Is It Legal for Collection Agencies to Block Their Phone Number from Caller ID
My question involves collection proceedings in the State of: Texas
First question: I have two questions, are debt collectors allowed to block their phone numbers from showing up on caller ID?
Second Question: Are debt collectors required by law to give their name and to prove to you that you legally owe the debt if you tell them that you demand them to do so by telling them if they do not show me proof and identify themselves that you will refuse to pay the debt in order to coerce the debt collectors to show proof and to identify themselves (threatening redial to pay the debt if they do not submit to these demands)?
Re: Is It Legal for Collection Agencies to Block Their Phone Number from Caller Id
1: yes, they can conceal their phone number just like you can. Businesses like this do it all the time.
2: you are free to demand proof that you owe the debt and they are free to hound you for the funds to satisfy the debt.
Your threat to call them constantly to harass then is precisely why the conceal the phone number.
none of this will actually stop the collector from pursuing the debt in court, by the way. Most debt collectors know who owes them the debt and have the proof. After all, it's what they do.
So, demand proof. Don't cooperate. Bear in mind that the collector probably has more resources to pursue you than for you to pursue them.
Re: Is It Legal for Collection Agencies to Block Their Phone Number from Caller Id
Note that while you are free to demand proof, they don't have to provide it until there is an actual court case filed.
"Hound" is a term that would be a bad term. A third party debt collector is not allowed to harass (though they roundly break this law) to collect the debt. Attempting to contact you by phone (unless you have sent the written request to stop) is not however harassment.
Re: Is It Legal for Collection Agencies to Block Their Phone Number from Caller ID
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Quoting
Bashful
Second Question: Are debt collectors required by law to give their name and to prove to you that you legally owe the debt if you tell them that you demand them to do so by telling them if they do not show me proof and identify themselves that you will refuse to pay the debt in order to coerce the debt collectors to show proof and to identify themselves (threatening redial to pay the debt if they do not submit to these demands)?
Understand that collection agencies hear that stuff 100 times a day, every day.
Making threats like that is like peeing in the ocean to make the tide come in.
Might make you feel better, but it won't change anything.
Read about the fair debt collection practices act (FDCPA) and learn what the limitations on dunning are. Write a cease and desist letter if you like. Won't stop you from getting sued, though, might even precipitate a lawsuit which will make your debt grow with attorney fees.
Re: Is It Legal for Collection Agencies to Block Their Phone Number from Caller ID
The can block it and they will often masquerade behind what sounds like a lawfirm (though they are legally bound not to refer to themselves as such unless they really are). I had the misfortune of having some deadbeat list my cell number as his work number and I learned two things:
1. Debt collectors are scum.
2. The law protects the deadbeat and not the innocent bystander.
Re: Is It Legal for Collection Agencies to Block Their Phone Number from Caller ID
Quote:
Quoting
Bashful
My question involves collection proceedings in the State of: Texas
First question: I have two questions, are debt collectors allowed to block their phone numbers from showing up on caller ID?
They are allowed to do that under federal law and the laws of most states. Indeed, under the rules for debt collectors of consumer debts in the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) they must be careful that the caller-ID does not make it apparent that the caller is a debt collector in case someone other than debtor sees it.
Quote:
Quoting
Bashful
Second Question: Are debt collectors required by law to give their name and to prove to you that you legally owe the debt if you tell them that you demand them to do so by telling them if they do not show me proof and identify themselves that you will refuse to pay the debt in order to coerce the debt collectors to show proof and to identify themselves (threatening redial to pay the debt if they do not submit to these demands)?
If you make a request in writing for the debt collector to verify the debt then the debt collector may not make further efforts to collect the debt (other than to sue you for it) until it provides that verification. The verification requirements are very minimal though. You may also simply tell the collector, again in writing, to cease contacting you about the debt. If you do that, the collector cannot contact you again about the debt except to advise of action that will be taken to collect the debt and of course once they file a lawsuit they may contact you as required for the litigation (e.g. serving you with the summons and complaint, etc).