8008600644

I wish it "stopped them in their tracks", as you say.  The one time I actually managed to speak to a live person (within the past year), I asked them to find out when the last payment on the account was made.  Early '98.  I told them that federal law says that calls to collect a given debt have to stop seven years after the last payment was made; TX law says the calls have to stop after 4 years.  So, even giving them the full benefit of the doubt and only applying federal law, they still had to stop calling in '05! This flustered the CSR greatly, who responded "But...don't you want to pay off your debt?" I said "Not when it's no longer valid, and it no longer shows up on my credit report!"

As others upthread have noted, companies like Portfolio buy old debts from the original creditors.  The original creditors sell the old debts to these companies, because they assume the debtors don't understand either federal or state credit/banking law.  Both my father and FIL were in the credit/banking industry for more than 40 yrs.  I asked my father if there were any reason for me to make any payments on this debt, at this point in time.  He said "If you feel like it, and if you want to be nice, you can, but legally you're no longer *required* to."

If you have bad debt do not answer their calls they will go away. if you feel you don't owe any debt tell them to stop calling, if they keep calling report them.

I am besieged with calls - morning, noon and night - 24/7.  I have no idea what they are trying to collect.  Any and all debts I had, were absolved more than12 years ago - and those were considered totally spurious. However, in the State of MI, if you question what that debt might be, they can consider that information enough to open a new claim as of today's date... and I am NOT playing into their game.... these are bottom feeders, and have called me several times under different business names... and I NEVER ANSWER.  I always let the answering machine handle them, and as they never leave a message, and they always hang up.   This has gone on for more than a year and a half, and I am totally sick of their calls.  I wish there were some way to pull the plug on this type of miserable muckraking scum!!!!!! Just to make themselves a buck!!

I received a call on 29 March 2012 at my work number.  Since I was not in they left a message.  When I called the outfit was identified as Portfolio Recovery Systems (as opposed to Associates but I didn't realize this until later).  All the recordings about being a debt collector, calls may be monitored, there was even something about who they are, where they are, and then I got a real person.  She checked the number where they called.  Wasn't on their list.  Ok, shoot me...because I was concerned that my ex or somebody did something stupid I did give my SSN -- talk about being stupid.  Again there was nothing and she said perhaps the wrong number was dialed or given, apologized and thanked me.  Now I'm worried.  God I hate this!  I'll try to report this to the security folks where I work and get their recommendation on what to do next.

If you are receiving calls from 800-860-0644, it is NCO Financial.  If you want to learn all about debt collectors and junk debt buyers, visit http://www.budhibbs.com/bh/budhelp.html.  There is a wealth of information on this website.  Whatever you do, never, ever agree to settle with these people.  Don't send them any money or give them access to your bank account.

They buy old debts for pennies on the dollar.

The time to collect the debt has expired.

Paying them anything wont help you...but it could hurt you.

Well,  everyone -
They have started again PRA is the bottom feeder of all collectors.
They buy old debt,  or make up old debt and then load a telephone
book full of numbers into an autodialer, and turn it loose.
It someone bites, it is like fishing - they will never ever give up.
Dont answer - report them , believe me the FTC knows who they are
and what they do illegally .

They use 100's of different numbers and caller id's.   This is another way to "trick" you into
answering.  Every great once in a while they leave a message so they can refer to it
when the FTC comes calling.  Bottom line : Ignore them if you are sure you owe no one.
    You are now advised........... Be careful out there !!!!

Called land-line: 04/06/2012.  No message left.  CID: "TOLL FREE CALL".  CID# 8008600644.  Call Type: "Zombie-Debt" Collector.

I continue to receive calls from this number and I keep telling them they have me confused.  After they continued to call me, I referred them to my attorney and provided his phone number.  They continue to call my home!

Another number for Portfolio Recovery. They left a message identifying themselves plus the usual blah, blah blah.

I don't have any outstanding debt. If I answered all the calls from them (multiple numbers) and from the other dipsh*ts doing the same thing I'd never get anything else done.

