Richard - I don't want them to stop calling now that they are using live persons rather than their autodialler. I find it therapeutic (I have had a great deal of amusement at their expense). Moreover I have only recently begun logging and recording calls, and I would like to build a substantial list of offences (and, hopefully, gather the names of as many employees involved as possible). I hope to build a good, long list and record plenty of incriminating statements by their agents, who appear to be completely unfamiliar with the Credit Collection Act and are easily lured into making statements that demonstrate a contemptuous disregard for its provisions.
My goal is not to get them off my back. It is past SOL and there is nothing they can do, even if the claim were not fraudulent. My goal is to punish. Many people are frightened by them and I believe many may have been tricked into parting with money they did not owe. This is theft by fraud, harassment and intimidation. Backing off is not enough. If I scared a burgler out of my house without anything having been stolen, I would not forget the incident, even if I was sure he would not be coming back to my home. I have a social duty to see the burgler is discouraged from harming other citizens, by applying the law against him.
I want to achieve maximum expense and frustration for them while I am building my logs, recordings, and other documentations of their actions. I suppose you are correct about the environmental angle of the faxes, so I will seek other means. Is their ombudsman well-paid? I also noticed you had posted the number for an office of one of their legal team earlier, I will be sure to follow up every call with a protest to him. I am sure his time is costly.
Most importantly I would like to know how credit collection agencies may be charged with telemarketing fraud and what sort of documentation would be required. Who is to say they are not merely entering false information into their database? What prevents them from doing that? "Oooops, sorry, we will stop" isn't good enough if that has happened. They should be investigated for fraud.
If they have reported to Equifax or any other credit bureau without possessing documentation, removing the report is nice, but it would go worse for them if they did not remove it before I sue them for libel. I will be sure to mention this briefly to a low-level and probably inattentive agent, as it will demonstrate they persisted in negligent conduct even after it was brought to their attention. This will look bad in court, too. In Canada, libel is one of the few torts where damages do not have to be shown for awards to be made, damage is assumed (unlike slander). I imagine making such a report without possessing full documentation of the bank account in question, ie copies of bank statements, copies of the contracts I signed to open the account and so on, will very easily qualify as libel; the negligent standard of care is obvious. It will look good for them if they have corrected it before then, it will show they have willingly attempted to correct their actions, and will be taken into consideration when damages are awarded. I wish to be awarded all damages due. I have heard they call neighbours and family members sometimes too, that will make a good case for slander as well but I think they may already be "on" to me a little and are being more cautious.
I am going to eat these sobs for breakfast, and when they have finally realized I am not as weak as I have led them to believe, I will come after them for their actions, and obtain money from them for damages.
Credit collection agencies are of course necessary, people should always pay their debt. But when credit collection agencies become telemarketing scams to swindle people who do not have debts, they should be dismantled.