AFNI - Under accounts instead of collections???

[homerunstacy]

AFNI, INC. aka AFNI BLOOM is a collection agency and not an OC.  I settled with them on a very very old debt that should have aged off my record several months ago.  Sadly I didn't push for a PFD or inquire about the SOL because I paid them prior to finding FICO forums. 

Anyway, can they legally report as an account instead of under collections? They showing up on EX & EQ under accounts but not on TU at all. They are also showing 2 - 90 day lates as recently as 2007 and 2008 when this account was 10 years old. I never had any arrangement with them, never got anything in writing.  I just settled over the phone with a one time pay.  This makes no sense at all to me since as soon as I found out they were on my report I settled and closed it. EQ an EX both list status as account paid in full legally for less than full balance with these inaccurate two 90 day lates.

How do I get rid of these guys off my CRA's for good? How is it that they can report themselves as an account with late pays versus just a collection?  Is this hurting my score more as a recent adverse account with the late pays?  Anyone else deal with these guys? What should be my next steps and do I have any recourse since I already settled.

Thanks!

[llecs]

Welcome to the AFNI club!

I have them too for an old Nextel Acct from 2002. That is SOP for them per the updates. I bet one CR says CO every so often and another says 120 days (EQ) on the same month as the others. I also notices a correlation between DVs and disputes and updates to the CR. Whenever I DV'd, they would update.

Did you settle for less than full? CA's have a convenient way of forgetting that the acct was settled.

I'd send one of the very strongly worded DVs located in these forums. While I disagree with the law aspect of some of them, I can tell you that a simple DV will not work.

Next step after that would be to dispute. If you paid less than full, when did you pay? Paying could reset SOL, so be careful.

[homerunstacy]

I did indeed settle less than full and with nothing in writing.  The guy really bullied me into making a payment on the spot and called me at work to harass me.  I pulled out the credit card (or debit card) and paid him.

I will try to give them a call directly tomorrow and see what info I can get from them via phone first. If that doesn't work then I can try the strong letter.   I settled with them early in 2007. The lates are showing late 2007 and 2008 right after I disputed via the CRA's  Shocker! 

*** Read FICO FORUMS and learn! ***

Never, ever settle something without some sort of agreement in writing.  *Duh!* Shaking me head right now. 

I just don't get how they can report it as a regular account with lates and not just under collections.

How can they get away with that?  Never mind that the info is invalid but this is the only agency I have seen do something like this on my report.  I had a few other third party collection agencies but they report as collections. 

[Anonymous]

I also have a problem with AFNI-  I started pulling my credit last year,and this was not on my reports, and then all of the sudden there it was, my account was for Verizon, for 400.00, I called verizon and they said I owed them nothing which I thought I didnt, I disputed it and it was verified,then it was showing like a account and a collection it was also listed as Anderson, I disputed it again and now it is just listed as a old collection,bit this makes me so mad, I just sent them a nasty email the other day and they verified it again and said this went to collections 10-2001 that "I can manage my account online" Im trying to buy a house so Im debating if I should just PFD to get rid of this since I have no proof I paid this, I googled this company and they are known for buying old accounts and reaging them.

[ngerasimatos]

I fu*&ing hate AFNI. Talking to them is like pulling teeth.

[homerunstacy]

Update - I ended up getting someone in the collections department named Sue.  Ironically, she had told me about her own credit issues so I told her to come here and read up. 

Sue had plenty of empathy but was not empowered to do anything for me.  She couldn't even give me the name of a person in the this "other" department at AFNI that they call "DP Support."  She could only give me a fax number which actually was wrong. However, I did call back and get another fax number for this department-  (309)820-2682. It looks like it went through but I have no way to confirm this because I have no contact person.  I'm lucky I even got the right fax and name of the right department.  I sent that at about 2pm today and still no response.   The letter was very tame and more GW in nature. It was a bit repetitive but I wrote it very quickly during a meeting today at work... have to multitasking here!  It contained screen shots of the accounts for EQ and EX that they are reporting as an account instead of collections with late 120+ late pay status on.  

