Just how much info does a collection agency have access to?

[progmom]

I got a call early this morning from a collection agency who was looking for my brother. My brother does not live with me, nor have we had the same last name for the past 8 1/2 years. He has never used me to co-sign a loan. How did we get linked?

[GOPisEvil]

1. Credit reports list all your past addresses.

At some point, you two lived in the same house most likely. They probably just cross-referenced based on that.

[progmom]

2. Wow..It's been 10 years. They can do that?

That sucks. Are they allowed to harrass me, as his sister? Geez!

[GOPisEvil]

3. No, they should't be harrassing you.

And as someone who reads credit reports a lot, they contain about 10 years of data.

The collectors figure that most people don't know their rights, so they take liberties. Collectors suck.