No credit card required
Browse credit cards from a variety of issuers to see if there's a better card for you.
Hi all, I'm in a bit of a pickle here with Comcast.
Basically, they sent me to collections for something that was never mine. I got a letter from "Credit Protection Association" saying I had unreturned equipment from Comcast that has been turned over to collections. At first, I thought this was in reference to my cable box which just weeks prior I had returned...but no. I called and the woman I spoke with informed me that this was a modem that was not returned. That's all fine and dandy except for one problem: I've never had Comcast internet and thus, no modem. What's even funnier is the fact that she said this account was opened in February of 2004....I was TWELVE (12) years old in Feb. of '04.
So anyway she gave me a ticket number and turned it over to their investigations or something. Fine. Two weeks go bye and I hear nothing but come home to a second letter from CPA telling me my 30-day window to validate the debt is closing and if I don't respond in the next week it will be assumed to be correct and posted to my reports. So I call Comcast AGAIN and this lady couldn't find any record of my original call so she basically told me the same thing...that they'd look into it. This was a week ago today.
Basically my question is, should I send a validation letter to CPA in case something happens and Comcast falls through and refuses to admit their mistake? Or should I not fret and wait for them to find their error. The pessimist in me says Comcast is going to tell me to pound sand and I'm going to be stuck with this collections that is not mine. Can I still make them validate the debt if the 30 days has passed? I'm really stuck here. I'm going to try and call Comcast today and see where they're at...I mean, it shouldn't be that hard to clear my name. I've never had Comcast internet service (thus, no billing records, contracts, etc.) and to top it off I was 12 when this alleged account was opened!
Any advice? Thanks for reading if you made it this far lol
This is why you always send a DV snail mail CMRRR. That way you have proof that you have requested validation. Send the DV to Credit Protection Association, you have to DV the CA that sent you that dunning notice. Now if they come back as validated, that's when you would file a direct dispute with the CA and incude that you were 12 at the time. It could very well be a case of mistaken idenity.
Comcast customer service is awful, and their record keeping on devices is worse. The earlier poster is right, you need to dispute in writing CMRRR to CPA immediately. Ask for the make, model and serial number of the equipment you supposedly had, and the name of the person who received service. Chances are a previous resident at your address had a modem...
Then escalate to Executive Complaints. There are two ways to do this. You can navigate through "contact us" to "Comments from Rick Germano" and enter an online complaint there. Or, call Comcast (not CPA, they will eventually say "we're a third party company") and demand to speak to Executive Complaints.
Finally, you have a local Franchise Authority. File a formal written complaint there.
I'd paint the biggest bullseye on yourself, and let them fire. After the court fiasco, you could turn around and file countersuit with extreme prejudice.
Burned, I disgree. They (PA) aren't going to sue they are going to trash FloridaState12's credit by posting a collection item. This can still be avoided.
Yeah...
Do a police ID theft report....
Send it to the CRAs, CA, and keep one copy for any future bottom-feeders.
I'm quick on sarcasm today, as I'm in a "delete Midland" frame of mind.
Thanks for the responses guys. I think it was just an error on their part, not really identity theft.
Anyways, I called Comcast today and the lady I spoke with informed me that the issue has been taken care of and there is no longer any missing equipment listed on my account. I requested something in writing saying my account has been cleared and the collections cancelled and supposedly something is going to be mailed. Should I still send a DV to the CA just in case this lady was wrong, or wait a while for a letter from Comcast?
Send the DV anyway!
@FloridaState12 wrote:Thanks for the responses guys. I think it was just an error on their part, not really identity theft.
Anyways, I called Comcast today and the lady I spoke with informed me that the issue has been taken care of and there is no longer any missing equipment listed on my account. I requested something in writing saying my account has been cleared and the collections cancelled and supposedly something is going to be mailed. Should I still send a DV to the CA just in case this lady was wrong, or wait a while for a letter from Comcast?
Yes, by all means send the DV.
I too had a Comcast fiasco. It took three phone calls and some blowing up on my part (not proud but it happened) and the end result, I got an apology in the mail from the collection agency.
If something goes wrong with yours, I do have a good contact number for the woman who eventually fixed my issue.
Had same thing with ATT and same result - apology for bothering me. I can handle that. Glad to hear it probably
worked out for you but still DV.