Debt Collector Called My Old School Teacher!

Cyphar on 17/03/2022 - 17:13
Last edited 18/03/2022 - 20:49 by 1 other user

Hey all,

So an interesting one. Today I received a message from an old school teacher on Facebook. He told me that a person reached out to him and told him that they wish to speak to me about "a personal matter" and gave me the number. I googled it and it was a debt collector. I haven't spoken to my teacher face-to-face since 2003 when I graduated, and the only way they could have realized there was a connection was because they stalked my Facebook profile and saw that I mentioned him in my latest post from a few months back. I had unknowingly made the post public. I have since gone through my Facebook and ensured that everything is locked down.

This ofcourse is super embarrassing and shameful to me not only because it exposes a possible debt to someone I haven't met in a long time, but also that somehow after stalking my FB and getting a name, they got his number and called him too, thereby involving him in the matter.

Whether the debt is legitimate or not, I'm not sure yet, as they refused to answer my questions when I called.

Is there any retaliatory action I can take in lodging a complaint to an ombudsman? I did a Google and sounds like it could be ASIC, is that correct?

Screenshot of message

Any direction forward with this would be great. Thanks!

EDIT: Turned out to be an old Video Ezy debt for late rental fees from 2006 for $75. I called and told them that I am unaware of the debt and that given the age it is statue barred. Placed me on hold and 2 minutes later, they agreed and closed the matter.

They read out the address, phone number & email they had; none of which belong to me anymore, not since 2007. Plenty of people here that seem to love beating others down for inadvertant mistakes made in the past. This being one of mine. I feel sorry for each and every one of you.

Financial

closed Comments

  • Hybroid on 17/03/2022 - 17:18
    +89

    Delete Facebook. Life is so much better without that poison.

    • Cyphar on 17/03/2022 - 17:21
      +9

      I so rarely use it and never had any issues with it until now, but it has several handy support groups of an illness that I have that is still very beneficial for me so deleting it isn't going to happen at this point in time.

      • Freitag on 18/03/2022 - 15:26
        +1

        Delete your personal account and just have a separate account for these groups, but don't give away personal information.

        • Kranbone on 18/03/2022 - 19:46

          I've found this sometimes doesn't work as some groups don't want fake accounts due to spammers and trolls, so kind of a double edged sword.

    • pharkurnell on 17/03/2022 - 18:48
      +5

      Never had it in the first place… never felt like I was missing out.

      • Diji1 on 17/03/2022 - 23:03
        +7

        You missed a lot of psychological injury such as depression.

        • Ozpit on 18/03/2022 - 08:58

          True, but among the hundreds of friends he would have made, I’m sure there would have been two or three who would have given him moral support as well as sound psychological advice to help him through the crisis. That’s what friends are for.

          • ozbjunkie on 18/03/2022 - 09:12
            +1

            @Ozpit: Add me on FB

            semisrs

          • schquid on 18/03/2022 - 09:26

            @Ozpit: You mean the small fraction of meaningful relationships, buried amongst a sea of passive consumption of the facades that strangers want you to believe is their life?

            Keep the real friends, lose the toxic exploitive platform and all the idiocy that has come with it.

          • 2esc on 18/03/2022 - 11:14
            +1

            @Ozpit: The hundreds of real friends?

          • serpserpserp on 18/03/2022 - 18:34

            @Ozpit: I few thumbs up and other generic emoji's is probably all one needs to beat depression. Prayers up.

      • Scrooge McDuck on 18/03/2022 - 16:53
        +1

        Never had it in the first place… never felt like I was missing out.

        Never had it either, but ALWAYS felt like I was missing out.

    • fprjet on 18/03/2022 - 10:14
      +2

      But what about Marketplace …..Oh My God, the Bargains……Like everything though depends on how you use it. The secret is not to publish too much stuff about yourself and not to get sucked into other people's crap…..But then that could be said about any Forum…

    • Daz91 on 18/03/2022 - 13:11

      What is your reasoning?

      • Hybroid on 18/03/2022 - 13:38
        +2

        Full of misinformation posts

        Full of scam ads that track you and your data

        Constantly harvesting all your data and information and selling it to others

        Full of narcissists pretending their lives are more perfect than yours

        It's completely unnecessary to keep in touch with people

        • Daz91 on 18/03/2022 - 13:52
          -3

          Sounds like you surround yourself with horrible people, maybe try doing something about that? I find it great.

          • nobro25 on 18/03/2022 - 16:59
            -1

            @Daz91: That's what 99% of what Facebook people uses are like. Posting pics and raging for likes.

          • Antikythera on 18/03/2022 - 17:01

            @Daz91: full of the people i care about. only use messenger and events mostly. cant think of the last time I posted anything.

