Debt collector

Caller left a message that they have tried to deliver certified letter but will hold off until end of day.  Then move forward with ..whatever.
Embarrassing thing is they left both of my kids the same message trying to find me.
Should I ignore??

Sounds like debt scam, that is one of the typical scripts. Ignore the call, block the number and do not call back. Calling family members is one of they ways they try to scare and intimidate you.

It's better to be posting in a thread connected with the phone number the call came in on. This site is driven by the phone numbers, and the phone number info is what helps others.

Debt Extortion Scam

Courier Services and Process Servers do not know what is contained in the documents they are paid to serve/deliver. They don't cold call a recipient to inform them of a "failed attempt to deliver", as that would alert the recipient someone is attempting to Serve them. Anyone explaining what they are delivering, saying "matter attached to your SSN", "you have officially been notified", "deliver legal docs and to have ID ready"  or offering an alternative "solution" to avoid delivery is a scammer. Real process servers don't need to set a time to deliver any documents nor do they threaten legal action if you don't call them.

The vague scare tactic message is designed to panic a victim into calling back.

Most debt collectors will use a certain amount of pressure to convince you to pay the debt. After all, they often don't get paid unless you pay. Be suspicious of a debt collector who uses an unusual amount of pressure to get you to pay immediately, particularly if they also use scare tactics to get you to pay right away. For example, a debt collector is scamming you if it :

• threatens you with a lawsuit and tells that you can avoid the lawsuit by paying right away
• Says a Process Server  or Courier is coming with papers to sign
• Threatens to call / go to your place of employment
• Insists you have been notified, served or are non-compliant via phone message(s)
• Refuses to give a company name or verifiable Contact source
• Refuses to send proof of debt via US mail

A sure sign of a debt collection scam is a collector that wants to you to pay via wire transfer or another method that can't be traced. If the payment method can't be traced, you'll have a harder time getting the authorities involved.

If the creditor sounds completely foreign, or you know you never had an account with that business, there's a chance it's a scam. Never pay a collection you don't recognize. You have the right to request written proof of the debt from the debt collector before you send payment.

https://consumer.ftc.gov/articles/fake-abusive-debt-collectors
https://www.texasattorneygeneral.gov/consumer ... ollection-scams
https://www.ag.state.mn.us/Consumer/Publications/PhonyDebtCollectionScams.asp
https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/2019/02/ftc ... llection-scheme
https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/blog/2017/08/pha ... onate-law-firms

Quote:

Here are some ways to find out if a debt collector is legitimate.
•You received a letter in the mail. ...
•The agency is licensed in your state. ...
•The collector can verify your personal details. ...
•You can request information about the debt. ...
•There's more than one method of payment. ...
•A company works with you, not against you.

Source: https://www.bankrate.com/personal-finance/deb ... ctor-is-a-scam/

File a complaint:
https://www.consumerfinance.gov/complaint/

Please be careful when talking to debt collectors. The first question to ask- How old is the age of the debt. One of the newest games being played is companies is to buy old debt that cannot be collected through the court of law. But anyone can ask you to pay what you owe. Once you agree that you owe the debt or any form of payment arrangement or that you are willing to look into a plan with them- that debt clock starts at zero again. Know how long a debt collector has the right to sue for a debt in your state- Credit card debt varies from 5-7 yrs Medical 2-8 yrs- Don't randomly agree to pay anyone or admit to owing a debt collector anything until you receive a verified copy of the original debt from the company, they claim you owe. They have to prove to you that you owe them money not the other way around.

Pamela wrote:

One of the newest games being played is companies is to buy old debt that cannot be collected through the court of law.

Nothing new about that, debt collectors have been doing that for decades.

Pamela wrote:

Credit card debt varies from 5-7 yrs Medical 2-8 yrs ...

The Statute of Limitations (SoL) for Open-Ended Accounts like Credit Cards varies from 3 to 10 years depending on the State.  For Written Contracts like Medical Bills the SoL also varies from 3 to 10 years although depending on when the contract was signed the SoL in Kentucky can be 15 years rather than 10.  No State has a SoL of 7 years for any debt.

Pamela wrote:

Once you agree that you owe the debt ... that debt clock starts at zero again.
... or admit to owing a debt collector anything ...

In eight States (CA, FL, IL, NY, OH, PA, TX, VA) a verbal acknowledgement will restart the SoL, the others require it to be in writing.