Verizon is abusing me, need help

[KCC100]

Hello friends, Verizon reported a collection account to all 3 credit companies. I disputed and it came back as verified. I called Verizon to send me the statements and details of the account but they said they don't have. I talked to almost every department including recovery and their collection department and they can't get more details about this account.

Now my question is if they cannot prove the account, if they don't have the lates bill, any statement, anything related to this account, if they don't have this information how can they go after me?

according the credit companies, this collection account was opened Nov 27 2018 but according to some old statements I found from my side today, the account was opened couple of months before that time, so basically they're even missing important information about the account.

Would I be able to remove and dispute the account because of the wrong information they provided?  Verizon don't even have the full account number, they cannot provide any sort of documents related this account somehow.

[Remedios]

Abusing you??? 

So, you didn't pay them, but they are abusing you by reporting you didn't pay and you're hoping that what's potentially incorrect date would lead to deletion?

You can do as you wish, but they have all the information they need and they are under no obligation to provide you with additional statements, you already got those.

Best you can do for yourself is pay/settle and move on.

Verizon collections do not disappear, they don't get deleted, that reporting will ride almost full seven years. 

Later, it will be sold, and you will experience negative scoring effect each time new CA obtains authority to collect on this debt.

You are free to dispute dates, they will correct those. 

[KCC100]

Why are you assuming that I didn't pay them? Yes, I did pay them and the account had zero balance. I did not know where this balance came from and that's the reason I'm looking for the statements and the details. Dude train your mind to think positively. You're automatically assuming that I want to get away and delete the collection without paying the money that they owe! No that's not the case and I will never do that, and I never did it. 

The issue is that I don't recall this balance, I don't remember it and I knew my account had zero balance when I left from Verizon  so in order to pay this balance I need the details and the statements of the account but Verizon cannot produce, they don't have it. I talked many departments but they cannot find it. If they cannot print the details of the account how I can pay something I don't awe?

[FinStar]

You mentioned that "I knew my account had zero balance when I left from Verizon", but did you ever close your account or cancel the service and did you ever ask them for confirmation once your account was closed out ask for a zero balance letter or statement?  If you had that, then that could help your cause, but without something to that effect, it's going to be an uphill battle to dispute something that is shown as a valid debt.

[Remedios]

---

@KCC100 wrote:

Why are you assuming that I didn't pay them? Yes, I did pay them and the account had zero balance. I did not know where this balance came from and that's the reason I'm looking for the statements and the details. Dude train your mind to think positively. You're automatically assuming that I want to get away and delete the collection without paying the money that they owe! No that's not the case and I will never do that, and I never did it. 

The issue is that I don't recall this balance, I don't remember it and I knew my account had zero balance when I left from Verizon  so in order to pay this balance I need the details and the statements of the account but Verizon cannot produce, they don't have it. I talked many departments but they cannot find it. If they cannot print the details of the account how I can pay something I don't awe?

---

Well, the dude read your post, so that's kinda how. Bear with me, I'm new to "dude" life. 

In any case, it's really simple. 

Assuming you paid online, no matter which method you used, if it's from 2018, you should still have those statements (checking or credit). 

You can compare amounts paid with statements you have, you'd need to account for any device unless paid upfront or if it was a no contract plan, account for early termination if there was such a clause, and while they are telling you they cannot provide account info, they clearly have your information for the time period you happen to be a customer.

Dispute you are describing would simply lead to correction and not deletion. 

You would need to know what you are disputing in order for dispute to work. 

Are you claiming it was always paid but they reported it as a collection 3 years later out of blue and you've had no communication from them since? Verizon has a very robust internal collection process, they do not wait three years, so how long has this been on your CR? 

Are you saying account was paid on time and was never delinquent? 

Do you still have copies of original contract? 

Any Verizon store near where you live? 

If you are absolutely certain you do not owe them, and you already disputed directly with Verizon and CRA, your next step would be CPFB complaint but that would require info above from you if you are to make your case. 

If there is a chance this really is collection account over fees, charges, and devices post account termination, you will need to work with them to get it resolved. 

Also, there is a history of you not knowing about multiple collection accounts, so there is that 

https://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/Rebuilding-Your-Credit/7-years-collection-is-killing-me/m-p/5131012...

Then, there is this same collection you spoke about three years ago, so it's not exactly new 

https://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/Rebuilding-Your-Credit/Do-goodwill-letters-still-work/m-p/5127390

Another instance in which you got a collection after account termination, same situation you described here with identical questions. 

https://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/Rebuilding-Your-Credit/Can-a-collection-be-added-on-your-credit-aft...