Here's the answer to all our prayers.  Telemarketers almost exclusively use "autodialers" to make their calls.  One out of a thousand will have live reps doing the dialing.  When these dialers connect (you answer the phone) they listen for any "tones" generated.  If no "tones" are detected they then transfer the call to one of the reps in a call center.  "IF" the autodialer hears the 3 beeps from dialing a "DISCONNECTED" number, the number that was just dialed is automatically "REMOVED" from their list.  Below is a link that has this "tone" plus the verbal message.  You DO NOT need the verbal message.  Download or copy the "DISCONNECTED" MP3 or WAV file to your desktop.  Create or change the greeting you have when someone calls you and you're not available.  At the VERY BEGINNING of your message place the 3 tones (NOT THE VOICE MESSAGE) then continue with your usual or normal greeting.  The autodialer will hear the tones and BINGO, your number will be removed since they think it's a disconnected number.  DONE.  In a few weeks you will be removed from all the lists.  Of course you may have to explain the tones to the callers you DO want to speak to but that's a small tradeoff.  Pass this info on to anyone you know that gets junk calls or even help post this on these websites.  GET RID OF JUNK / SPAM CALLS.  

http://www.payphone-directory.org/sounds.html

I have had numerous debt collectors call and harass me over the years.  I tell them about the FDCPA and they say "what is that?" and when I tell them to look it up and then think about calling me back, they don't.  I used to be in collections for Bealls, Stage, and Palais Royal department stores and know the laws on fair debt collecting.  First and foremost, don't ever give them any info whatsoever.  If they are legit, then they will have all the info on file.  If they ask you for anything, don't give it to them.  Unless it's to go to your lawyer.  Secondly, no debt collector, NONE, has the right to threaten or harass you with court or anything of that matter.  Thirdly, if you ask them to send you a letter in regards to this debt, they have to send it to you.  If you don't get anything from them, then you know.  They have to have a letter/document of the debt, and they have so many days to get it to you.  If you ask them to quit calling for x amount of days, they have to comply.  If you send them a cease and desist letter, they must comply.  Don't get scammed.  If you know you do have a debt, call the company you have the debt with, get the collection company's info from them, and contact them either by phone or letter (certified).  Yes, a lot of collection companies do sell off their old debts they are unable to collect on and even some that aren't even debts at all, and roll them over and over and over and over.  It's sad really because you think it will roll off after 7 years.  Not if debt collectors keep buying these debts.  Don't answer the calls, prank answer if you have to.  I do a lot of the time.  Last time they called, I answered "Molly's Hollywood Funeral Home.  Where when you're dead, you're can still be a star."  I haven't had a call in about 3 weeks now.  lol...  Good luck to everyone dealing with these lowlife scum.

I get calls from this number from time to time. I do not have any overdue debts, so they are just fishing for info. They never leave a message and I never answer the phone, anyway. I only answer when someone I know leaves a message. If this was a legitimate debt, you would be contacted by U.S. mail as well as by phone. They have no idea who you are, they are just calling random numbers. Whatever you do, DO NOT ANSWER THE PHONE. Let it ring!

If you have a Time Warner account you can block anonymous numbers by dialing *77. To block other calls go to their web site, and then to “My Services”, then to “Voice Zone”, where you can put in the number you wish to block.

Thanks Lisa!

NO NAME OR MSG. JUST A HANGUP

I tried telling them about the statute of limitations when they call me over and over but the rude woman just said.. "well we will keep calling you no matter what even if you change your phone number we will still get it and call you"    there is no stopping these people.  They need to get a life  without access to a phone

I got a call from this number and I did not answer it as I have no idea who they were.  I just let it ring and they did not bother to leave a message.

THE PERSON YOUR LOOKING FOR DOES NOT STAY AT THE NUMBER 314-395-3377 SO PLEASE STOP CALLING MY HOUSE THIS NUMBER IS FOR THE LEWIS AND PYE CALLS ONLY

after reading that the company was bbb accredited i decided to call back.  They were polite and they were looking for my ex-husband and his other ex-wife.  I said that they never had this phone number and only thing in common was last name.  they said that they would note that this number was not for them.  again, they were very polite. so, hopefuly that is the last i will hear from them.