AFNI BOGUS SETTTLEMENT OFFER Claims to be a collection agency re. an old AT & T Long Distance Bill Bloomington Illinois
Got a letter in the mail from these crooks claiming my husband owed $142.10 on an old AT & T Long Distance bill--and asked for only half the amount. (Tip off #1.) No street address appeared on the letter (Tip off #2), and the icons for Mastercard and Visa looked "off." (Tip off #3). When I called, a representative named Chad (Pull-eez, Tip off #4) said AFNI had 'aquired' my account from AT & T. I demanded that they send us a copy of the outstanding bill, and "Chad" said we'd get a "letter of validation" within 30 days. What about the original bill? I asked. We may or may not be able to provide that. (Tip off #5). I said they should be able to send me a copy of the records showing I have in fact neglected to pay for any service.
At that point "Chad" became nasty (Tip off #6) and said I should have settled this debt earlier. I told him for all I knew, AFNI was bogus, at which point he said to research them on the web and I'd see that the Better Business Bureau endorsed them. When I searched the web, what I found were lots of posts reporting AFNI for similar scams. It is my intention to send this report to the Illinois Atty. Generals office for fraud.
Gretchen
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
U.S.A.
1 Updates & Rebuttals
Tim
Valparaiso,Indiana,
U.S.A.
C&D Letter
#2Consumer Suggestion
Mon, October 08, 2007
The validation that they send you will probably show that the debt is past the statute of limitations for legal collection actions. In Pennsylvania, most contracts have an SOL of four years. Signed, notarized contracts have an SOL of 20 years.
Any agreement you had with AT&T probably falls into the 4 year category. Once you get the validation, fire off a letter:
You are currently attempting to collect a debt from me from AT&T, reference # [insert their reference/file number]. I deny liability on this debt. Further, assuming for the sake of argument that this debt is mine, it is past the statute of limitations for collection actions in the State of Pennsylvania and, therefore, is also past the reporting time allowed under the FCRA.
Please treat this letter as an order, per the FDCPA, to cease and desist any and all further communications regarding this debt with any persons. Any violation of this order, or any other violations of the FDCPA, FCRA, or any other relevant state or federal laws, will be treated as such and will subject your company to litigation.
Send the letter by certified mail, return receipt requested.
Best regards!