topic Re: Slanderous credit reporting in Rebuilding Your Credit

Slanderous credit reporting

Anonymous — Mon, 06 Dec 2021 04:24:50 GMT

Hi everyone,

I'm new here and in desperate need of some help. I have an extremely frustrating situation that I've been dealing with for the past year. Here's what's happening: In the spring of 2020, my husband and I decided to switch our wireless service over to Verizon Wireless from T-Mobile because the company I work for offers a very generous employee discount on Verizon Wireless service. HUGE mistake. The service/coverage was so bad that we ended up immediately canceling our service with Verizon and going back to T-Mobile within 24-48 hours of activating it. A week or two after canceling the service, I got a bill for $250 from Verizon Wireless. I immediately contacted them and informed them that there should be no bill as our service was only active for a day or two and we canceled because we couldn't get any coverage in our area. They told me not to worry and assured me that it would be taken care of. Well, it was not and, in fact, we were billed yet AGAIN the following month. This time, I filed a Better Business Bureau complaint and got an email response from the Verizon executive office. I still have this email saved. The executive office promised me that the account was fully closed and had a zero balance. This was in May of 2020.

Fast forward about 6 months later to November of 2020 -- I started receiving alerts from the credit bureaus saying that I had a new collection account. Totally puzzled by this, I logged into my credit reports and there was Verizon claiming that I owe them just over $2700!!!!!! There is NO WAY this is possible. This account was active for a whole 24-48 hours before it was immediately canceled due to lack of service and their own executive office had assured me that there was a ZERO balance. I still have that email. I have spent the better part of the past year trying to fight this slanderous/defamatory collection and have had no luck whatsoever. I have disputed with all three of the credit bureaus MULTIPLE times, both online and by mail. I have sent them a copy of the email from the Verizon Wireless executive office stating that this account had a ZERO balance, but every time I file a dispute, it just keeps coming back as verified. I have sent emails to the Verizon executive office multiple times, which they refused to respond to, and I have called their executive office many times, but they just kept sending me to someone's voicemail who has never called me back despite my many messages. Verizon eventually sent me a cease and desist letter saying that I am not to have any further communication with them, which is a blatant violation of my rights. If they are going to report something on my credit reports, I have EVERY RIGHT to speak with them. They are not allowed to just ignore me like this.

Here is the email that Verizon sent me on May 20, 2020, stating that the account was closed and has a zero balance:

"Ms. xxxxx,

Good morning. I can certainly understand you are frustrated and I apologize for any further frustration this has caused you. The $250.00 charge that is on the most recent bill is a charge back for a $250.00 rebate promotion that would have been sent out to you for activating service with Verizon and porting in your numbers. The terms of the rebate indicate that the amount of the rebate would be charged back upon cancellation of the account.

Due to the circumstances, I will go ahead a credit the $250.00 charge, which will leave you with a zero balance. The account is still cancelled and there is no evidence of any further charges that would be billed.

Thank you for time and did you have any other questions that I can assist you with?

Have a great day.

Regards,

Edward V.

Executive Relations Analyst"

Does anyone have any advice on what my next move(s) should be? Should I mail a letter to the Verizon corporate office and threaten to sue? This is literally the ONLY collection that I have on any of my credit reports and my husband and I have plans to hopefully get a mortgage approval for a new home come spring or early summer, so the very last thing I need is some nearly $3k collection on my credit report that I do not even owe. I am desperate to get rid of this thing. It's completley slanderous and defamatory and nobody wants to help me or listen to me, despite the fact that I have proof in writing that this account had a zero balance at the time it was closed.

Re: Slanderous credit reporting

FireMedic1 — Mon, 06 Dec 2021 09:32:40 GMT

File a complaint with the CFPB and/or a FRCA lawyer. You got the proof.

