How Do Bill Collectors Get Cell Phone Numbers?
 | By Steve Rhode Ask me your question. | Click on the star rating below to rate this article.
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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.
Source: How Do Bill Collectors Get Cell Phone Numbers?
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Comments
Comment by Terri Panchaud This article is very informative!!
Thanks!!
I can now waste less energy avoiding the bill collectors and more time to SHOP!!:):D
A girl’s got to look good….who cares if you don’t have a job..just charge it on your CC and shred the bill when it arives.
Comment by Jennifer I recently got a newer cell number and I know I haven’t given it out to anyone other than family. I am getting a collector calling me on it. Does this still apply? I don’t see how it’s legal for them to hunt that information down without me giving it to them.
Steve Rhode Reply:
October 22nd, 2009 at 2:34 pm
Jennifer,
The chances are pretty good that what you probably did was to call the creditor or collector via a toll-free number and that discloses your telephone number to them. Otherwise, a collector probably called a family member and pretended they knew you and asked for the number.
Steve
Comment by Kutti They have special departments where all they do is “skip trace” they find numbers.
They have many tools available to them not available to the general public.
If you have a phone, landline, cell etc they can find it.
For example they will spend less time and resources finding an alterante phone numbe to track you down if you owe 50.00 versus 500, 5000 or even 50 000.00 etc.
Comment by C. Hutton Also, it seems collectors can get your cell number if they have an address for you, and then you pay a bill (for example your cell phone bill) with a credit or debit card which of course has your address linked to it….?
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How do I get debt collectors to stop calling my cell phone asking for another person?
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