Stopping calls from British debt collectors while in Germany

[joblo]

There are already a few posts on UK-based debts of people staying in Germany, but none specifically about phone calls, namely how to get a debt collector's data in order to send them a "cease-and-desist" letter, because they are calling not only me at work, but also our HR people while trying to contact me.

 

I have started getting phone calls at work from someone who is very much not German (rather extremely English), although her number is hidden. The first time, I was honestly confused and didn't know what it was about; told her she had the wrong number. The number on the caller ID was very strange: it was neither a valid UK nor German number, although it started with 044.

 

Then finally she (or another girl-- not sure) contacted me another day. The most info I could get from her was her first name... so obviously a debt collector. I told her I don't understand why she's calling and told her not to call me at this number because I'm not allowed to take private calls at work. I didn't give my name or anything, but I'm sure she's suspicious now because I also refused to give her any information she wanted... which may ironically have caused the opposite reaction I wanted...

 

I simply cannot have these people calling me at work, and ESPECIALLY not other people at work. However, I doubt I'll be able to get any useful information from her, and I couldn't Google anything useful from the partial number I got on the caller ID the first time she called.

 

I need to know how (or if it is even possible) to find the company details myself or to get her to tell me them, so that I can send a letter telling them to stop... and then whether I should quote UK law, German law or both when writing. I'd be very thankful for ANY tips about the situation.

Edited October 6, 2012 by joblo

[cerberusalert]

What was the number?

 

Until we can determine who is calling there is very little that can be done to stop them. As it stands because you are living in Germany and they are calling from the UK they have to abide by the laws of both countries.

[gerson]

Hi Joblo,

 

On May 15, 2009, the German Federal Council adopted the "Act against unsolicited commercial phone calls and improvement of consumer protection." According to the Act, violations of the existing prohibition on unsolicited commercial phone calls can now be sanctioned with a fine up to € 50,000.

In addition, the Act clarifies that a commercial phone call is only lawful if the recipient has given his or her prior explicit consent to receive the call. The provision is intended to prevent the caller’s reliance on consent that may have been given by the recipient in a totally different context or after the call was placed. Further, those placing commercial phone calls may not suppress their phone number or identity. Violations of this prohibition may be sanctioned with a fine of up to € 10,000. The Act will enter into force after publication in the official federal gazette. The full text of the Act (in German) can be found here

 

 

Hope this helps

 

G

[unclebulgaria67]

Do you owe a debt to the student loan company ?

 

If not, can you think of any outstanding accounts you left in the UK ?

 

Have you checked your UK credit record ? May be worth doing so.

 

When you say English, did you recognise any accent ? There are many debt collectors based in Scotland.