A Debt Collector Is Calling About a Debt You Don’t Owe

Wrong Person, Paid Debts, Identity Theft and Discharged Debts | Serving PA, NJ, NY, MD & DC

Short answer. A debt collector may not try to collect money you do not owe. That includes someone else’s debt, a debt you already paid or settled, a debt from identity theft, and a debt discharged in bankruptcy. If a collector keeps at it after you tell it, you may have a claim. Email msiddons@siddonslaw.com.

Last updated October 13, 2026.

Tell Us What the Debt Collector Did

Email msiddons@siddonslaw.com or use the form below. Tell us who is collecting, what they did and when, the state you live in, and whether you have been sued. Do not send documents through this website. We will reply with what we need.

    Key Takeaways

    • Collecting a debt you do not owe can break the FDCPA’s ban on false statements and unfair practices.
    • Dispute in writing and keep a copy.
    • If the debt came from identity theft, file a report at IdentityTheft.gov and send it to the collector.
    • Collecting a debt discharged in bankruptcy can also violate the bankruptcy court’s order.
    • Wrong-number calls can raise separate robocall claims.

    Why Are They Calling Me?

    • Wrong person. The collector has your number or a name like yours.
    • Family member. A relative’s debt, such as a parent’s or spouse’s. You generally are not responsible for another person’s debt unless you signed for it.
    • Paid or settled. The debt was resolved but sold or placed again.
    • Identity theft. Someone opened an account in your name.
    • Discharged in bankruptcy. The debt was wiped out, but a buyer is trying to collect anyway.
    • Zombie debt. A very old debt bought for pennies and revived with pressure tactics.

    What Should You Do?

    1. Do not confirm personal information on the phone.
    2. Send a written dispute stating that you do not owe the debt and why.
    3. For a wrong number, tell the collector it has the wrong person and to stop calling that number.
    4. For identity theft, file at IdentityTheft.gov and send the report to the collector and the credit bureaus.
    5. Keep a log of every call after that.

    Is a Deceased Relative’s Debt Mine?

    Generally no, unless you co-signed or the debt was joint. The person’s estate may owe it. A collector may talk with the person handling the estate, but it may not suggest that you personally must pay.

    Frequently Asked Questions

    Can a collector report a debt that isn’t mine to my credit?

    It must not. If it does, dispute it with the credit bureaus and the collector. False credit reporting can support separate claims.

    A collector is calling about a debt from my bankruptcy. What do I do?

    Tell the collector the debt was discharged and give the case number. Continued collection may violate the discharge order and the FDCPA.

    They keep calling for someone I don’t know. Can I sue?

    Repeated calls after you tell the collector it has the wrong person can be harassment, and autodialed calls to a wrong number can raise separate claims.

    Email Us About a Debt Collector

    Email msiddons@siddonslaw.com with the name of the collector, what happened and when, and the state you live in. The first conversation is free. All fees and costs are set out in a written engagement letter. Attorney Michael A. Siddons represents consumers in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Maryland and Washington, D.C., and the firm has handled hundreds of Fair Debt Collection Practices Act cases.

    More on Debt Collection