    • FreeUyghur on 18/03/2022 - 16:13

      Agree

  • try2bhelpful on 17/03/2022 - 17:18

    I don’t know but there should be a way to sue these organisations for emotional damage if it turns out the debt is not valid. There has to be a better way for debt to be dealt with than involving these shonky operators.

    I hope it turns out to be a fault on their part.

    • Cyphar on 17/03/2022 - 17:22
      +2

      I figure if they had the capacity to use Facebook to stalk me, surely they could have sent a message or an email. Instead they somehow tracked down my school teacher's number which IMO is totally (profanity) up

    • ThithLord on 18/03/2022 - 11:03
      +1

      Fat chance. Remember the robodebt scandle that the Federal Government ignored? Scum

      • cwongtech on 18/03/2022 - 12:18
        +8

        Fat chance. Remember the robodebt scandle scandal that the Federal Government (Liberal) ignored created? Scum

        Fixed that for you.

        • harrywwc on 18/03/2022 - 15:16

          to be honest, while they 'created' it, they also (for a long time) 'ignored' it - low life-scum-sucking-bastard politicians, but I repeat myself

        • ThithLord on 18/03/2022 - 15:41

          Chyeah the Liberals. 100%

  • JimmyF on 17/03/2022 - 17:22

    Is there any retaliatory action I can take in lodging a complaint to an ombudsman? I did a Google and sounds like it could be ASIC, is that correct?
    I had unknowingly made the post public

    Public info/posts are well public for anyone to use.

    • Cyphar on 17/03/2022 - 17:25

      Yes I'm aware of it being used for skip-checking, however my frustration lies in them reaching out to somebody I haven't spoken to in nearly 20 years and making them aware of a debt.

      • JimmyF on 17/03/2022 - 17:45
        +6

        however my frustration lies in them reaching out to somebody I haven't spoken to in nearly 20 years

        Things that debt collectors do when you don't pay your debts.

        and making them aware of a debt.

        Things the debt collector didn't do looking at the message you posted.

  • AndyC1 on 17/03/2022 - 17:22

    Check your credit file/credit report, not a credit score. Google how to do it.

    • Cyphar on 17/03/2022 - 17:23
      +1

      Yep I have an Equifax Premium account so have access to my credit file. Nothing listed there and my score on it hasn't changed either.

      • AndyC1 on 17/03/2022 - 19:26
        +4

        Then it may be a scam or they have the wrong person.

        • blwnhr on 18/03/2022 - 11:54

          Yep, possible they have the wrong person. I had a debt collector very aggressively chasing me and had to make serious return threats to get them to stop.

        • happydude on 18/03/2022 - 14:28

          Or it's not a credit related debt. Only credit defaults are listed.

          If you forget to cancel a gym membership for example, it won't be on your credit file but may well still be referred for debt collection.

  • BuyoTheCat on 17/03/2022 - 17:41
    +2

    was the number a mobile or a landline? Could it be a possible phishing scam?
    Why dont you call from a pay phone and pretend to be a debt collector, collecting from them.

  • iamherenow on 17/03/2022 - 17:44
    +5

    This ofcourse is super embarrassing and shameful to me not only because it exposes a possible debt to someone I haven't met in a long time, but also that somehow after stalking my FB and getting a name, they got his number and called him too, thereby involving him in the matter.

    That sounds like the intention - add some social pressure. I presume they tried to contact you directly, but you did not respond. So they are ramping it up until you engage.

    Why would you want to retaliate? Just contact them and get it sorted. If you owe money, pay it. If not, then all sorted.

  • [Deactivated] on 17/03/2022 - 18:11
    +5

    stalk them back and ask some of their friends on facebook if the debt collector still works at (insert brothel here)

    if they want to play dirty, then you play dirty.

    • Cyphar on 18/03/2022 - 00:23
      -1

      I don't stoop to their level. That's even lower.

      • iamherenow on 18/03/2022 - 12:56
        +2

        Except you already have. You acknowledge you likely have a debt from the past that you are trying to avoid paying because too much time has passed.

        • Cyphar on 18/03/2022 - 20:35

          They didn't have my up to date details. Debt has been wiped clean today anyway

      • serpserpserp on 18/03/2022 - 18:37
        -1

        Almost the lowest thing you can do is not pay your debts.

        • Cyphar on 18/03/2022 - 20:34

          I can think of many more worse things

  • prodrome on 17/03/2022 - 18:13
    +2

    You can complain to - https://www.afca.org.au

  • pharkurnell on 17/03/2022 - 18:49
    +4

    I say its a phishing scam…

    and who keeps phone numbers for people they havent spoken to in 5yrs let alone 20 yrs… ???