Re: Slanderous credit reporting

chiefone4u — Mon, 06 Dec 2021 09:49:51 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
Hi everyone,

I'm new here and in desperate need of some help. I have an extremely frustrating situation that I've been dealing with for the past year. Here's what's happening: In the spring of 2020, my husband and I decided to switch our wireless service over to Verizon Wireless from T-Mobile because the company I work for offers a very generous employee discount on Verizon Wireless service. HUGE mistake. The service/coverage was so bad that we ended up immediately canceling our service with Verizon and going back to T-Mobile within 24-48 hours of activating it. A week or two after canceling the service, I got a bill for $250 from Verizon Wireless. I immediately contacted them and informed them that there should be no bill as our service was only active for a day or two and we canceled because we couldn't get any coverage in our area. They told me not to worry and assured me that it would be taken care of. Well, it was not and, in fact, we were billed yet AGAIN the following month. This time, I filed a Better Business Bureau complaint and got an email response from the Verizon executive office. I still have this email saved. The executive office promised me that the account was fully closed and had a zero balance. This was in May of 2020.

Fast forward about 6 months later to November of 2020 -- I started receiving alerts from the credit bureaus saying that I had a new collection account. Totally puzzled by this, I logged into my credit reports and there was Verizon claiming that I owe them just over $2700!!!!!! There is NO WAY this is possible. This account was active for a whole 24-48 hours before it was immediately canceled due to lack of service and their own executive office had assured me that there was a ZERO balance. I still have that email. I have spent the better part of the past year trying to fight this slanderous/defamatory collection and have had no luck whatsoever. I have disputed with all three of the credit bureaus MULTIPLE times, both online and by mail. I have sent them a copy of the email from the Verizon Wireless executive office stating that this account had a ZERO balance, but every time I file a dispute, it just keeps coming back as verified. I have sent emails to the Verizon executive office multiple times, which they refused to respond to, and I have called their executive office many times, but they just kept sending me to someone's voicemail who has never called me back despite my many messages. Verizon eventually sent me a cease and desist letter saying that I am not to have any further communication with them, which is a blatant violation of my rights. If they are going to report something on my credit reports, I have EVERY RIGHT to speak with them. They are not allowed to just ignore me like this.

Here is the email that Verizon sent me on May 20, 2020, stating that the account was closed and has a zero balance:

"Ms. xxxxx,

Good morning. I can certainly understand you are frustrated and I apologize for any further frustration this has caused you. The $250.00 charge that is on the most recent bill is a charge back for a $250.00 rebate promotion that would have been sent out to you for activating service with Verizon and porting in your numbers. The terms of the rebate indicate that the amount of the rebate would be charged back upon cancellation of the account.

Due to the circumstances, I will go ahead a credit the $250.00 charge, which will leave you with a zero balance. The account is still cancelled and there is no evidence of any further charges that would be billed.

Thank you for time and did you have any other questions that I can assist you with?

Have a great day.

Regards,

Edward V.
Executive Relations Analyst"

Does anyone have any advice on what my next move(s) should be? Should I mail a letter to the Verizon corporate office and threaten to sue? This is literally the ONLY collection that I have on any of my credit reports and my husband and I have plans to hopefully get a mortgage approval for a new home come spring or early summer, so the very last thing I need is some nearly $3k collection on my credit report that I do not even owe. I am desperate to get rid of this thing. It's completley slanderous and defamatory and nobody wants to help me or listen to me, despite the fact that I have proof in writing that this account had a zero balance at the time it was closed.

Out of curiosity, did you return the phones in good "like new" working condition with boxes and all contents that came in those boxes within 7 day's of activation?

I ask, because a $2,700 collection sounds like they are billing you for two cell phones (depending on what phones you received could be 1-5 phones in reality).

If you have the proof the phone's were returned to go with that email you received, I would contact an attorney as @FireMedic1 suggested... especially seeing as they have issued you a cease and desist order (legally YOU can't contact them anymore, but the courts can).

Good luck with this.

Re: Slanderous credit reporting

Anonymous — Mon, 06 Dec 2021 10:27:00 GMT

@chiefone4u wrote:
@Anonymous wrote:
Hi everyone,

I'm new here and in desperate need of some help. I have an extremely frustrating situation that I've been dealing with for the past year. Here's what's happening: In the spring of 2020, my husband and I decided to switch our wireless service over to Verizon Wireless from T-Mobile because the company I work for offers a very generous employee discount on Verizon Wireless service. HUGE mistake. The service/coverage was so bad that we ended up immediately canceling our service with Verizon and going back to T-Mobile within 24-48 hours of activating it. A week or two after canceling the service, I got a bill for $250 from Verizon Wireless. I immediately contacted them and informed them that there should be no bill as our service was only active for a day or two and we canceled because we couldn't get any coverage in our area. They told me not to worry and assured me that it would be taken care of. Well, it was not and, in fact, we were billed yet AGAIN the following month. This time, I filed a Better Business Bureau complaint and got an email response from the Verizon executive office. I still have this email saved. The executive office promised me that the account was fully closed and had a zero balance. This was in May of 2020.

