A debt collector keeps calling — but the debt isn't yours

Why is a debt collector calling me for someone else?

Phone numbers get recycled. When the previous owner of your number stopped paying a bill or moved on, collectors kept dialing the number that used to reach them. Now it reaches you. Their auto-dialers and prerecorded voice systems don't know the number changed hands.

Your rights under the TCPA and FDCPA

Two federal laws protect you here:

• TCPA (Telephone Consumer Protection Act): auto-dialed or prerecorded calls to your cell phone without your consent can carry $500 to $1,500 per call in statutory damages.
• FDCPA (Fair Debt Collection Practices Act): once you tell a collector you're not the person they're looking for, continued contact and misrepresentations can violate federal law.

What to do right now

1. Do not confirm you're the previous owner or answer questions about them.
2. Ask for the caller's company name, address, and the account they're calling about.
3. Tell them plainly: "This is not [name]. Stop calling this number." Note the date and time.
4. Keep a call log — number, time, recording vs. live agent, what they asked for.
5. Save voicemails. Screenshot your call history.

How much can wrong-number robocalls be worth?

Statutory TCPA damages start at $500 per call and can reach $1,500 for willful violations. A collector that ignored your "stop calling" request and kept auto-dialing you can quickly add up.

Learn more about your TCPA rights, how a TCPA lawsuit works, or read our full guide to robocalls for the previous owner of your number.

Frequently asked questions

A debt collector is calling me for someone else — is that legal?

Not if they use auto-dialed or prerecorded calls to your cell phone without your consent. Under the TCPA, each such call can carry $500 to $1,500 in statutory damages. Under the FDCPA, continued contact after you tell them you're not the debtor can also be a violation.

What should I say when they call?

Do not confirm you are the person they're looking for. Ask for the collector's company name and address, tell them plainly "This is not [name] — stop calling this number," and note the date and time. Keep everything.

Do I have to pay a debt that isn't mine?

No. You are not responsible for a stranger's debt just because you inherited their phone number. Never make a payment, never confirm personal details for the previous owner, and don't agree to anything.

How is each call worth $500 to $1,500?

The TCPA sets statutory damages of $500 per violating auto-dialed or prerecorded call, up to $1,500 per call for willful violations. Damages stack, so a collector that ignored your stop-calling request can quickly add up to real money.

Do I need to hire a lawyer myself?

No. Our eligibility review is free, and if your calls qualify we connect you with TCPA attorneys who work on contingency — you generally pay nothing unless there is a recovery.