Debt discharged & harassed by debt collectors

[150mph]

I'm getting harassing phone calls from debt collectors with what I feel are suspicious circumstances and I'm curious if any of you have had this experience and what you did about it. This post is way long but I wrote it for my own records and decided to post the whole thing here - maybe you'll be entertained.

I moved in to a new apartment in March 2007. I was in a downstairs apartment for a month, then moved directly above it when the lady there moved out. In the next few months, I received mail addressed to "Kim Kerr" or "Kimberly Kerr" numerous times. Figuring it was the previous tenant, I always wrote "moved" and put it back in the mailbox.

Soon after my BK discharge in July, i started getting mail for "Kimberly Larsen" from credit card companies. Ok that's weird, I thought. Is Larsen her maiden name or something? You see, MY name is Larsen TOO. Once, I accidentally opened one of these letters when I didn't have my glasses on. It was from a credit card company, denying Ms. Larsen credit due to bad credit rating. This sent up a red flag. What's the chance of ANOTHER Larsen in the SAME apartment unit who ALSO had bad credit? Seemed unlikely. The bldg mgr is new and doesn't know what the previous tenants name was - which is private info anyway, apparently. Neither do the neighbors - she was a short-term tenant.

Then came the phone messages from collection agencies left on my machine. Just a few at first, then every other day. Several times when I answered, I explained to the caller they had the wrong guy and don't call anymore. But the calls continued. I started screening all my calls.

Now they've begun to use a recording saying "This is a business call for Kim Larsen. If you're not Kim Larsen, hang up now. If you continue to listen, we'll assume you are Kim Larsen. This call is from a collection agency attempting to collect a debt.. blah blah blah.. call this number with this case number.." BTW - I substituted Larsen for my real last name.

[krielly]

If I were you I would change my phone number........to an unpublished one...a bit more expensive, but what's a couple bucks a month for peace & quiet?

I think I would also check your credit report to ensure there isn't anything on it not belonging to you.....

[magyar123]

If I were you I would change my phone number........to an unpublished one...a bit more expensive, but what's a couple bucks a month for peace & quiet?

I think I would also check your credit report to ensure there isn't anything on it not belonging to you.....

Agree - and return every piece of mail from this outfit unopened with the latters - NATA - not at his address written on the envelopes.

[woeisme]

Put a credit fraud alert on your credit reports so this person can't do any additional damage if they do have your SS card.

Credit Bureau Fraud Departments

TransUnion
Fraud Victim Assistance Department
Phone: 800-680-7289
Fax: 714-447-6034

P.O. Box 6790
Fullerton, CA 92634-6790


Equifax
Consumer Fraud Division
Phone: 800-525-6285 or: 404-885-8000
Fax: 770-375-2821

P.O. Box 740241
Atlanta, GA 30374-0241


Experian
Experian's National Consumer Assistance
Phone: 888-397-3742

P.O. Box 2104
Allen, TX 75013


I would also be concerned about this person opening a checking account using your info. Even if they can't get credit cards with your name, a bank account using your info that they then kite checks on could be a real problem. If you find any evidence of fraud, you can file a victim statement and they'll keep the alert active for 7 years, otherwise the alert expires and you have to renew it every 90 days. You can also see if you can put a freeze on your credit report if you don't plan on applying for any credit for yourself in the near future.

[rilbrianne]

Check your credit reports and make sure there isn't suspicious accounts there that you didn't open, put a fraud alert on so that the bureaus and any new company that you try to get credit from will see. Try to find that Kim Kerr - her creditors wouldn't be calling your number unless that is the number given to them - and obviously YOU didn't give it to them.

But go through all the above to make sure she hasn't stolen your identity.

[rilbrianne]

Oh, and next time verify your info with the caller. It would be weird if they had all your information but you had no idea where the debt to them came from. Unless the debt is YOURS, you probably can't sue the creditors because they aren't really your creditors, thus you didn't file BK with them. That's if Kim Kerr stole your identity.

If it IS your debt, they would be violating the discharge and you could possibly sue.

[150mph]

thanks all - for helpful advice!

[One Half Full]

I would be very worried about the missing SS Card. Oh hey, it could be those buyers of discharged debt. There is a thread about that somewhere around here. They buy debt that has been written off then harass the debtor and hope he will pay something. Even one penny will re-open the debt again and then they can sue or something like that.