XXXX has now called me twice to " collect a debt ''. Each time I missed the initial call. The first time, I returned call, identified myself, and asked who the debt was incurred with. They indentified a vendor. When I said I had never done business with the vendor ( no company I recognized ), they said " sorry, we 'll remove you ''. 

Today, several month later, they called again. They left a message with a reference number. I returned the call. After a XXXX5 minute wait, I was connected to a " XXXX ''. I had to give her the reference number twice. She then asked my name to which I replied " you called me, so you must know my name ''. She said she would have to transfer me to " the department that takes care of that ''. After a brief wait, the call was picked up by a man whose muttered his name. I started giving him the reference number, he cut me off and put me on hold, then returned, apologized saying he " was finishing up with a lady on another call '' ( begging question of why he took my call ) and asked for me to " repeat the reference number ''. Again, I refused to give my name telling him he must know it from the reference number. He said " for privacy '' he needed to know my name. He tried several times to get my name, I refused telling him I had no uncollected debts ( note : I do n't even have any past due amounts ). He then asked for my phone number so that he " could take it off 'the list ' '' begging the question of how would he know that I did n't owe money other than my word? 

Thus, either he was being dishonest in saying that by simply giving my number he would remove it from the calling list ( note : seems strange they would not have a caller ID on incoming calls and my cell phone number 's ID is not blocked ) or that, more likely in my view, he intended to cross reference the number to get my name. Either way, it appears that the " reference number '' is bogus. Obviously he could have asked " am I speaking to [ my name ] and then asked me to provide address and phone number to verify my ID. 

I suspect Focus is employing intimidating tactics ( that might skirt the limits of the law ) or, worse, is engaging in outright fraud. 