Fast forward about 6 months later to November of 2020 -- I started receiving alerts from the credit bureaus saying that I had a new collection account. Totally puzzled by this, I logged into my credit reports and there was Verizon claiming that I owe them just over $2700!!!!!! There is NO WAY this is possible. This account was active for a whole 24-48 hours before it was immediately canceled due to lack of service and their own executive office had assured me that there was a ZERO balance. I still have that email. I have spent the better part of the past year trying to fight this slanderous/defamatory collection and have had no luck whatsoever. I have disputed with all three of the credit bureaus MULTIPLE times, both online and by mail. I have sent them a copy of the email from the Verizon Wireless executive office stating that this account had a ZERO balance, but every time I file a dispute, it just keeps coming back as verified. I have sent emails to the Verizon executive office multiple times, which they refused to respond to, and I have called their executive office many times, but they just kept sending me to someone's voicemail who has never called me back despite my many messages. Verizon eventually sent me a cease and desist letter saying that I am not to have any further communication with them, which is a blatant violation of my rights. If they are going to report something on my credit reports, I have EVERY RIGHT to speak with them. They are not allowed to just ignore me like this.

Here is the email that Verizon sent me on May 20, 2020, stating that the account was closed and has a zero balance:

"Ms. xxxxx,

Good morning. I can certainly understand you are frustrated and I apologize for any further frustration this has caused you. The $250.00 charge that is on the most recent bill is a charge back for a $250.00 rebate promotion that would have been sent out to you for activating service with Verizon and porting in your numbers. The terms of the rebate indicate that the amount of the rebate would be charged back upon cancellation of the account.

Due to the circumstances, I will go ahead a credit the $250.00 charge, which will leave you with a zero balance. The account is still cancelled and there is no evidence of any further charges that would be billed.

Thank you for time and did you have any other questions that I can assist you with?

Have a great day.

Regards,

Edward V.
Executive Relations Analyst"

Does anyone have any advice on what my next move(s) should be? Should I mail a letter to the Verizon corporate office and threaten to sue? This is literally the ONLY collection that I have on any of my credit reports and my husband and I have plans to hopefully get a mortgage approval for a new home come spring or early summer, so the very last thing I need is some nearly $3k collection on my credit report that I do not even owe. I am desperate to get rid of this thing. It's completley slanderous and defamatory and nobody wants to help me or listen to me, despite the fact that I have proof in writing that this account had a zero balance at the time it was closed.
Out of curiosity, did you return the phones in good "like new" working condition with boxes and all contents that came in those boxes within 7 day's of activation?

I ask, because a $2,700 collection sounds like they are billing you for two cell phones (depending on what phones you received could be 1-5 phones in reality).

If you have the proof the phone's were returned to go with that email you received, I would contact an attorney as @FireMedic1 suggested... especially seeing as they have issued you a cease and desist order (legally YOU can't contact them anymore, but the courts can).

Good luck with this.

We never bought phones from them. We purchased our iPhones directly from Apple and already owned them before we even went to Verizon....

Re: Slanderous credit reporting

Anonymous — Mon, 06 Dec 2021 10:29:16 GMT

@FireMedic1 wrote:
File a complaint with the CFPB and/or a FRCA lawyer. You got the proof.

I already went the CFPB route and it was totally useless. The CFPB always immediately closes your complaint as soon as the other party responds regardless of what their response is and they don't give you any chance to respond or file a rebuttal or anything. After I filed with the CFPB was when I received the cease and desist.

