It certainly is a mad mad world out there!
Very scary too!
Regarding debt collecting agencies; when we bought an apartment in Johannesburg a couple of years ago, we simply could not get an account number from the local municipality for the rates and taxes which have to be paid for their services. I phoned, emailed, posted letters, all to no avail. Fortunately kept copies!
Till one day when hubby got a threatening sms saying he's in arrears with his City of Joburg account, collection charges were added etc etc and that's when the fight started! They had all our details plus the much wanted account number and only backed off after much writing backwards and forwards to an online consumer watchdog and the municipality! So much time wasted due to the accounts not being sent to the registered owner at his postal address or even emailed, info which they did have! Really annoying!
I'm very much interested to know the outcome of your son's annoying issue!