topic Re: Has anyone ever sued a collection agency? This concerns AFNI Bloom in General Credit Topics

Has anyone ever sued a collection agency? This concerns AFNI Bloom

Anonymous — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 17:08:42 GMT

Has anyone on here ever sued a collection agency? I am having trouble with AFNI Bloom. They have reported two Cingular Wireless accounts to all three credit bureaus even though I have only had one account with them. The last time I did not pay this bill was in 2004 and there is a collection account on my reports beginning in 2004. However, there is also a new entry on there on all three reports for a different amount that was put on there in February in 2007. I've disputed and the collection agency has verified the information so it is staying on there. The amount from 2004 is $286 and the amount from 2007 is $188. I've seen at least two other instances on this board where it looks like AFNI Bloom did the same thing - report a second account with a later date. I have also heard that noon has had any luck with PFD letters with them.

Re: Has anyone ever sued a collection agency? This concerns AFNI Bloom

jwes2155 — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 17:44:03 GMT

I countersued a collection agency. They tried to sue me when I disputed a medical bill that was duplicated, so after I was served the very next day I had the CEO of the company served after finding out who it was, and we fixed it out of court. They probably didn't think I was willing to go to court, they had a lot more to lose than me for violation of FDCPA. So they dropped theirs and we fixed the situation.

Re: Has anyone ever sued a collection agency? This concerns AFNI Bloom

Anonymous — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 19:19:14 GMT

Was it removed from your credit report as a result of your actions? I know I have them on FCRA violations.

Re: Has anyone ever sued a collection agency? This concerns AFNI Bloom

Anonymous — Wed, 01 Aug 2007 19:32:06 GMT

I would be interested to know more about the AFNI Bloom CA also. I think the 2 that I have on my reports are bogus.

Re: Has anyone ever sued a collection agency? This concerns AFNI Bloom

Anonymous — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 04:08:42 GMT

I have had the same problem with this company. I sent then a very demanding letter. I will contact an attorney if I don't hear from them next week. Is there anybody else? We need to all hit them together.

Re: Has anyone ever sued a collection agency? This concerns AFNI Bloom

Anonymous — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 04:14:38 GMT

Apparently they are the worst of the worst. There are stories about them all over the internet. Here is what I got from another website. Please note I have not confirmed these phone numbers yet. AFNI CONTACT INFORMATION previous company names: 06/24/1986 - CREDIT CHECK INC. 06/29/2000 - ANDERSON FINANCIAL NETWORK, INC. Afni, Inc. 404 Brock Drive Bloomington, IL 61702 USA Contact: Jim Hess, Director, Business Development Phone: 800-767-2364, ext. 3321 Fax: 309-820-2632 Email: jimhess afninet.com Afni, Inc. IL 309-663-4510 Jim Hess afninet.com President and COO: RONALD L GREENE 404 BROCK DRIVE BLOOMINGTON 61701 Secretary: GREGORY J DONOVAN Kentucky Organization Number 0491821 Name AFNI, INC. Profit or Non-Profit P - Profit Company Type FCO - Foreign Corporation Status A - Active Standing G - Good State IL File Date 3/27/2000 Authority Date 3/27/2000 Last Annual Report 5/1/2006 Principal Office 404 BROCK DRIVE BLOOMINGTON, IL 61701 Registered Agent C T CORPORATION SYSTEM KENTUCKY HOME LIFE BLDG LOUISVILLE, KY 40202 Current Officers President Ronald L. Greene Vice President Gregory J. Donovan Secretary Gregory J. Donovan Treasurer V. Curtis Oyer Director Bruce F. Griffin Director Ronald L. Greene Bruce F. Griffin Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Ronald L. Greene President and Chief Operating Officer Greg Donovan, CPA Vice President of Employee Services Stenia Dziadiw Vice President of Sales & Business Development Michael D. Garner Vice President of Call Center Services John Mobley, Jr. Vice President, Information Technology Services and Chief Information Officer John O'Donnell Vice President of Credit & Collections Services

Message Edited by monro411 on 08-01-2007 09:14 PM

Re: Has anyone ever sued a collection agency? This concerns AFNI Bloom

Anonymous — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 04:18:09 GMT

Yes people have filed suit and won. google it

Re: Has anyone ever sued a collection agency? This concerns AFNI Bloom

Anonymous — Thu, 02 Aug 2007 04:58:36 GMT

Thank you - I've already drafted my threatening legal letter. Wish me luck!

Re: Has anyone ever sued a collection agency? This concerns AFNI Bloom

Anonymous — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 14:39:48 GMT

I just sent my threat letters. The first was emailed to the CEO and the second was sent CMRRR.

Message Edited by monro411 on 08-03-2007 07:39 AM

Re: Has anyone ever sued a collection agency? This concerns AFNI Bloom

Anonymous — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 14:55:01 GMT

monro411 -did you also have a Cingular account with them? It amazes me that they are able to get away with listing duplicate accounts on your credit report. Anyhow, I am also sending a letter to the Illinois Attorney General's Office and to the Better Business Bureau in their city. I looked at their Better Business Bureau records and they seemed to have had significant issues but are still deemed "satisfactory." I'm going to call after I get off of the boards and ask the BBB what needs to happen in order to get them below satisfactory.

Re: Has anyone ever sued a collection agency? This concerns AFNI Bloom

Anonymous — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 15:11:02 GMT

No it was a Charter Cable account. I will also call the BBB from my end. Anyone else reading that has had problems please call. They need to be stopped.

