One problem with robo-calls (which in my case come in on a
little used landline) is that, if you don’t answer any numbers you don’t
recognize, you could get a collection call and not know about it..
Typically, a debt collector will leave a first name and a
number and not state the reason. It’s illegal under the FDCPA to leave
information in a phone message about a debt, because a third party could pick
it up.
When you all the number back, you learn it is a collection agency.
All of this means it is important to know what it is your
credit reports. If your reports have no
negative information, then you know the debt is (probably) not legitimate and
you have the right to dispute it. A call like this means you could have been
targeted by identity theft and have fraudulent accounts in your name.
There is another sinister possibility, though unlikely, if
your life is at all “interesting.” You
might have a court judgment against you (especially out of state). If you had not been properly served, then the
judgment is not enforceable. Service by
mail is possible in most states, but the plaintiff runs the risk of the
defendant’s successfully claiming he or she was not served because the item was
misdelivered. Certified or registered mail is possible. I believe that mailbox stores (like UPS)
normally accept service of process, and indicate with a card in your box that
you have such an item to pick up. Many
apartment complexes do accept service, during normal business hours.
Today, I did pull my “annual credit report”. Yes, the site uses encryption (https). Equifax and Experian (formerly TRW and
Chilton) separate out negative items and public records (which would include
judgments); Trans Union does not. But
Equifax and TransUnion offer PDF copies to download. With Experian, I had a problem with the html
file disappearing (it loads only once for free). The best report, for readability, was, I think,
Equifax.
No negative information showed up, this time at least. I did
see some inquiries, but normal stuff, no “shotgunning”.
Of course, it might be possible to use sites like “Been
Verified” to check one’s own public records (Jan. 13).
Homeowners (including especially those with homes acquired through
estates) should also learn how to use their own local government’s property tax
and utilities billing systems, as another precaution against fraud, like the possibility
of a fraudulent mortgage or even title transfer. Like it or not, property tax
records are public, and, yes, it’s possible to determine if your neighbor is
current just as yourself.