I started getting these phone calls the day after I had surgery in April. The hosp. called for a survey but I was out of pocket.. Now, I'm getting various numbers calling me day and night. My insurance paid everything and what was left I took care of it. I have no debt. Re instated my Do Not Call registry and will change my message to remind them I'm on the list. When I answer, I'm put on hold or re directed. They did leave a message twice asking for a name I don't know.. I've had this number for years so this is strange. I never answer phone numbers I don't know anyway so after I look up the number, it's just added to my scammer list and never rings again. Guess I'll be changing my number tho it's a pain cuz my son is a marine and I don't want to miss his calls. Surely there must be a way to stop these people? Oh, I keep a log of every time they call and am submitting every number to the appropriate people. What else have I got to do? I'm disabled retired.. LOL  Thinking of suing the hospital for giving out my phone number to whomever.

In the last month have rec'd 9 calls from 9 different numbers from Portfolio Recovery in 7 different states.  Are these people nuts.  They never leave a call message or call back number.  I am getting close to calling the FCC avout them.  I have ahd it.  I AM DONE.

The public can easily destroy their cost/benefit ratio by driving up their costs and giving no benefit.

Don't ignore/block them. These folks want you to ignore them for as long as you can stand to or until you give them something valuable like money or information. Ignoring them is being their good customer. Be their bad customer. Make them talk to you fruitlessly for as long as they can stand to or until they stop calling you.

These bottom feeders cannot spend seconds much less minutes on the phone with every person who will never send them a dime. But they don't know who that is. You do. That knowledge is power. Every second you can keep an operator on the phone unprofitably will teach them to never call you again. Answer when convenient. Call back. Give no information. Verify nothing. Ask as many questions as you can. Answer none.

I like to ask general questions they should but usually won't answer. "May I have the name and address of your agent for service of process?" Calmly and slowly ask them to spell every word in the address. Control the pace. If they speak quickly then politely ask them to slowly repeat. "Are you a corporation and if so in which state are you incorporated?" Repeat your questions when you don't get direct answers. When they won't answer a question ask, "Would you like to comply with the business and professions codes of your state?" That is usually the point when they hang up on me but if they say they want to comply then begin your questions again.

Repeat while you have the spare time. These folks have many victims and few operators. If everyone calls back but pays nothing the mass auto-dialer business model becomes unprofitable. Don't aide and comfort the enemy by ignoring them. Call! Have a nice long slow friendly chat!

Press 2 for Spanish.

You are entitled to call and request general information as many times as it takes to get it and you may perpetually request the information they refuse to give. Sound familiar? Continue until they stop soliciting you.

For any business, people who consume resources but don't pay (or otherwise add value) become an undesirable customer. Most businesses will stop soliciting an undesirable customer. Those that don't stop remain knowingly vulnerable to the actions of their undesirable customers. Few companies can afford to let everyone take a piece of them whenever they want endlessly. For instance they must pay to answer everyone's telephone calls which can be placed at our convenience for the joy of it. Call and consume their operator time without paying or giving information. Be a bad customer. The worst customer. Inspire them to invoke their right to refuse you service by not soliciting you.

There are certainly enough victims with unlimited long distance to take down this company so ignoring/blocking just seems downright Orwellian to me. Really? We're just going to passively submit and go with a block list or however we manage ignoring an endless stream of unwanted phone calls year after year? Hell no! Answer/return every call and become well practiced at keeping these folks on the phone or count yourself not amongst the free.

Portfolio will be out of business in about two years. Just buy android mobile phone or Iphone. Add them to your block list or simply create of white list of only the numbers you wish to except. You can do this with free caller Id software you can find at the android market with any android mobile phone. If you have an Iphone then you can find it where apple Iphone apps are downloaded. Get either one, block Portfolio and enjoy not ever being bothered. And also enjoy knowing that they are wasting money calling people they'll never have a chance at. EVER!!!! Have a great weekend guys....

Thanks for the list, Jane. Very thoughtful of you to provide. Have a great day.