Curmudgeon:
I'm tempted to do something like you did, and I suspect this happens A LOT to CDR....otherwise, why the run-around when I call and ask "...what is CDR?" and "....what does CDR do? ". It would almost be worth it to scout out a few pay phones, or even get another pre-paid / disposable phone.
I realize there are a lot of deadbeats in the world, but I really do think it wouldn't hurt these lawyers / collection agencies to treat folks like they would like their wives and / or mothers to be treated. When I call someone I don't know, I almost immediately identify myself then ask if so and so is there...I would really have appreciated it if CDR had had a live person call me FIRST....and not after 6 or 7 phone calls from a machine that got them nowheres.