Here is a portion of that letter:

"Per sue in AFNI collections (Employee ID 33160) and at the advice of her supervisor, I am sending you copies of my credit report from myfico.com for Experian and Equifax.  Note that this account was settled and was paid to zero with Jason ID 03828 at AFNI.  There was never any payment plan agreed upon nor late pays.  I also verified this information with Sue in collections as well today, 3/7/08:

       1. The account is showing up as an adverse active account AND not under "collections" but  under "accounts" similar to a credit card or loan.

       2. The account is being reported with 120 day late status payment status

       3. The account is closed but being reported as open

This should be an inactive/closed account with no late status. I was never late paying this account and legally settled the account with you already.  I never had a payment plan either. Please check your records as I have done already with Sue in collections.

I am asking the following:

1. Is it possible, considering that the account is old and has been settled, that you can completely remove this reporting from Equifax and Experian?

2. Minimally the late pay information and that you are still showing this account as open is not valid. This needs to be removed.

Again, I kindly ask that you remove all invalid information from both credit agencies as soon as possible as this is preventing me from getting desired financing on a mortgage.  Ideally, I'd like you to also consider removing your reporting completely now that the account is settled.  I would also appreciate a follow up call or email contact in your department so that I can check the status on your progress and confirm that you did get this fax.

Thank you for your consideration in advance,

S

If I don't get a response I will rewrite a letter that is a bit more firm and send it certified mail.  I'm not sure what else to do though at this point.  If anyone has suggestions please let me know.  This is a Verizon account from 2006.  I should of had them validate the debt in the first place too. I never even questioned it but again it was pre-FICO forums that I settled this account.

[ngerasimatos]

While their customer service reps are quite nice, the comapny is too slow to handle issues. Also, the address they list on my credit report and on their website is incorrect.

http://afniupsourcing.com/contact/contact.htm

They state the following.

For collection-related inquiries, contact our Recovery Team at 1.800.371.3645, by mail at Afni, Inc. PO Box 3517, Bloomington, IL 61701 or email at recoveryteam@afninet.com.

This is NOT the correct address. SOmeone needs to sue them again.

http://www.9wsyr.com/content/news/your_stories/story.aspx?content_id=c2fd654e-ef16-49c1-8a0e-87f622d...

[ngerasimatos]

and this is my email I wrote them.

Hello,

I am writing this letter seeking help regarding an account Afni
currently is collecting on. In 2001 I was a victim of identity theft
and as such have been suffering ever since.

Afni currently is collecting on an account that was opened fraudulently without my
knowledge or consent. I have disputed this account multiple times,
sent copies of the following information (FTC theft affidavit,
paperwork from the DA's office in Kern County, California charging
another individual with using my identity, police reports from the
Hunting Beach Police Department, and other various items) and even
sent Afni a debt validation letter.

The letter was signed for and I never received the debt validation paperwork.

To this date the account is still showing on my credit report damaging
my FICO score, and causing undue stress and hardships in my life.

I was advised by the 3 main credit bureaus that I should attempt to
escalate this and as such am writing you this letter. I recently have
filed a grievance with the FTC, BBB, and my local Attorney Generals
office.

I would be more than willing to remove such grievances if this
fraudulently opened account could please be deleted from my credit
bureau.

I also should note, the contact information you have listed on your
website and the credit bureaus is incorrect. When navigating to the
following URL ( http://afniupsourcing.com/contact/contact.htm) or
viewing my credit report the contact address for Afni is listed as
"Afni, Inc. PO Box 3517, Bloomington, IL 61701" to which your customer
service representative have stated is incorrect.

I am looking forward to an uneventful resolution to this situation,
and while I prefer to not use the courts to litigate, I will if
necessary.

http://www.9wsyr.com/content/news/your_stories/story.aspx?content_id=c2fd654e-ef16-49c1-8a0e-87f622d...

Nicholas Gerasimatos

Message Edited by ngerasimatos on 03-07-2008 02:58 PM

[homerunstacy]

Great email.  Please update us if you get a response.  I'll do the same in this thread.

Should I send a certified letter next or try email? Hmmm... Since mine is more GW in nature I don't want to push too much.  I wonder if I should go back to step one and try to DV as well with them or is that too late since I already did a settlement?