[Mike Weird]

Hi all. I just registered but have done some requisite reading and browsing of threads and have to say this is a very nice site full of people who seem to know their stuff.

Quick backstory: my credit went to hell about five years ago when I was involved in a disastrous business partnership. Basically, I made zero dollars in six months while spending time and money trying to make it work. Within a short time frame a good credit score was ruined as all my cards were maxed out and I simply couldn't pay for anything. Since then, mostly because my credit has sucked, I have a good record.

Fast forward to recently. A CA started calling me that is based here. They're different in that it seems like a small company and their voice messages are aggressive and very different than anything I've heard (for example, they make it clear to remind me they're local in a semi-ominous way).

So I've been avoiding them for SOL reasons, but I know I can be tracked down easily thanks to the internet. A couple of days ago a young looking kid came in saying he saw an ad and asking for someone that I've never heard of. As fate would have it I was the only one in the office so I spoke with him, answered his questions, and gave him my card. This is where strange stuff started happening:

- he called me an hour or so later from a blocked number saying that he had already (somehow) misplaced my card and could I e-mail him to his personal address...I didn't think anything of it at the time, but if he misplaced my card...how did he have my cell phone number? Not thinking this through, I e-mailed him my contact info.

- later the same day I sent my contact info, I got a call at my office from a number I didn't recognize...I could hear people on the other end but nobody said anything. I hung up.

- I remembered back to our meeting. He was dressed sloppy, with an untucked t-shirt and was carrying papers. When I asked if that was a copy of his resume he said no. Why would someone looking to apply show up dressed sloppily, asking for someone who didn't exist, and carrying a bunch of papers that weren't relevant?

- I also remember asking him where his employer's office was. The cross streets he gave me where very strangely near where the collection agency is located, I mean like really close, and I'm not aware of his employer having a facility in that area.

- since then I started getting a bunch of calls from a local number, no message. I answered one of them today, got suspicious and hung up, and got a call back. It was him, he left a message allegedly calling to confirm receipt of his resume and asked me to e-mail him back confirmation, which I have not done.

- the numbers he was calling from were a series of close together numbers that are unlisted. If I try to call any of them I get a message that they are disconnected.

- the number on his resume is disconnected.

In the years I've been doing what I do I've acquired a finely honed BS detector. Too much doesn't add up. How did he somehow lose my card but still have my numbers? What is the relevance of me sending him an e-mail? Why did he call approximately 5-10 times in one day after he responded with his resume and only after I answered and hung up did he call back and leave a message? Why are those numbers he's calling from disco?

I'm about curious enough to spend $5 to find out what the unpublished number is (if those sites work). My current plan is to ignore him until I get decent advice. Prior to regging and making this LOOOOONG post I did some asking around and research. It's apparently against the law for a CA to contact you in person at work, and if I ask them not to call me there or elsewhere they evidently have to honor that request. So has anyone heard of anything like this or am I just imagining things?

This is regarding a CC debt for what it's worth. If anyone has read this far any input is very welcome. Thanks!

[spinn]

Type the phone number into Google. There is a site where people list the numbers of mutants who call and harass them for various reasons.

Also, do you have credit monitoring? If not I would get it. They may be pulling your credit. I use Truecredit.

Just because something is illegal doesnt mean they wont do it. They dont call it the violation period for nothing.

[Qtip]

Interesting, in my opinion I do not think collection agencies would spend money sending someone to physically track you, if they did they would send someone to serve you lawsuit papers.

As you stated it is not hard anymore to track people over the internet, but heck who knows, maybe it is a small outfit in your tow trying to do things differently?

[VexatiousLitigant]

I don't really see what purpose it would serve for the CA to do that.

[centex]

Originally Posted by VexatiousLitigant

I don't really see what purpose it would serve for the CA to do that.

Depending on dollar amount, I can easily see a local agency doing it for the purpose of determining whether litigation is likely to produce income sufficient to justify the expense.

[Mike Weird]

First of all, thanks for taking the time to read what I wrote and consider it, not to mention the thoughtful responses. I'll just address each comment/question in a single post.

spinn - Indeed I did try a google search of the various permutations of the number. Came up dry. No, I do not have credit monitoring, but as I'm nearing the end of the SOL for most of my troubles I need to and will look into stuff like this.

Qtip - yeah I've never seen/heard of anything like this. What I've heard is they can't come to your place of work. But this kid did not say he was working for them and did not ask for me by name. So without disclosing he is working for them I guess he isn't in violation, unless I could prove that I guess.

centex - the original balance was for a shade under $5000. In reading some threads here I've noticed that the amount does indeed affect how CA's handle things.

I guess I'm just trying to figure out what their endgame is. I mean obv their endgame is to get paid, but what exactly the purpose was of sending someone out here, and specifically the relevance of sending an e-mail, which I now regret doing of course.

If it turns out this is all me being paranoid, I will feel pretty dumb...

[jlynn]

Originally Posted by Mike Weird

Qtip - yeah I've never seen/heard of anything like this. What I've heard is they can't come to your place of work. But this kid did not say he was working for them and did not ask for me by name. So without disclosing he is working for them I guess he isn't in violation, unless I could prove that I guess.

I used to work for an attorney with Credit Reporters next door. You would be surprised at some of things I did trying to locate people for them on my lunch hour. My fav was the guy was able to serve after I "backed into" his car in a parking lot. Only way we could get past the front desk Secretary/Nazi's.

Then there was the time I used to work at a tote-the-note while in high school. If those people saw a snatch and grab anywhere in the neighborhood they were gone in a flash. My car always stayed hidden in the clean up bay, so I could go on scouting expeditions undetected. Great Fun...

