Collection for Cancelled Service

Anonymous · ‎02-10-2013

Hi all!

I recently joined and have already found the information shared by everyone on these message boards to be so helpful! Thank you!!

I am in the process of paying off a few collection accounts. One is from an account that I had with ATT. My situation is as follows:

I moved to another state, requested service to be cancelled at that location, and paid my bill. Since I cancelled it, I assumed that was it. Well to make a long story short, a year after moving, I get a call from ATT saying that my service was disconnected because of non-payment and that I owed ~$125. Of course, I was confused, as I had cancelled this and moved so did not recieve bills in the mail or know that service was still on.

I fought with them for hours and hours to only be given the run around, put on hold, and hear that "a manager will call me back." But of course, no call back...

Now, I have recieved a collection letter for the amount and am not sure how to handle it. It is from Franklin Collection Services. Part of me says it is not a huge amount just pay in full before it shows on my CR... but it's not my debt. HELP!! Does anyone have any advice or experience in this type of situation?

llecs · ‎02-10-2013

Welcome to the forums!

I'd suggest reading the following:

Common Abbreviations

Credit Scoring 101 - great for knowing what is in your credit score and to see how your score is impacted.

What Steps Do I Take - great for learning the repair process.

and Example letters - PFDs, GWs, DVs, etc.

I'd send a DV letter to the CA and I'd contact AT&T and see if you can pay it while having them pull it back from the CA. If there's any disagreement with the debt, definitely ask AT&T about it. Could it have been a cancellation fee?

Anonymous · ‎02-11-2013

Thank you!

Definitely not a cancellation fee... it is charges for a 4 months after I moved and they failed to cancel my internet after requested.

I will try to call them again - hopefully they will no give me the run around as much!

RobertEG · ‎02-11-2013

You assert it is not your debt. They have asserted by reporting to the CRA that it is. So you have a factual dispute.

The debt collector is entitled to rely on verification they receive from the OC, so resolution of the issue will require someone to hear both sides and render a decision.

The FCRA dispute processes provide for requiring the furnisher to investigate an assertion of inaccuracy, but does not require them to prove the issue.

They can verify that they have investigated, and have basis for affirming its accuracy.

If you cannot convice them, your alternative is to take the matter to court, which has the authority to hear the dispute and reach a binding resolution.

You could send the debt collector a DV, and thus gain a temp reprieve against their reporting until such time as they provide debt validation, but again, their verifcation can be based on documentation of the OC, and they are not required to provide proof of the obligation.

I would send a pay-for-not-reporting offer to the debt collector in view of the relatively small amount of the asserted debt.

Anonymous · ‎02-11-2013

artsy, have a look here (CEO contact):http://consumerist.com/2007/08/14/updated-contact-att-ceo-randall-stephenson/

Anonymous · ‎02-16-2013

Thank you everyone!

Unfortunately, it has reported on my CR today - so I feel like I have no option but to PFD which the collection company has offered me. They have also offered to refund my payment within 45 days if it proven to be invalid by ATT. Hahahaha... that's not going to happen. I've tried multiple times only to be "disconnected" or told that a manager would call me back within the hour.

It is sad how these huge corporations have such power over this situation and I feel totally powerless. Though my $125 is hardly a thing to them - but to me (and most of America) that is a pretty substantial amount.

Anonymous · ‎02-16-2013

Jmoney -

Thank you for that contact info. I just sent an email explaining my situation. Hopefully, it will help... i will also call if I do not hear back within the week. The account was not sold to the CA so the money still goes to ATT and they say that it cna be refunded retroactively (I did pay for delete) if the case is reviewed and found to be inaccurate on their part.

FINGERS CROSSED!

Anonymous · ‎02-20-2013

Good news! I wrote an email to the CEO and got a quick response... after speaking with a few dfferent departments, they are refunded my full amount and clearing it from my CR.

Thanks again for the help!