topic Re: Cable service in Collections in General Credit Topics

Cable service in Collections

Anonymous — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 21:24:26 GMT

Hi everybody. I have a situation where my cable company has sent a past due account to collection agency that has been showing up on my CRs. The thing is the cable company knows that it is NOT my account, I have spoken to them over the phone and they have said that somebody used my SS number to get service at their home, a place where I never resided. The person who did this? My own sister! The cable company has told me that they cannot do anything about taking this off my account as it was opened up under MY SS NUMBER!!!! I was also informed that they do not check up on whether that is in fact your SS number or somebody else's.

Any way, any suggestions on what I can do to get this collection off my CRs???

Re: Cable service in Collections

Anonymous — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 21:27:42 GMT

This is an easy identity theft issue. But, if you press it, your sister may get arrested.

Re: Cable service in Collections

Anonymous — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 21:30:38 GMT

Exactly my dilemma! Even though I haven't spoken to my sister in years (mainly because of this), I'm really not that kind of person to do this to her. As much as I would love to see her pay for what she's ultimately done to me, I don't have that cold heart.

You guys think that I will just end up having to pay this???

Re: Cable service in Collections

fishbjc — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 22:06:41 GMT

See if they'll accept payment for delete. You pay them and they delete it.

This is a tricky situation.....you love your sister, but she did *wrong*...can she make good on the debt? Can she SOMEHOW pay this off?

Re: Cable service in Collections

Anonymous — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 22:07:52 GMT

Well it seems you have more love for your sister than she does for you. I would confront her, have her admit responsibility and pa the bill. I would then report the cable company to the FTC for false reporting since they KNOW it is not your bill but was opened with your SSN fraudulently.

Re: Cable service in Collections

Anonymous — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 03:44:25 GMT

STOP! Never talk to a CA. Do not give them any information!

Having a SS# does NOT qualify as any kind of legal proof that the debt is yours.

IMO - Since this is already on your CR, I would try to force the CA to provide validation. Since the account was not in your name, nor was the service or billing address, they definitely cannot prove it is your debt.

Use the standard DV process:

- Send DV-CMRR to CA

When you get green card back:

- Send CRA a request for Verification

Since you'll have proof that you disputed w/CA (green card), the CA cannot verify w/CRA unless they provide validation, which they obviously cannot do. They need to provide Proof that this is your debt.

Here's a sample letter I've used for CA's already on a CR.:

Collection Agency

CA Address

City, State Zip Zip

Certified Mail# xxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx xxxx – Return Receipt

Re: Account# xxxxxxxxxxxx

Creditor: Name of Cable Company

Your company is reporting the above referenced account on my credit report as a collection account. I have received no communication from Name of Cable Company or any other company, including yours, regarding this alleged debt.

Pursuant to my rights under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, 15 USC 1692g Section 809(b), your claim is disputed and validation is requested.

I must demand proof of this debt, specifically the alleged contract or other instrument bearing my signature, proof that it is the correct balance and proof that you are legally authorized to collect this debt.

I must ask you to provide the following evidence:

Proof that your company owns or has been assigned this debt;
When this alleged debt was originally incurred, and by whom;
How you ascertained that this alleged debt was owned by me;
Copies of any written agreements that say I am to pay what you say I owe;
The amount of the alleged debt when the creditor assigned, transferred or sold the alleged debt to your company, and what fees and/or interest have been tacked onto this alleged debt and how these fees and/or interest were determined;
Complete payment history from the original creditor up to and including charge off;
Contact information of the original creditor, the account holders’ name and original account number;
Proof that the statute of limitations has not expired on this alleged account;

You have thirty (30) days from receipt of this notice to respond. Your failure to respond, on point, in writing, and in a timely manner, will work as a waiver to any and all of your claims in this matter, and will entitle me to presume that you placed this on my credit report(s) in error and that this matter is permanently closed. Provide the proof, or correct the record and remove this invalid debt from all sources to which you have reported it to.