I guess I'm just trying to figure out what their endgame is. I mean obv their endgame is to get paid, but what exactly the purpose was of sending someone out here, and specifically the relevance of sending an e-mail, which I now regret doing of course.

The email could simply have been to put you off course in your predictions.

If it turns out this is all me being paranoid, I will feel pretty dumb...

No need to feel dumb.

[Mike Weird]

Originally Posted by jlynn

The email could simply have been to put you off course in your predictions.

Perhaps, but I think I'm figuring it out. The e-mail and (possibly fake) resume was an excuse to get me on the phone. If this guy actually is an agent for the company, the lone call we had was about five seconds yesterday, when I thought it was someone else and hung up when I figured out my mistake. That's the only time after his "I lost your card" message that he left one, despite a ton of calls. This message was just asking me to confirm receipt of his resume. At no point has he provided me with a valid phone number at which to contact him.

Anyway, he's probably called and not left messages at least ten times in the last three days, likely more. When he was in here he was asking questions about what I do and how he could get a job here. It seems likely he was steering everything towards a phone convo in which I would be unknowingly recorded discussing compensation for this position, and perhaps their bingo would be me discussing my pay. But maybe just mentioning what this position could pay in general would be enough for them. If this theory is off feel free to let me know. Thanks.

Gah, I seem incapable of writing a short post on these forums.

[VexatiousLitigant]

Next time he calls tell him you are expecting a series of lay-offs at the company and as a courtesy you recommend he submit his resume elsewhere. =p

[Enigma]

Originally Posted by VexatiousLitigant

Next time he calls tell him you are expecting a series of lay-offs at the company and as a courtesy you recommend he submit his resume elsewhere. =p

Unless the company is "actually" expecting to lay off personnel, it might cause problems with the state labor board.

We had a scam here a year or so ago in which individuals we go to area businesses dropping off resumes, filling out applications. If the individual never heard from the business they would claim some sort of discrimination. Most businesses not wanting to spend the $'s defending a lawsuit paid the scammers.

I usually say to people calling about employment, "we are always looking for qualified individuals. You may fax your resume to xxx-xxx-xxxx, email it in PDF format only to xxxxx. We do not accept resumes at the office. Once your resume is received and it is determined that you meet the qualification's , all potential employees must submit to a criminal background check, credit check, drug testing and reference check." This weeds out about 98% of all those testing the waters.

[jlynn]

Originally Posted by Enigma

Unless the company is "actually" expecting to lay off personnel, it might cause problems with the state labor board.

That's another type of possibility. Working in the Real Estate field, we were always getting calls and drop bys. From the questions I was asked from time to time about certain neighborhoods, it was likely they were testers making sure our office wasn't redlining, or being discriminatory in any way in houses we showed people.

Wonder if you are experiencing something similar trying to catch you on discriminatory hiring practices.

[spinn]

If they ever start drug testing collection agencies our problems will be over.

I hung out in the parking lot of a JDB once just out of curiosity. All of the women are 6 ft 2" and look like Esther from Sanford and Son. The men are 5 ft 2 and twitch so much its hard to tell what they look like.

You should hire this guy.

[flacorps]

Is it possible this was a fraudulent process server? ... he'll have proof that he saw you, served process on you ... accurate description, where you work, what you wore, etc. But you didn't get any papers (maybe he just is afraid to actually hand lawsuit papers to people and is lying to his bosses).

I'd check the courthouse to see if suit has been filed against you. And if so, check further to see if there's been a (fraudulent) return of service.

[Mike Weird]

Originally Posted by flacorps

Is it possible this was a fraudulent process server? ... he'll have proof that he saw you, served process on you ... accurate description, where you work, what you wore, etc. But you didn't get any papers (maybe he just is afraid to actually hand lawsuit papers to people and is lying to his bosses).

I'd check the courthouse to see if suit has been filed against you. And if so, check further to see if there's been a (fraudulent) return of service.

Interesting theory but all the follow-up doesn't make sense then. His work would be done by now.

Anyway, he came back in today. Ostensibly to follow-up on whether I'd received his resume. I let him know I had. I asked what number he'd been calling from all week. He said it was a friend's cell phone. Which doesn't compute since it was a whole series of numbers, not just one. He said he would be getting a cell phone today and would give me his new number. He asked if I would be in on Monday. I requested that he just e-mail it to me, there's no need to come in a third time. And I'll be in and out on Monday anyway, which is true.

Could be paranoia indeed, but the whole thing about his number is a lie I could drive a truck through.

Also, any chance they monitor these boards and are effing with me? No I don't smoke pot or do meth or anything, my paranoia is all natural.

[getting right]

Originally Posted by Mike Weird

Interesting theory but all the follow-up doesn't make sense then. His work would be done by now.

Anyway, he came back in today. Ostensibly to follow-up on whether I'd received his resume. I let him know I had. I asked what number he'd been calling from all week. He said it was a friend's cell phone. Which doesn't compute since it was a whole series of numbers, not just one. He said he would be getting a cell phone today and would give me his new number. He asked if I would be in on Monday. I requested that he just e-mail it to me, there's no need to come in a third time. And I'll be in and out on Monday anyway, which is true.

Could be paranoia indeed, but the whole thing about his number is a lie I could drive a truck through.

Also, any chance they monitor these boards and are effing with me? No I don't smoke pot or do meth or anything, my paranoia is all natural.

i agree with you, i think something is up. now they have your work number i think they are either gonna start placing collection calls to you at your place of employment or they are about to try to file for suit and serve you. Stay on the up and up and good luck.

[tickedoff]

why not call and check his references, find out if he is legit?

[hannah]

Why resurrect this 2 month old thread?