[Lancey Howard]

Change your number?

[Billthedrill]

Find an attorney. Give him or her a retainer - usually pretty nominal. Refer this sort of thing to them. They have pre-written letters all ready for exactly this eventuality. It usually takes only a single letter from an attorney to stop this stuff so fast it'll make your head spin and the $50 or so spent is well worth it. Plus, if it happens again you have a written record.

Most collection agencies are really pretty professional about this sort of thing but it's in their very nature to be pushy and persistent - that's how they get paid. A smile and a handshake and a gun beats a smile and a handshake every time - metaphorically speaking, of course.

[Hattie]

What happens if you unplug the phone for a minute?

[CaptainK]

Tell them the check is in the mail.

[Shots]

The Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, requires that debt collectors and attorneys stop phoning you at home and at work once you ask them to stop.

[DustyMoment]

If you hang up, the switch will eventually clear the call and release your line. I would start by filing a complaint with your local DA and with the FCC. The collection agency cannot do this, especially if it is not your debt.

[TheBattman]

Get the name and address of the company. Send them certified mail that ANY further calls you YOUR phone for the other person will be turned over to the State ATtorney General for prosecution.

[BJClinton]

I cannot hang up on the calls. Even if I hang up, the call is still there if I pick up the phone after 30 seconds.

Call the phone company, they can fix that. Are you way out in the middle of nowhere?

[ASOC]

To add to the fun, I moved to Las Vegas and was assigned XXX-428-1110, with 428 being the base prefix at the time.

I told the local telco that number belonged to the base operator - which was actually 428-1600 - I don't know why, but took it with the proviso I could change later at no charge.

We really had a lot of fun - but after a couple of months it got old.

FWIW, USwide the local USAF milbase phone exchange uses xxx-1110 for operator services.

[Southack]

"I am getting automated calls from a collection agency seeking payment from the person who used to live in my apartment. I cannot hang up on the calls. Even if I hang up, the call is still there if I pick up the phone after 30 seconds."

Don't live in the stone ages. Get Vonage if you must have a land line, else use a cell phone.

[Intolerant in NJ]

Try unplugging the phone for about five minutes, then try again......

[HiTech RedNeck]

Tell the callers the new number is (fill in Washington number of Rat senator or congresscritter here)