This notice is an attempt to correct your records, and any information received from you will be collected as evidence should further action be necessary. This is a request for information only, and is not a statement, election, or waiver of status.

Please also be advised that I wish to communicate solely in writing. I can be contacted at the address listed above. Do not call me at any time or place.

Regards,

Your Typed Name (Do not sign)

Message Edited by dwarfess on 01-24-2008 07:44 PM

Re: Cable service in Collections

Anonymous — Wed, 23 Jan 2008 23:49:47 GMT

Everytime I have ordered cable, the cable company asks all the questions over the phone and the tech who comes out to install it ask for my ID or DL for proof of identity. I guess for this very reason. Sorry you weren't as lucky.

Re: Cable service in Collections

Anonymous — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 01:19:06 GMT

Thanks everyone for your advice and dwarfess thank you for that wonderful letter! When I originally spoke to the cable company, I even said to them, "so anybody can call the cable company, give them a SS # that is not theirs and open up service? The clerk told me yes, they can do that!" I was, of course, appalled at such a fact!

I have approached my "wicked witch" of a sister, and she has refused to pay! I will take your advice and write a letter and see where it goes from there!

Frustrated and still reeling from this situation!!!

Oh, and another thing: I have even given them proof that I was living at another apt complex at the time the service was opened up at her address!!!!

Re: Cable service in Collections

Anonymous — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 02:08:56 GMT

Keep that proof. Also, keep your current & previous Rental/Lease Agreements and along with a few other bills addressed to you during that timeframe (power, telephone, cable, insurance).

btw - when you send verification request to CRA's, you'll need to include your SS# as well as proof of identify (copy of drivers's license & recent utility bill) addressed to you at your current address.

Re: Cable service in Collections

Anonymous — Thu, 24 Jan 2008 09:02:18 GMT

send this letter to the OC (cable Co.) and the letter that Dwarfes posted to the CA. CMRRR

make the changes as needed send CMRRR and DO NOT SIGN IT just type your Name on this one and on the DV

HSBC Card Services
Attention: Bureau Dispute Processing
PO Box 19360
Portland, OR 97280

August 2, 2007

Re: Acct #xxxxxxxxxxxxxx

To Whom It May Concern:

I recently pulled my credit report from Experian, Equifax and TransUnion and noticed this account was listed on each of my reports as a collection/chargeoff. I immediately disputed this information with Experian, Equifax and TransUnion and the results of the investigation came back as "verified". I did not have an account with HSBC during this time period.

Since I have disputed the account with the credit bureaus, and you have verified them, I would like to see what sort of records you have for this alleged account. Under the new FACTA laws, you are required to conduct an investigation on this account, and I am now requesting it.

I will seek legal action under § FCRA 623 (b) for violations of the FCRA if you do not comply and respond to me with the results of the investigation whithin 30 days of your receipt of this letter.

In order to clear up this matter, I would like to see, a signed contract showing me that I indeed had an account with your company. If you don't respond with the results of the investigation (as is required per the FCRA), I will assume you have no documentation and therefore you were negligent in providing the credit bureaus with accurate information. At this point, you would also be in violation of the FCRA merely for not responding within the 30-day period.

To avoid a lawsuit, I request that you remove account from my credit report. Please delete this listing or I will be forced to seek legal action.

Sincerely,

You want a paper trail......If or when they answer.......file a complaint with the FTC mail it with the answer from cable co.

If they do not answe it....complain to the www.ftc.gov tell the FTC that they did not answer request for proof that this account was your's.......This was not my account!!!!

No need to say that it was your sis that used your SS. You must tell sis that if it happens again that you will file a police report. She will be guilty of ID theft!!!

Message Edited by HappyDays on 01-24-2008 12:56 AM

Message Edited by HappyDays on 01-24-2008 01:02 AM

Re: Cable service in Collections

Anonymous — Fri, 25 Jan 2008 03:36:19 GMT

Happy - I like! Haven't seen many letters for OC's.