According to federal law, a receivables manager is generally not permitted to disclose information about a consumer’s account to anyone other than the account holder without consent. So, when a receivables manager gets someone on the phone, the manager is obligated to verify that the person they are speaking with is the account holder. This is often done by verifying a combination of information such as:
- Full Legal Name
- Date of birth
- Last four digits of a Social Security Number
- Complete mailing address
Once the agent verifies that they are speaking with the account holder, the agent can explain the status of the account and answer any questions you may have about your receivables. When a consumer refuses to verify their identity, this often puts a strain on the conversation. The called party, often out of fear they will be scammed, will not share any information, and the collector, by law, cannot share any information until they confirm with personal identifying information that they have the correct consumer on the phone. If you are a family member, friend, or consumer's employer, you are considered a “third party.” Without the account holder's consent, a receivable manager cannot give third parties any information about the reason for the call. In fact, the law only permits the agent to reveal the name of the receivables management company, if asked by a third party.