Allied Interstate Inc. harrasment, multiple misleading voice mails, wrong debtor Columbus Ohio

I have received a score of calls from this number with a recording directing me to call to provide a "user-specific recording" as if to set up a voice mail, etc. As these calls are annoying and to my cell phone (at my cost, I assume, in minutes if not money), I called yesterday AM (888-949-1207 is the number from which the messages have originated, according to my call records), to ask that they stop the recorded messages to my number.

The woman answering the phone immediately made it clear that this was a debt collection attempt, and, as it turned out, for someone other than me. I informed the individual that I was not that person, and that this was my phone, listed in my name. I asked that the calls stop. The response was that I had to write a letter to make this request, and that the calls would continue until I could prove that this was not the number of the person called.

The woman also attempted to collect information about me, which caused me to search the number on Google. The number appears to be a Pennsylvania number. The search also led me to hundreds of complaints of unfair - even illegal - practices of this company. (The Office of the Minnesota Attorney General has filed lawsuits against Allied Interstate, Inc. for engaging in business practices which violate Minnesota debt collection and consumer protection laws, alleging its use of unlawful tactics to collect debts that were not valid or to collect money from the wrong Minnesota consumer. Information is at the following url: http://www.ag.state.mn.us/consumer/PR/PR_040616AlliedInterstate_JBC.htm).

I have filed complaints with the Minnesota, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Georgia (where I live) Attorneys General, as well as the FTC. I intend to take further action, as the calls have continued through this AM, and presumbly will go on for a much longer time, if my experience is like that of many others whose stories are all over the Web. I'd be interested in any other suggestions, and in working with others to further expose and eliminate this behavior, which, according to the Minnesota Attorney General, is criminal.

Bill
Atlanta, Georgia
U.S.A.