Credit Calls Frustrate Consumer

Save

Woman phones back, company hangs up on her
Posted: 11:03 PM May 7, 2008
Last Updated: 11:43 PM May 7, 2008
Email Address: sixonline@wowt.com

17 comments

A | A | A

A Ralston woman who says she always pays her credit card bills on time was puzzled by threatening calls saying she owes money. Seems one company isn't adhering to the Do Not Call list.

Allison Williams was constantly getting demanding messages like this one on her answering machine. "I'm calling regarding your credit card balances and the minimum payments that are going up. It's imperative that you call me back."

Allison says the calls immediately raised a red flag because she doesn't owe anything on her credit cards. "Everything gets paid off every month so basically we have no credit card debt and haven't had problems with that in the past."

Allison called the company, Consumer Acceptance Corporation. "I asked to speak to a supervisor, they hung up on me. I called back again and said I'd like to be taken off your calling list. They hung up on me."

Allison is on the Do Not Call list and updates it regularly to avoid these calls. "I'd like to know how they got through the Do Not Call Registry. Isn't there a fine for that?"

The Federal Trade Commission says yes, although its consumer division cannot comment on a specific business. If you are on the Do Not Call list and a telemarketer still calls you it's an $11,000 fine for each call. And if you ask a telemarketer to stop calling you, like Allison did, it's another $11,000 fine.

Allison says the calls have finally stopped. "I don't like to be hounded. I don't like to be drummed up for business. If I need business, we will call."

Channel 6 News has received several complaints about Consumer Acceptance Corporation in the past week.

If you are on the Do Not Call list and still receive those calls, there are two ways to file a complaint with the FTC. You can go online at ftc.gov and hit the link to the Do Not Call registry, or you can call 877-382-4357.

More Stories
The House That Jack Built

Housing Market Good/Bad Depending On Price, Location

Tax Lien Closes Cafe

Park And Ride Plan Didn't Include Park

Convection Oven Bake-Off

Smart Car: Gas-Saving Solution?

Road Smarts: Safest Driving Position

Road Smarts: Fuel-Efficient Vacation Packing

Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: Smith on May 9, 2008 at 04:55 PM
Try having a last name like mine. I get collection calls all the time on a deadbeat that has the same name. They always want me to provide proof that the debt is mine, I always say 'Prove it is'. I don't give out information that CAN prove it isn't mine, because they just add it to their file as fact that it does belong to me. Good thing my attorney doesn't charge much to back them off. (Once you are represented by council, it's a $10,000 fine if they contact you in any way.) He always makes them disappear. I have one now where they wrote a bad check. The address, phone number, DL# don't match and I've never held an account at the bank the check is written against. I informed them of this, but they won't back off if you don't give them YOUR information. It's a no win situation. My wife has a very unique maiden name, maybe I should just switch to hers.

Posted by: Mary O. Location: Omaha on May 8, 2008 at 09:58 PM
A company that hangs up on the people it asked to call back because "it's imperative" sounds like a scam to me.

Posted by: Mel Location: Bellevue on May 8, 2008 at 09:50 PM
Has anyone noticed that if you are even one or two days late on anything now, you get a collection call? My mortgage company has started that. There is a grace period and I usually make the payment close to that date (I only did that two months). I started receiving 4-5 calls at my home and work. They are getting very aggressive.

Posted by: Ms. Allison Williams on May 8, 2008 at 06:24 PM
You should post the phone # of this Consumer Acceptance Corporation so we can all call and harass them! Just for kicks...

Posted by: J Location: omaha on May 8, 2008 at 06:05 PM
I get these calls CONSTANTLY! I pay on everything so I just ignored them - they have finally dwindled off. There's another company making these types of calls, it comes under the name of a man (nationally, the same man) and out of curiousity I googled the name. Came up with nothing but people complaining about these scamming companies and the ten-plus messages they were leaving every day. I personally find it embarrassing - to have guests over and have those types of messages booming over the machine. Especially when it's all just a scam anyway.

Posted by: Justin Location: omaha on May 8, 2008 at 03:11 PM
Chris--I've recieved these calls as well, and they are not collection calls. The leave a message saying it's a very urgent matter for you to call back right away, and then they ask you questions about any cc debts and balances and try to get you to consolidate them on thier card. That is a SALES call plain and simple. A collection call is if you are deliqient on a balance and the company hires an agency or makes the call themselves, to arrange a repayment of the debt.