Re: Slanderous credit reporting

OmarGB9 — Mon, 06 Dec 2021 12:11:28 GMT

@Anonymous wrote:
@FireMedic1 wrote:
File a complaint with the CFPB and/or a FRCA lawyer. You got the proof.
I already went the CFPB route and it was totally useless. The CFPB always immediately closes your complaint as soon as the other party responds regardless of what their response is and they don't give you any chance to respond or file a rebuttal or anything. After I filed with the CFPB was when I received the cease and desist.

Guess your only other option is to hire a lawyer.

Re: Slanderous credit reporting

collics — Mon, 06 Dec 2021 14:02:01 GMT

I would hire a lawyer and force Verizon to cover the Att costs within the suit

Re: Slanderous credit reporting

aynot4fitness — Mon, 06 Dec 2021 16:56:49 GMT

This is one terrible collection scenario. Incredibly sadly and unfairly, there are quite a few factors working against you; which leaves you with very few options other than paying a lawyer for legal advice or paying off the collection. I suspect that you will not want to hear most of what I say below, but I'll share what I do know to help with awareness. You are unfortunately in a corner because:

$2700 is considered a small-claims case in every state except Rhode Island. You'll have a hard time finding a lawyer willing to represent you in a small claims case unless you are willing to pay them up front.
A lawyer would probably tell you that this would not likely be a successful slander case. For slander, you will have to prove that Verizon did this intentionally to damage your reputation.
A lawyer would probably tell you that this would not likely be a successful defamation case. For defamation, you will have to prove that Verizon reported to the CRAs with the knowledge that the collection is false and not a mistake.
Since you received a Cease and Desist letter, you should not contact them directly. They should only be contacted on your behalf through legal counsel or government/court authority. Verizon can potentially bring legal action against you if you contact them at all; however, a lawyer can better advise you on that. A C&D letter by itself is not legally enforceable, but it does form the foundation for future legal action against you.
They have lawyers advising them on their legal position and you do not. A letter from you threatening to sue will be meaningless to them because the person handling your letter is aware of everything I pointed out above. They also know that most people won't spend many thousands of dollars to try to eliminate a $2700 collection. The worst case scenario for you is that you will empower Verizon to bring legal action against you for sending the letter.

When you disputed the collection with the CRAs and Verizon verified it, that means they provided documentation of the debt's legitimacy. These 3 independent agencies, the BBB, and the CFPB all found that documentation to be sufficient verification of the debt. That does not guarantee that a court will agree, but it does create a tall hill to climb.

Well, you were already justifiably angry about this, and I'm guessing that you're probably doubly angry now. I am sorry for that. You are rightfully angry. At the same time, if you want this collection gone, then you can either negotiate a payment or pay an attorney a consultation fee for legal advice and decide from there. A lawyer may be able to get a copy of Verizon's documentation which will give you more facts to work with.

Re: Slanderous credit reporting

Anonymous — Mon, 06 Dec 2021 17:20:01 GMT

The last thing I am going to do is spend my hard earned money paying for something that I do NOT owe. This account was opened for no more than 24-48 hours before we immediately closed it and went right back to T-Mobile due to Verizon's total lack of coverage in our area. We couldn't even make or receive calls or texts. I have proof in writing from Verizon's own executive office stating that there was a ZERO balance and that there would be no further charges. So, I honestly don't give a rat's you-know-what about their "cease and desist" note that the sent me on a plain white sheet of paper with no letterhead. I am not one to be bullied and intimidated. I have tried MULTIPLE times to speak with them regarding this matter, but these cowards refuse to have any communication with me and can't even muster up the professionalism or the common courtesy to return a simple email or a phone call. If they want to spend their time and money taking legal action against me, go for it. They are the ones in the wrong as they are the ones commiting false credit reporting and are causing me damages.

I have sent two certified letters with signature required to their two headquarters located in NYC and in New Jersey. This letter is an intent to sue, even if I have to take them to small claims. I also included a printout of the email from their executive office from May 20, 2020, stating that there was no balance and the account was canceled. I have already spoken with a consumer attorney in my area who says I have a solid case with that email stating no balance at the time of account closure.

Re: Slanderous credit reporting

Remedios — Mon, 06 Dec 2021 21:28:14 GMT

@Anonymous if you've already taken steps such as direct dispute with OC, filed complaint, disputed account, and eventually got in touch with attorney, what kind of help are you going for?

