Debt collectors' mistaken pursuits take their toll | The Republic
These days, more and more people report getting "robo-dialed" by debt collectors looking for people with similar names, similar phone listings, similar addresses.
It's annoying, irritating and -- when a collection call jolts you awake late at night -- sometimes downright frightening.
Take Ted Gibson, a retired government economist in Sacramento, Calif. The phone directory lists him as "T. Gibson," which means he's frequently called by collectors looking for folks with similar initials.
Although he says he and his wife pay off their bills, do not run up credit card charges and have clean credit histories, "we receive five to six calls a week from various collection outfits" for other Gibsons whose first names start with "T." Many of these other Gibsons appear to have multiple outstanding debts, Gibson says, "so there are a least a dozen different bill collectors hounding us night and day."
Federal and California state officials say debt collection calls -- including those to the wrong person -- are increasing and are "a serious consumer protection problem." Last year, the Federal Trade Commission logged 140,000 complaints about debt collectors, everything from calling the wrong person to leaving threatening messages.
I had no idea who Ted Gibson is until last week, when I heard that he was expanding his New York salon business to South Florida. This is big news for all you local women in need of a $950 haircut. No, that wasn't a typo. Gibson charges $950 for a
@ The thing is look at all the outspoken conservative celebs: Mel Gibson,Arnold S.,Stephen Baldwin,Chuck Norris,Ted Nugent,Kid Rock
RT @: Have you read about @ and 
Have you read about @ and Ronnie @ salon? 
Aerosmith Meet Bronx Bomber; Ted Williams 'Spinning in Cryogenically Sealed ...: Jeter arrived at the invitation... 
Aerosmith Meet Bronx Bomber; Ted Williams 'Spinning in Cryogenically Sealed ...: Hours after he went 1-for-5 in ... 