@KCC100  There is nothing wrong with asking for help, but when you describe situations like this, being truthful is very important since thats the only thing that ensures you get the right answers. 

Also, there is nothing wrong with saying "Those were rough times, I dont really remember who I owed what", that also helps since it lets us know that details are fuzzy. 

None of this is meant to make you feel bad, but if you want to know how to proceed, it's important to know what happened, what didn't happen, and what might have happened. 

[KCC100]

I didn't receive any letters from Verizon regarding this collection. I moved out from my old address so it's possible that they might sent to that address. Based on the last statements from the account, it shows zero balance. Even the customer service said there's no collection or balance under your name they're telling me to dispute the information with the credit companies. They're saying they cannot remove an account they don't see on their end.

I even recorded my conversation with multiple reps all saying there's no balance under your SSN. I called the sales dep. to see if they can run my credit and see any balance from previous account and they said there's none. I can get 10 new devices without deposit.

So I'm in situations where I can't remove this stupid collection but also Verizon cannot find the account on their end. The collection is still under Verizon but somehow they can't see that account.

Even I told them I will pay it but they said you can't pay because we can't access the account you're talking about. It's crazy situation.

---

@Remedios wrote:

---

@KCC100 wrote:

Why are you assuming that I didn't pay them? Yes, I did pay them and the account had zero balance. I did not know where this balance came from and that's the reason I'm looking for the statements and the details. Dude train your mind to think positively. You're automatically assuming that I want to get away and delete the collection without paying the money that they owe! No that's not the case and I will never do that, and I never did it. 

The issue is that I don't recall this balance, I don't remember it and I knew my account had zero balance when I left from Verizon  so in order to pay this balance I need the details and the statements of the account but Verizon cannot produce, they don't have it. I talked many departments but they cannot find it. If they cannot print the details of the account how I can pay something I don't awe?

---

Well, the dude read your post, so that's kinda how. Bear with me, I'm new to "dude" life. 

In any case, it's really simple. 

Assuming you paid online, no matter which method you used, if it's from 2018, you should still have those statements (checking or credit). 

You can compare amounts paid with statements you have, you'd need to account for any device unless paid upfront or if it was a no contract plan, account for early termination if there was such a clause, and while they are telling you they cannot provide account info, they clearly have your information for the time period you happen to be a customer.

Dispute you are describing would simply lead to correction and not deletion. 

You would need to know what you are disputing in order for dispute to work. 

Are you claiming it was always paid but they reported it as a collection 3 years later out of blue and you've had no communication from them since? Verizon has a very robust internal collection process, they do not wait three years, so how long has this been on your CR? 

Are you saying account was paid on time and was never delinquent? 

Do you still have copies of original contract? 

Any Verizon store near where you live? 

If you are absolutely certain you do not owe them, and you already disputed directly with Verizon and CRA, your next step would be CPFB complaint but that would require info above from you if you are to make your case. 

If there is a chance this really is collection account over fees, charges, and devices post account termination, you will need to work with them to get it resolved. 

Also, there is a history of you not knowing about multiple collection accounts, so there is that 

https://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/Rebuilding-Your-Credit/7-years-collection-is-killing-me/m-p/5131012...

Then, there is this same collection you spoke about three years ago, so it's not exactly new 

https://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/Rebuilding-Your-Credit/Do-goodwill-letters-still-work/m-p/5127390

Another instance in which you got a collection after account termination, same situation you described here with identical questions. 

https://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/Rebuilding-Your-Credit/Can-a-collection-be-added-on-your-credit-aft...

@KCC100  There is nothing wrong with asking for help, but when you describe situations like this, being truthful is very important since thats the only thing that ensures you get the right answers. 

Also, there is nothing wrong with saying "Those were rough times, I dont really remember who I owed what", that also helps since it lets us know that details are fuzzy. 

None of this is meant to make you feel bad, but if you want to know how to proceed, it's important to know what happened, what didn't happen, and what might have happened. 

---

[Remedios]

---

@KCC100 wrote:

I didn't receive any letters from Verizon regarding this collection. I moved out from my old address so it's possible that they might sent to that address. Based on the last statements from the account, it shows zero balance. Even the customer service said there's no collection or balance under your name they're telling me to dispute the information with the credit companies. They're saying they cannot remove an account they don't see on their end.

I even recorded my conversation with multiple reps all saying there's no balance under your SSN. I called the sales dep. to see if they can run my credit and see any balance from previous account and they said there's none. I can get 10 new devices without deposit.

