question about credit cards

i think a family member of mine is on big trouble with a creidt card company bc a credit card company called my mother and sister looking for her. this family member has been married for over 10 yrs and her name has been changed. they were calling people in my family with her maiden name. apparently she hasnt paid her bill. Now my question is how do u think they got my sisters number (whose name has alos been changed from marriage) and my mother number?? im wondering if she owes alot of money or just alittle.

Just so u know both my mom and sister confronted this family memeber and offered money but it was denied

messed up.........

Message edited 4/1/2006 1:42:51 PM.

Re: question about credit cards

That is VERY messed up.....I've never heard of credit card companies tracking down other relatives.

Re: question about credit cards

That's very strange. I can't see why they would contact relatives. BTW, if it were me, I'd deny it, too!!

Re: question about credit cards

This has become a common practice with credit card companies and banks over the past few years. Technology has grown in leaps and bounds and it is not that hard for someone to be tracked down. However, a company cannot identify itself and say why they are calling if they are not asked those specific questions. If they do, they are in violation of federal law. If this relative has been married for 10 years and they were asking by her maiden name, then this is probably an account she thought she closed a long time ago. Pass the information on to her and let her handle it. However, if anyone should receive another phone call from this company, they should say they are not interested, tell them are in violation of federal law and hang up. If the calls persist, then the company should be reported to the appropriate federal authorities and a complaint should be filed. Banks and credit card companies like to use scare tactics and, if you know the law, they back off.

Re: question about credit cards

I had that happen to me with a small credit card. It was a store credit card I had when I was younger. The store closed down and sold the deliquent accounts to some sleazy bank that I have never heard of. While I was away at college, they would hunt my parents down, and believe it or not, when they couldn't get me and my parents would say I didn't live there, they were so sleazy that they called my NEIGHBOR to see if I was living there and asking if they knew my current address !!!!

I only owed about $300 if that!! It wasn't that I was in such trouble with the company, it's just that this is how some banks are. They will go to all costs to get their money.

Re: question about credit cards

I think they do this sometimes to track down people with unlisted #s. When I lived in the same town as my brother, who was unlisted, I used to get calls periodically for his wife (same last name as mine). I think whatever solicitor it was, had their address and just called anyone who was listed with the same last name.

I just told them they had the wrong # and hung up.