    • Diji1 on 17/03/2022 - 23:05
      +1

      People who network.

    • trustnoone on 17/03/2022 - 23:13
      +4

      I wonder if OP has "Who was your favourite teacher in Highschool" as one of the security questions

    • Bren20 on 18/03/2022 - 12:42
      +2

      I've never deleted a number, I've definitely got peoples numbers that I haven't talked to for 15 yrs, and people who have been dead for 10+ yrs

    • banana365 on 18/03/2022 - 12:44
      +2

      Anyone that's had a mobile phone for decades. It used to be easier when you were limited to SIM capacity to store phone numbers, but you'd typically still export then import them to the new phone. I only delete them when I look through every few years and think "who on earth is that?"

    • Raihoo on 18/03/2022 - 12:53

      The old teacher doesn't appear to have OP's phone number, they just fowarded the debt collectors phone number to OP via Facebook.

  • AustriaBargain on 17/03/2022 - 18:49
    +4

    If I was tasked with chasing down someone's debt I'd probably contact their mother, their pastor, their teachers, their kids, everyone. It's their dirty secret, not mine.

    • try2bhelpful on 17/03/2022 - 23:06

      Only if it is a valid debt. The trouble is too many of them aren’t.

  • John Kimble on 17/03/2022 - 19:11

    Do you have a common name? They could have just been using a shotgun approach if you have no debt.

  • Ocker on 17/03/2022 - 19:28
    +2

    Once you are on Facebook you are fair game to all of the shysters

  • 87percent on 17/03/2022 - 19:45
    +4

    Are you even sure it was a legitimate message from your old teacher?

  • El cheepo on 17/03/2022 - 19:48
    +5

    Might get roasted for this but…

    Are there many women in the debt collection business?
    That alone leads me to think its more a scam related call.

    Would brush it off as such and tell anyone that was involved the same thing.

    • AndyC1 on 17/03/2022 - 19:58
      -1

      How the heck did you jump to the conclusion that the debt agency person was a women?

      • El cheepo on 17/03/2022 - 20:01
        +7

        The screen shot of the txt message.

        • AndyC1 on 17/03/2022 - 20:03

          Sorry, you are right. I did not look at it as closely as you did.

    • kanmen on 18/03/2022 - 17:11
      +1

      Are there many women in the debt collection business?

      Can answer this as I worked in debt collection in my younger years. The answer is yes, there are. Most agencies have a call centre you see, so any Tom, Dick, Harry, Jane, kanmen and pam can go work there and make calls. Being an in-person debt collector I think might be a different story.

    • Serapis on 18/03/2022 - 19:23

      Yes, there are women working in collections and skip tracing

  • GordonD on 17/03/2022 - 19:59
    +10

    According to your own report, the debt collector only told your old teacher that they wanted to contact you about a "personal matter". If the teacher now knows it was about a debt that's only because you found out and told them. So what exactly are you complaining about?

  • dust on 17/03/2022 - 20:30
    +2

    If it's a genuine debt collector I don't think this is an uncommon tactic to pressure/embarrass you into repaying your debt. (Source: know a few people who previously worked in the business, it's nasty work!)

    • JimmyF on 17/03/2022 - 22:26
      +1

      Correct…. Those that haven't paid 'debts' which have been passed to a debt collector, generally have no plans in paying them. So no point in asking nicely, got to apply a bit of pressure indeed for them to cough up the money!

      • Cyphar on 18/03/2022 - 00:20

        Won't work. I believe the Debt would be statute barred at this point. I sent an email to them to find out more info.

        • JimmyF on 18/03/2022 - 09:15
          +7

          My point just proved, OP has no plans in paying the debt, been dodging it for ages.

  • solidussnake on 17/03/2022 - 20:32

    Scam, if debt collectors took on your debt they would have your details already name address ph etc

    • JimmyF on 17/03/2022 - 22:26
      +2

      OP most likely 'blocked' them on the first phone call.

  • [Deactivated] on 17/03/2022 - 20:47
    +3

    If they're unsuccessful in making direct contact with you, they are able to try to make contact via others so long as they don't disclose the nature of the request of any detail of the debt. "Personal matter" is the running line. Any contact could google the number they provide them and connect the dots, but that doesn't mean much of anything.

    https://www.accc.gov.au/consumers/dealing-with-debt-collecto…

  • jakka on 17/03/2022 - 20:53
    +2

    How do you know they want to contact you about a debt, might be someone you knocked up who just happens to work as a debt collector.

