After buying a house a couple of years ago, I had to turn on the various utilities, including a home phone. With this home phone came a brand new phone number. It was great for about a week. Then the phone calls started.

Apparently, my number had been in use before. I was receiving roughly 15 collection calls each day and 90% were IC calls/Blast Messages. For each left message, I had to call them back and explain that the number was no longer in use for whoever it was they wanted to talk to. That took roughly 10 minutes for each incorrect call because I had to go through their phone tree to reach a collector who could remove the number.

I wish that they had all used right party messages, which are not just for getting the debtor on the phone; you can also gather information.

A right party message generally has 4 options:

1. “If you are this person press 1 to hear the message.” This option allows a message to be left for the debtor, so they know what you would like them to do. Then the dialer gives you back a result that says a message has been left for the right party. So you now know you have reached the person you are looking for at this number.
2. “If this person is home and can come to the phone, press 2.” The dialer waits for that person to come to the phone then plays the message you want the debtor to hear. Again, the dialer will tell you a message has been left for the right party. You were able to reach the correct person at this number. Read More »