So I'm in situations where I can't remove this stupid collection but also Verizon cannot find the account on their end. The collection is still under Verizon but somehow they can't see that account.

Even I told them I will pay it but they said you can't pay because we can't access the account you're talking about. It's crazy situation.

---

@Remedios wrote:

---

@KCC100 wrote:

Why are you assuming that I didn't pay them? Yes, I did pay them and the account had zero balance. I did not know where this balance came from and that's the reason I'm looking for the statements and the details. Dude train your mind to think positively. You're automatically assuming that I want to get away and delete the collection without paying the money that they owe! No that's not the case and I will never do that, and I never did it. 

The issue is that I don't recall this balance, I don't remember it and I knew my account had zero balance when I left from Verizon  so in order to pay this balance I need the details and the statements of the account but Verizon cannot produce, they don't have it. I talked many departments but they cannot find it. If they cannot print the details of the account how I can pay something I don't awe?

---

Well, the dude read your post, so that's kinda how. Bear with me, I'm new to "dude" life. 

In any case, it's really simple. 

Assuming you paid online, no matter which method you used, if it's from 2018, you should still have those statements (checking or credit). 

You can compare amounts paid with statements you have, you'd need to account for any device unless paid upfront or if it was a no contract plan, account for early termination if there was such a clause, and while they are telling you they cannot provide account info, they clearly have your information for the time period you happen to be a customer.

Dispute you are describing would simply lead to correction and not deletion. 

You would need to know what you are disputing in order for dispute to work. 

Are you claiming it was always paid but they reported it as a collection 3 years later out of blue and you've had no communication from them since? Verizon has a very robust internal collection process, they do not wait three years, so how long has this been on your CR? 

Are you saying account was paid on time and was never delinquent? 

Do you still have copies of original contract? 

Any Verizon store near where you live? 

If you are absolutely certain you do not owe them, and you already disputed directly with Verizon and CRA, your next step would be CPFB complaint but that would require info above from you if you are to make your case. 

If there is a chance this really is collection account over fees, charges, and devices post account termination, you will need to work with them to get it resolved. 

Also, there is a history of you not knowing about multiple collection accounts, so there is that 

https://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/Rebuilding-Your-Credit/7-years-collection-is-killing-me/m-p/5131012...

Then, there is this same collection you spoke about three years ago, so it's not exactly new 

https://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/Rebuilding-Your-Credit/Do-goodwill-letters-still-work/m-p/5127390

Another instance in which you got a collection after account termination, same situation you described here with identical questions. 

https://ficoforums.myfico.com/t5/Rebuilding-Your-Credit/Can-a-collection-be-added-on-your-credit-aft...

@KCC100  There is nothing wrong with asking for help, but when you describe situations like this, being truthful is very important since thats the only thing that ensures you get the right answers. 

Also, there is nothing wrong with saying "Those were rough times, I dont really remember who I owed what", that also helps since it lets us know that details are fuzzy. 

None of this is meant to make you feel bad, but if you want to know how to proceed, it's important to know what happened, what didn't happen, and what might have happened. 

---

---

Okay, we are getting somewhere. 

If you didn't take names and notes when you talked to Verizon, call again, but this time write down who you talked to, which department and what they told you. If you already have that, you can skip the call. 

Now, when you disputed with CRAs, what was the basis for your dispute "account not mine" or something else? 

Gather whatever information you have, then file a complaint against Verizon for failure to properly investigate a dispute, and against CRAs you filed dispute with, for the similar reason "failure to perform reasonable investigation" 

You will need to upload whatever proof you have that it was an account in good standing (which is why it's so important you establish this isnt the result of charges and fees that occurred after contract was terminated, but still due. @FinStar explained above the need for final bill) 

Final bill is what you need to prove this isn't a valid collection. If you cannot produce it, upload what you have. 

Another thing, this is rather typical for phone companies, once account is forwarded for collection, info get scattered between various departments, so geting answers can be tough. If you do not have a proof that final bill was paid, your only hope is that they dont either. 

If you decide to file a complaint, there isnt much you can do after that if it doesn't go in your favor other than litigation, so make sure you go over your records and statements again.

CRAs will most likely not entertain another dispute if complaint goes sideways, and they may deem it frivolous, that can have impact on other disputes you might have in the future. 

[KCC100]

Thank you, man. I really  appreciate your efforts and I'll definitely do that. I have the last statement which shows zero balance. I also have representatives who said there's no unpaid balance under your SSN.

[Remedios]

You are welcome.

Find everything you have for those complaints, and make sure you do it for Verizon and every CRA you filed dispute with.

You can copy and paste text for CRAs because it's the same issue.