Posted by: Laura Location: Council Bluffs on May 8, 2008 at 02:37 PM
Honestly, I don't understand how the telemarketing industry survives. It doesn't work, given the chance no one will take the calls, and they keep passing laws to limit what can be done. I worked for a national polling agency for a brief time, and people are so frustrated by all this they won't even answer three questions about whether or not they like the President. I've noticed that since that time, the polling agency has taken to the Internet instead. Telemarketing, in all it's various forms, should have gone when the 90's did. I can't beleive they still think this is an effective marketing tool.

Posted by: Dean Location: Omaha on May 8, 2008 at 12:11 PM
Thanks for the reminder about getting on this list. I had a telemarketer call at 10:30 last night. Glad I have caller ID as well.

Posted by: B Location: Omaha on May 8, 2008 at 11:19 AM
Sometimes you can just google a number and see what it goes to. I've done that and caught a scam from people claiming to be Sprint. Other people post what they have found out. It's an easy handy tool, thought I'd share.

Posted by: Amanda Location: Bellevue on May 8, 2008 at 10:58 AM
We have been having the same calls at work, either during work hours or on our voice mails. They say the exact same thing. I don't know how they attained all our different numbers at work.

Posted by: Ginny Location: Bellevue on May 8, 2008 at 10:55 AM
I stopped answering these calls from the Consumer Acceptance Corp. Used to get them every night around 8PM, like clockwork. They have stopped since I stopped answering. The first couple of times, I got that pre-recorded message from 'Cory' about my credit card debt. I don't even have a credit card! Now that I haven't answered, they stopped.

Posted by: Agree with HL Location: here on May 8, 2008 at 09:48 AM
Most credit card companies outsource their fraud protection. I used to work for one of those outsourced companies, and we didn't get a whole lot of info on the card holder. Usually just the basic stuff, name, address, phone #, & last 10-20 purchases. They were only sent to us if there was suspicious activity on the card, & your actual card company will in most cases rely on the outsourced business to take care of everything. Lots of people thought we were scam artists, because we had to tell them we weren't employed by their card company, & we didn't have detalied info on their account. Then we would hear some choice words and a slam of the phone. Problem is, we would continue to call until the matter was resolved. What made things worse is we had to ask for the last 4 #'s of their SSN, & birthdate. So you can imagine how responsive people were. Call your card company, and they'll know if they outsource fraud prevention. Most have this service & don't even realize it.

Posted by: Jamie Location: Omaha on May 8, 2008 at 09:30 AM
These aren't collection calls, they are people trying to get your bank info. A friend of mine just went through the same thing and it was all a scam to obtain bank info. They want you to make payments over the phone, so if you give them your bank info to make a phone payment then they start stealing money out of your account. If you get calls like these, report them immediately and keep an eye on your bank account. The Do Not Call registry doesn't stop scammers!

Posted by: HL Location: Omaha on May 8, 2008 at 06:29 AM
Chris, these are NOT collection calls. I've received them too. When I answer the phone, it's an automated message talking about my "high credit card payments", etc., same as for Ms. Williams. And like her, I'm not behind on payments or have trouble paying my bills. These companies are either trying to scare you into signing up for one of their "debt management" programs - which are usually a high-interest or dubious mortgage loan of some sort - or trying to scam you for your information. And Barbara, the call from Discover may actually have been legitimate (not necessarily, but possibly) - telemarketers who call on behalf of credit card companies, unless they're an in-house part of the company itself, have limited customer info due to privacy regulations, and wouldn't have access to any account info they wouldn't need in relation to the product/service they're calling about. A lot of credit card companies ARE offering identity theft programs now, though most are free.

Posted by: Brittany Location: Omaha on May 8, 2008 at 05:42 AM
I get these calls as well, and I too have no credit card debt. Guess I'll have to file a complaint to make it stop...

Posted by: Chris Location: Bellevue on May 8, 2008 at 01:54 AM
According to training I received at a prominent collection agency, collection calls are not covered under the do not call registry. According to that it is covered under the same rules as charities you've already given to. There is implied consent since you've given your # to your creditors.

Posted by: Barbara Location: Omaha on May 7, 2008 at 11:59 PM
In the last month, I have been approached by two scamming events. One was a mailing asking urgently for my personal information to complete the card I am using. I called Discover and they said it was, as I thought, obviously a scam, and said that there was another the week before. Then I received a call from someone saying they were calling for Discover asking me to start an identity theft protection program. I asked the woman what my balance was, and she said she only had my name and phone number. Scares me.