If you need to get a hold of Merlie Worley, you'll have to try her at home. Because she doesn't have a cell phone. But that doesn't matter to some debt collection agencies.

"They were calling me almost every other day, I was like I don't have a phone, I keep telling you , I do not have a cell phone so when I went to the BBB they stopped calling, but they started sending the letters"

These letters demanded Worley pay 11-hundred dollars. The Agency refused to say where they got her name or provide information on the cell phone's number or phone company.

"This happens frequently. It's called skip tracing and what they do is get the name of someone that is maybe similar to the name of the person they're looking for and they send the bill to you," says Better Business Bureau Director Dennis Horton.

The Better Business Bureau reports complaints about debt collection agencies are up 20-percent. With about 12-hundred this year. And until the economy gets better, they say harassing phone calls from these agents are expected to get worse.

"They go as far as telling you they will seize your property, and that's not something they can do. They may threaten legal action against you. They can take you to court, but unless they're actually going to do so, they can't tell you that," Horton says.

Horton says if debt collectors are told not to call us at work, they must stop. We can always file a complaint with him or the Federal Trade Commission. And that's what Worley did.

"I'm just glad it's over. I don't have to listen to them no more the phone won't ring no more."

The BBB also warns us against debt consolidation agencies. Officials say despite what the commercials say, they won't give us a loan. Their job is to work out a payment plan with creditors if approved.