Afni Claimed delinquent payment due on a Verizon accont that never existed in a state I don't live in. Bloomington Illinois
On Friday November 7, 2008 I recieved a collection notice from Afi, Inc. Collections claiming that I owe Verizon Pennsylvania Inc a balance due for $104.60 for disconnected phone number (610)455-0231. I was surprised for various reasons. I have never had an account of any kind for any kind of service with Verizon in my entire life. I have not lived in Pa. for over three years and my last two addresses in Pa. did not have land lines as I use my cell phone as my only phone contact.
I called the number given on the Collection Notice throughout the day and was put on hold for over ten minutes at a time before hanging up and trying again. I called Verizon Customer service but was put through to someone in the service department. When I explained my situation; apologizing first for having been put through to the wrong department, I was rudely informed that I needed to call Customer Service. Customer Service is who I was trying to contact in the first place when I was incorrectly directed to this woman's department by her communication company employer. I asked for the correct number, apon which she sarcastically said, "It should be on your Collection letter". It is not! She begrudgingly gave me the number. I thanked her by name and again apologized for the wrong connection. She hung up on me without further comment.
I will call Verizon and my Lawyer on Monday.
Rob d.
Wilmington, Delaware
U.S.A.
2 Updates & Rebuttals
Resty
Waunakee,Wisconsin,
U.S.A.
AFNI.....what a hoot
#3Consumer Comment
Wed, November 19, 2008
You gotta love these people. I had one call me this last Sunday....about 3 pm. She asked for a guy I used to know. I KNEW what it was about basically....however.....her lies were easy to pick out. First she claimed it was an emergency that she contact this guy. Then it was "extremely urgent" and "extremely important". She wanted to know where he was...and how to contact him. I replied that I didnt know and didnt care. She asked for his cell phone.....I said I didnt have it.
Then there was something about HE having told HER (AFNI).....that I would handle this for him.....that i was his wife etc. Apparently they (AFNI) have some sort of proof that we're married. She was very nice and very sweet....but very determined she was going to get this solved blah blah blah. I kept telling her I didnt know how to contact him or where he was. He drives semi....he could be anywhere in the US at any given time.
It was fun listening to her stumble her way thru different ways of getting ME to "take care of this"......and her various lies to do so.
John
Louisville,Kentucky,
U.S.A.
RE:
#3Consumer Comment
Wed, November 19, 2008
DO NOT pay AFNI one penny simply to clear your credit files...If you do you will validate the debt as valid and you will own it....They could then keep this paid defaulted debt on your credit files for years.
Send a letter via Certified Mail + Return Receipt to AFNI stating:
Your firm has damaged by credit rating with your posting of damaging info on my credit file for a debt that does not belong to me.
Per the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, I am requesting written validation of this alleged debt, which includes:
- a copy of the original signed contract with my signature
- validation of the original "Date of Delinquency" for this alleged debt
- validation of the "Date of Last Activity" for this alleged debt
- validation that this alleged debt is within the statute of limitations.
Per the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act, the burden to validate the debt falls on the debt collector. It is not my responsibility to validate this alleged debt.
Either validate this alleged debt or remove it from my credit files. If this notation is not removed, I will have no choice by to take legal action per my rights under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. I also file reports with the Attorney General of Illinois if this bogus notation is not removed from my credit file .