    • elgrande on 17/03/2022 - 21:23
      +4

      Same end game - debt

    • Cyphar on 18/03/2022 - 00:19
      +1

      I already pay child support. I know their phone number by memory :p

  • jjjaar on 17/03/2022 - 21:50

    Agree it is super weird the debt collector didn’t call you themselves. But… it may be in your Facebook message requests folder, which, if you rarely use Facebook or messenger, is hidden away from view.

    Still, either way, it’s uncool. Don’t make contact. Make them work for it.

    • JimmyF on 17/03/2022 - 22:28
      +1

      Agree it is super weird the debt collector didn’t call you themselves.

      We only have one side of the story. I'm guessing the OP has blocked been ignoring the debt collector for a while now. Hence them spreading a larger net.

      • try2bhelpful on 17/03/2022 - 23:07

        You aren’t even looking at one side.

      • Cyphar on 18/03/2022 - 00:16

        Nope. I engaged a financial counsellor 10 years ago to help me review and settle all my debts. As far as I'm aware it has all been paid off. If it's a debt that's older than that, which it would have to be, their details would have an old address and phone number. Like I said in my OP, they could have reached out to me via FB Messenger if they wanted to. I don't have any current loans or credit cards.

        I've sent them an email to provide documentation of any debt but I'm suspecting it will be statute barred at this point and they are just trying to push their luck.

        • mlbrooke on 18/03/2022 - 08:17
          +2

          If it is not on your record, it is probably older than what ever the statutory limit is on debts (7 years or whatever). Do not whatever you do admit to “oh yes I remember” if they bring up a debt from history that you had forgotten about. The debt collector has probably “purchased” the debt from the original creditor for cents in the dollar and is now trying to pursue it to make some money back on their investment. If there is a debt it is most likely non-collectable unless you admit to it in which case you will be chased.

          You do not owe a debt collection company any money and make that very clear if they contact you, also insist that all communication is done via email and not to call.

        • JimmyF on 18/03/2022 - 09:17

          I've sent them an email to provide documentation of any debt

          Why didn't you just call them and ask?

          • Cyphar on 18/03/2022 - 09:50
            +1

            @JimmyF: Emails are easier to document.

  • AussieDaddy on 17/03/2022 - 22:30
    +2

    "… phone call from someone who's name…"

    I hope that wasn't your grammar/English teacher.

  • plmko on 18/03/2022 - 00:30
    +4

    It's just an invite to the Squid Game part 2, no worries.

  • Nutrino on 18/03/2022 - 00:56

    The correct responce from the teacher is as follows. [Click.sound] beep! Beep! Beep!….

  • Rayzorback on 18/03/2022 - 08:17

    If all your debts are paid then this is an obvious scam, delete block move on

  • geckobrainz on 18/03/2022 - 08:29
    +9

    Having been in medical practice, I know that there are people who seem to think that if they ignore their legitimate debts for long enough, these debts somehow no longer exist. Personal embarassment can sometimes help them understand that this is actually a form of deliberate theft.

  • jason101 on 18/03/2022 - 08:40
    +1

    I moved in to a commercial property 10 years ago where the previous tenant had some debt issues. The debt collectors used to turn up all the time insisting I was the previous occupant, one must have followed me home once as they then door knocked me at home accusing me of being the defaulter, I think they use some pretty scattergun 1% type approaches to try and flush people out, calling a school teacher from 20 years ago sounds like they’re at the bottom of the list of communication branches to me. What a waste of everyone’s time. “Do you know Jonny smith from the class of 2003”, if the teacher was 45 then, they’re 65 now, I doubt they want to nark out a student to a potentially serial killer.

  • paul11 on 18/03/2022 - 09:44

    Strange, most reputable lenders do not use these kind of tactics as it can easily get out of control and hurt their reputation, especially if press/media gets involved. Whom did you borrowed money from ? Sound like a loan shark!

    • hueylewis on 18/03/2022 - 11:36
      +2

      the 'reputable' lenders write of the debt and sell it to collection agencies for a few cents in the dollar. it is the collection agencies who buy the debt, that go after you with tactics.

  • Donaldhump on 18/03/2022 - 10:39
    +1

    no there is nothing you can do they haven't broken a law, they have done their job to find out your contact details.
    no different than trying to serve court papers,. if you cant be found they need to attempt to find you other ways

    you have either paid all your debts and its a mistake or
    you have failed to pay a debt and tried to hide

  • MontyMacaw on 18/03/2022 - 10:41

    You can tell them not to harass you. Just because they are debt collectors doesn’t give them any special powers. There are harassment laws and they know it but as they work on commission they will stoop obscene levels of harassment.

    • Poor Ass on 18/03/2022 - 13:30

      what's the secret to winning at roulette to get out of debt?

      • MontyMacaw on 18/03/2022 - 18:54

        Faith in your mental agility!! By your handle sounds like you could do with it😜

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