Re: Has anyone ever sued a collection agency? This concerns AFNI Bloom

Anonymous — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 20:49:23 GMT

I have 2 collections for AFNI Bloom and they are Charter Cable accounts. I will also call the BBB in Ill.

My next step is I need to dispute these with the CRA. I will let you know what comes back. they are only on EQ & EX. One account is for 60.00 and the other is 111.00. I have cable now and have had for years. If I owed Charter anything they certainly would have sent a bill or shut the cable off.

Re: Has anyone ever sued a collection agency? This concerns AFNI Bloom

Anonymous — Fri, 03 Aug 2007 20:59:36 GMT

Shoegirl - your comment mirrors so many comments I've seen on the internet regarding AFNI. They accuse you of not paying a bill even though you are still a customer of the original creditor. On mine - I have two delinquent cingular bills - which can't happen. If I was delinquent with Cingular, Cingular would not give me another account. It doesn't make sense. Anyhow, in addition to BBB and the Illinois AG's office, I filed a complaint with the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation, Division of Professional Regulation Complaint Intake Unit. I attached a a copy of other consumers complaints (numerous), along with mine and also pointed out how AFNI had violated the Department's Collection Agency Regulations and therefore, should have their license revoked and be fined. They have a Collection Agency Board at the department that handles complaints about collection agencies and the board proceeds with some sort of "prosecution" against the collection agency. I hope it happens in my case. I will keep you posted.

Re: Has anyone ever sued a collection agency? This concerns AFNI Bloom

Anonymous — Sun, 05 Aug 2007 05:39:37 GMT

I have also contacted the BBB. I also put in aq complaint with the CEO of Charter. Next I want to contact the attorney general of my state. We have a very active attorney general in Missouri. He is always going after big business for the little guy. Anyone else have any suggestions. BUMP

Re: Has anyone ever sued a collection agency? This concerns AFNI Bloom

Anonymous — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 17:53:18 GMT

If I remember correctly, there was a news report on the Charter/AFNI Bloom collections. there were accounts being turned over to AFNI that should not have been. I will have to search that. By the way, do you have the CEO name at Charter so I can forward a letter. I am also in MO.

Re: Has anyone ever sued a collection agency? This concerns AFNI Bloom

Anonymous — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 18:51:22 GMT

shoegirl wrote:
If I remember correctly, there was a news report on the Charter/AFNI Bloom collections. there were accounts being turned over to AFNI that should not have been. I will have to search that. By the way, do you have the CEO name at Charter so I can forward a letter. I am also in MO.

Yes please let us know about the news report. Here is the information you requested. I also have their email addresses, but currently misplaced them.

Phone 314-965-0555 Fax 314-965-6640 (to headquarters)

CEO Mr. Neil Smit

Chairman of Board Mr. Paul Allen

CFO Mr. Jefferey Fischer

Re: Has anyone ever sued a collection agency? This concerns AFNI Bloom

Anonymous — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 19:15:09 GMT

which way would I go from this status:

EQ has both accounts as "consumer disputes"

EX just has both accounts listed as past due.

I don't have anything from EQ (maybe from disputing 1 year ago) but can I go back to them and request the detail or verification. I know I need to dispute with EX.

Re: Has anyone ever sued a collection agency? This concerns AFNI Bloom

Anonymous — Mon, 06 Aug 2007 19:17:19 GMT

I had a duplicate account with Afni appearing on my report. I sent a letter to all the bureaus with my disputes on them and Tu deleted, EX still has it on there as verified and not on EQ.

Re: Has anyone ever sued a collection agency? This concerns AFNI Bloom

ig7777 — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 00:11:23 GMT

Hi,

I have same issue.
I received a collections notice from Afni, Inc., also Afni Collections stating that I owed Verizon Communications a bill for an outrageous amount of $629.00 after 10 years in New York City on bills from 1986-1996.
Afni offer me settlement for $525.38.

I am in California from 1997 and never used Verizon and I paid all phone bills to New York Bell before I moved to California. I have never at anytime ever owed New York Bell and Verizon this amount.

I am trying to dispute charge, next I will sue them.

Re: Has anyone ever sued a collection agency? This concerns AFNI Bloom

Anonymous — Tue, 07 Aug 2007 00:25:00 GMT

Last month I had a CA follow through on a threat. I had a medical bill back from a couple of years ago that I simply forgot about until I got a letter from the CA. I immediately paid the bill. Within a week after paying, the CA called me stating that I owed an additional $16. I told her that if I owed it then it should have been placed on the bill and I wouldn't pay it now.

She said they would promptly put it on all of my credit reports if I didn't pay. I called my state's AG office and they said it was illegal to tack on charges after a collection had been paid and I could file a complaint. I didn't but called the CA back to inform them that their activities were illegal and forgot about it. True to their word, they put it on two of my credit reports a couple of months after that. Talk about being livid. Before I did anything else, I printed my current reports for proof and filed complaints with the FTC and my AG's office.

I immediately fired off a certified letter to the CA demanding it be removed immediately. I told them that they were in violation of more than one law and that I need not quote credit laws nor HIPPA laws since, as a CRA, they should be well versed in all laws regarding credit reporting. I told them I'd already filed a complaint with the FTC and my AG's office. I included a copy of the only notice I had received from them along with the check # used to pay. I advised if the matter was not corrected within 14 days of the date on the letter, I would take the matter to court.

Just over a week later, it came off of both reports and within days after that, I got a letter from them stating it was being removed. She knew the day she contacted me demanding that illegal money that they were in violation of the law even before I told her the AG told me that!

I guess she thought she was dealing with a moron and that I'd sit back and take it. She got fooled!