I call, I straighten it out. Then, a couple of years later, I get a dun from some other collection agency.
Any FReepers that are lawyers out there? Answer this question. Can I safely ignore these notices” I'm tired of trying to make Indian telephone dun collectors, whom I can barely understand, get the point that they can whistle for their money as far as I am concerned.
Send the collection agency a written or typed letter (make sure to make copies) asking them to provide validation of the debt, and instructing them not to contact you in any way until they do. Under the FDCPA, you can sue them for $1000 a pop for each incident of them contacting or otherwise harassing you between the time that you sent the letter and the time that they provided said verification (be sure to send the letter by registered mail, so there is a record of them signing to receive it, with the date/time).
My wife and I were getting dinged about some medical bills that some collection agency said we owed. I sent the letter, and they called a few days later. We won the case, got $1000, and the lawyer got $3500 (go figure). Haven’t heard from the collection agency since.
First thing you do is get a name and address for the collection agency. They are required to provide it.
Next, you look up the laws in your state, and in their state. You'll find statutes for harassment.
Write a letter, stating that you are not the person in question and you don't know her. Any further attempts to contact you will be considered harassment, and you'll file a complaint with the local police in their jurisdiction. Cite the harassment statutes.
Send the letter, certified mail, return receipt requested. And send a copy to the Attorney General in your state and their state. Look on the state's website, and you'll find an address for this.
It won't necessarily stop a future one, but it will stop this one, quickly. Since I did it, I've never heard anything further about it.
One of my sons friends suffered a default judgement and garnishment over the debts of another man of the same name. So ignoring them probably isn’t a great course of action.