumers will dramatically change in terms of the reporting agencies having a say.

[albacore44]

About 1 1/2 years ago, CRAP1, BOA/FIA, etc were pulling my reports about every other day. I have no idea what they thought they would find (yellows, oranges, reds, etc.) I assumed they were hard pulls, but now none of them show up as inquiries. I'm down to a dozen inquiries among the 3 CRA's on my credit report; and most of these are form CA's who were assigned the debt. I could probably argue against these, but my nightmare credit reports only reinforce what a "deadbeat" I am. In the future (a few years,) I'll show them what a deadbeat I am by filing for BK. LOL. Or, maybe not...

i'm lucky, I have 5 years of free triple agency credit monitoring courtesy of my company. some one from payroll let their laptop get ripped off with an open file that had the names and personal information of 200k employees and former, so they wanted to help us in case of identity theft. so i get an e-mail every time there is a change to any of my reports.

[treehugger1]

About 1 1/2 years ago, CRAP1, BOA/FIA, etc were pulling my reports about every other day. I have no idea what they thought they would find (yellows, oranges, reds, etc.) I assumed they were hard pulls, but now none of them show up as inquiries. I'm down to a dozen inquiries among the 3 CRA's on my credit report; and most of these are form CA's who were assigned the debt. I could probably argue against these, but my nightmare credit reports only reinforce what a "deadbeat" I am. In the future (a few years,) I'll show them what a deadbeat I am by filing for BK. LOL. Or, maybe not...

[optimistic1]

I was always wondered that too, they probably are looking for accounts that may be settled, so then they can jump on the sue you band wagon.

Youre going avatar crazy now albacore.

[albacore44]

I cant help but talk to them and just explain stuff, but I no longer do that, now I dont answer any number I don't recognize and just wait for the dunning letter so that I DV them, I haven't even had to send a cease and desist, they are still working on the DV request.

I should have took the advice of several members on the board that suggested not answering the phone from the beginning, all it does is just increase your stress level and make you worrisome.

Yeah, thats what i'm doin I have not spoken to 1 creditor, 22 cards. however i'm having a hard time resisting answering just to play with them a bit. noticed today FIA card services (B of A ) just did a hard pull on my credit report. Hmm wonder what their lookin for.

[optimistic1]

I cant help but talk to them and just explain stuff, but I no longer do that, now I dont answer any number I don't recognize and just wait for the dunning letter so that I DV them, I haven't even had to send a cease and desist, they are still working on the DV request.

I should have took the advice of several members on the board that suggested not answering the phone from the beginning, all it does is just increase your stress level and make you worrisome.

[Bell30656]

A police whistle or aerosol fog horn really goes a log way to shut a collection agent up in mid-sentence. Think headphones!

[frogger]

Another thought.... several years ago, I did business with a large company. When calling them to place my order, they always answered: Hello ****. How are you today and how can we help you.

My account was automatically pulled up on the screen by my phone number, including my name, balances, prior orders, etc. Very efficient software and that was 10+ years ago.

[frogger]

When you dial an 800 number(or 888,877,866) they can use ANI(Automatic Number Identification) to identify the number you are calling from. If they have the proper equipment setup your number will pop right up when you call.

You can not block ANI with *67 or anything else, they have the right to know the number you are calling from as they are the ones paying for the call.

Government agencies sometimes will have access to ANI on non-toll free lines, so no dialing *67 and pranking the FBI.

There are two different caller ID signals sent on the phone line. The one that can be blocked with *67, and then the other that is not blockable.

Most all collection agencies use what's called a "trap line". This is the toll free number that everyone calls back on, after "blocking their number". It's a great trick to get phone numbers from people.

If you are going to call anyone that you don't want to have your number, get you one of those cheap "burner" cell phones from Wally-World or somewhere. Use it when you want to make calls in which you don't want to be identified, and keep it turned off the rest of the time. No voice mail, no personal information, prepaid only.

[catleg]

I think it's safe to assume that large OC's and CA's capture any and every phone number that you call them from, and if you tell them the account you're calling about then, bingo, you've updated their records for them. Thus it's helpful to have an outbound-only line that you never answer for making calls like these.
I have a magic jack line for this purpose that I've managed to get listed on my credit reports, though I'm not sure how exactly it got on there.