I totally understand your frustration, I'm just not sure which direction youre leading this conversation towards?

Short of the steps above, there isn't much anyone can do other than engage in litigation, with or without being represented by an attorney

Re: Slanderous credit reporting

Anonymous — Wed, 08 Dec 2021 22:00:22 GMT

Well, I have great news. On Monday, I fired off emails to the CEOs of all three credit bureaus threatening legal action for allowing the false/incorrect reporting of this account after I have repeatedly sent them documentation proving such. I got a phone call from a supervisor with Experian late yesterday afternoon (I almost didn't take the call because I was working) and they immediately deleted the account while I was on the phone with them. This morning, I had an email from Equifax stating that they had also deleted the account. This afternoon, I got a call from Transunion and they said that they could not locate the documentation I had sent them and asked me to mail it to them, so that will be going out in tomorrow's mail and then I'm confident that it will be deleted from that bureau as well.

Sometimes you have to take drastic measures to protect your rights! Just for sharing sake, here is the email I got from Equifax this morning:

Dear xxxxxxx,

Thank you for contacting Equifax and allowing us the opportunity to address your concern. Your case has been addressed with confirmation number: xxxxxx. The VERIZON WIRELESS - 9xxxxxxxx account has been deleted from your Equifax credit report. You will receive a confirmation in the mail within 7-14 business days. Please be sure to pull an updated credit report to see the update.

Re: Slanderous credit reporting

3004life — Thu, 09 Dec 2021 00:04:04 GMT

Thats what I'm talking about!!! Good for you!! And congrats for getting that off of your file...Key 🔑 = Persistence

Re: Slanderous credit reporting

Anonymous — Thu, 09 Dec 2021 00:35:34 GMT

@3004life wrote:
Thats what I'm talking about!!! Good for you!! And congrats for getting that off of your file...Key 🔑 = Persistence

Thanks! Yes, you DEFINITELY have to be EXTREMELY persistent and never give up in these types of situations! This is a case of where the squeaky wheel gets the oil. I have been at this for literally an entire year, but really hardcore at it for these last few months. I was emailing Verizon's executive relations office almost every single day and told them that I was not going to go away until they took care of this and threatened to sue, so the cowards ended up sending me a cease and desist. Not on my watch!!!! The woman from Transunion was blown away that they sent me a cease and desist. She agreed that they had absolutely no right to do that and that, under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, they were required to speak to me. Her exact words were, "They can't post a collection on your credit report and then refuse to speak to you."

It was extremely easy to find the emails for the CEOs of all of the credit bureaus with just a quick Google search, so I sent emails directly to all three of them and that is what ultimately got me results!

I can't wait to pull my updated scores now that this big derogatory is gone!

Re: Slanderous credit reporting

WST — Thu, 09 Dec 2021 03:14:35 GMT

I am glad that you finally got the proper resolution to the issue. However, I would still keep a close eye on things, for the issue may reappear.

Re: Slanderous credit reporting

Anonymous — Thu, 09 Dec 2021 05:58:46 GMT

@WST wrote:
I am glad that you finally got the proper resolution to the issue. However, I would still keep a close eye on things, for the issue may reappear.

Yes, but I'm not the least bit worried. I have my doubts that it will reappear, but if it does, I have all of the documentation needed to get it removed again and I am fully within my rights to sue the piss out of the bureaus and Verizon if it ever comes back. I have a huge paper trail. I'm feeling pretty confident that the issue has finally been resolved once and for all.

Re: Slanderous credit reporting

3004life — Sun, 19 Dec 2021 06:30:23 GMT

Man I Love your Tenacity!! Thanks a million for sharing how you dealt with Verizon and obtaining the emails of the CEO'S of the big 3 CB, that's next level stuff. With that paper trail you are Golden!! Thanks for sharing the exact words from the Lady from transunion also, great information.

Re: Slanderous credit reporting

chatty383 — Sun, 26 Dec 2021 03:59:43 GMT

Have you tried filing a complaint with the Better Business Bureau? Your scenario is perfect for it. I've personally had great success whenever I've filed.