I am often asked how debt collectors get a hold of your cell phone or mobile phone number when you have not given it to them. It is actually very easy to do and best yet, you give it to them.

Never call a debt collector on a toll-free number or a direct number if you don’t want them to know the number you are calling from.

If you call a toll-free number you will not be able to block the collector from getting your caller information even if you have caller ID block that prevents others from seeing your number. A debt collector my use a local number for you to call that points to a toll-free number and get your calling phone number that way. You would not be able to tell that it went to a toll-free number and reveled your number.

Either the bill collector got your number that way, you listed it on a previous credit application that was shared with the credit bureau or the debt collector called someone you listed as an alternate contact on a previous credit application, or a neighbor, and got it from them.

If you feel you need to hide from the bill collector, read How to Hide From Debt Collection, the Debt Collector, and Creditors.