Afni, collecting previous PAID debt after 7 years! Bloomington Illinois
Back in year 2000, I received a letter from a collection company collecting bills for Verizon phone service. (Don't remember the company name anymore)
Being a student at that time, I was unable to come up with the large amount all at once (around $2000 if I remembered correctly) The collection agency at that time negotiated a discount for me to cut 3 checks for around $900 total and said that will close the case.
I paid it off, thinking the case is closed.
Today, (1/5/2007) After almost 7 years, I received another collection letter, this time, from Afni. The rep said I failed to pay the amount of $2229.32 to Verizon from year 2000 with the old address I lived at so now they are collecting the money.
I explained the situation saying that I've paid off the amount and the case was closed and the rep asked for proof of a zero balance receipt from the previous collection agency but I do not have it, it's been 7 years!!
The rep then offered a discounted rate of $700 and said this will clear the case and will close it. Why do I need to pay for something that I already paid? What do I do??!!
Jackie
Yorba Linda, California
U.S.A.
11 Updates & Rebuttals
S
Fort Collins,Colorado,
U.S.A.
Exposed! Afni Corporate Information here...
#12Consumer Suggestion
Thu, January 11, 2007
This may help for anyone wanting to know about the company, whether it is a real company, and a physical address. They are at:
Afni, Inc.
404 Brock Drive
Bloomington, IL 61701
This and more information on then can be found with a search of the state of Illinois Secretary of State website at http://www.ilsos.gov/corporatellc/
Type afni in the search box and click on Afni, Inc. when the results come up. You will see they are a corporation out of Illinois in "good standing", their corporate ID # and my favorite of all, the name of their listed President and Secretary of the company. I sure would like to give RONALD L. GREENE a piece of my mind about his company's ethics.
C Thomas in Denver, CO
Steve [Not A Lawyer]
Bradenton,Florida,
U.S.A.
Jackie, it makes no difference re PO BOX vs street address
#12Consumer Suggestion
Thu, January 11, 2007
Jackie,
You can send certified and get return reciept from any postal address, including a PO Box. It makes absolutely no difference.
Just be sure to put the certified# on the letter itself and keep a copy for your records. This is very important as it proves exactly what you sent.
For future reference, NEVER pay any third party debt collector. ALWAYS make them sue you, most wont! I think about 3-5% of all collections actually end up in court, and of those it is a smaller percentage that actually win, and of those that win, very few actually get paid.
Therefore, the odds are in your favor, statistically speaking.
J
Lakewood,Ohio,
U.S.A.
Jackie
#12Consumer Suggestion
Thu, January 11, 2007
The post office where the box is located, will put the slip in for who ever comes for the mail, and have then sign for it. Delivery confirmation: is another way to prove that a letter was sent and received, and all courts have held that, this is also proof of your letter
If a letter is returned to you by the post office, it will have a reason for it, if it was refused or wasn't picked up, then the court will say a letter was sent, as long as it was adressed correctly, and clearly marked
I know the post office here that have alot of mail for a p.o. box, hold all mail in the back and the people must ask for it and before there allowed to take any. all mail that they have to sigh for will be done first
J
Lakewood,Ohio,
U.S.A.
Jackie
#12Consumer Suggestion
Thu, January 11, 2007
The post office where the box is located, will put the slip in for who ever comes for the mail, and have then sign for it. Delivery confirmation: is another way to prove that a letter was sent and received, and all courts have held that, this is also proof of your letter
If a letter is returned to you by the post office, it will have a reason for it, if it was refused or wasn't picked up, then the court will say a letter was sent, as long as it was adressed correctly, and clearly marked
I know the post office here that have alot of mail for a p.o. box, hold all mail in the back and the people must ask for it and before there allowed to take any. all mail that they have to sigh for will be done first
J
Lakewood,Ohio,
U.S.A.
Jackie
#12Consumer Suggestion
Thu, January 11, 2007
The post office where the box is located, will put the slip in for who ever comes for the mail, and have then sign for it. Delivery confirmation: is another way to prove that a letter was sent and received, and all courts have held that, this is also proof of your letter
If a letter is returned to you by the post office, it will have a reason for it, if it was refused or wasn't picked up, then the court will say a letter was sent, as long as it was adressed correctly, and clearly marked
I know the post office here that have alot of mail for a p.o. box, hold all mail in the back and the people must ask for it and before there allowed to take any. all mail that they have to sigh for will be done first
J
Lakewood,Ohio,
U.S.A.
Jackie
#12Consumer Suggestion
Thu, January 11, 2007
The post office where the box is located, will put the slip in for who ever comes for the mail, and have then sign for it. Delivery confirmation: is another way to prove that a letter was sent and received, and all courts have held that, this is also proof of your letter
If a letter is returned to you by the post office, it will have a reason for it, if it was refused or wasn't picked up, then the court will say a letter was sent, as long as it was adressed correctly, and clearly marked
I know the post office here that have alot of mail for a p.o. box, hold all mail in the back and the people must ask for it and before there allowed to take any. all mail that they have to sigh for will be done first
Jackie
Yorba Linda,California,
U.S.A.
PO Box ok??
#12Author of original report
Thu, January 11, 2007
The letter only provided a PO Box address, how do I get return receipt for PO Box?
If I don't do anything, what would be the possible outcomes? Are they just sending these randomly to see who will actually pay? or are they really able to put this on your credit report?
Would you say that I got ripped off the first time when I paid them? I remember the first company was American something, and later I read other articles on how Afni changes their company name often to rip othres off and the name that first collected my money 7 yrs ago was one of them!!!
Steve [Not A Lawyer]
Bradenton,Florida,
U.S.A.
Jackie, this is a typical scam.
#12Consumer Suggestion
Sat, January 06, 2007
Jackie,
This is why you NEVER speak to any collector on the phone. ALWAYS make them put everything in writing.
And, you never pay any collector without a contract in place FIRST. Once you pay a third party collector, you get tagged as an easy mark. They will keep reselling this over and over again.
The MAX SOL in CA is 4 years, therefore it would be uncollectable anyway. However,
The good news is, you do not have to prove anything to them. The entire burden of proof is on them. Here's how you get it.
Send a DEBT VALIDATION request. This should be sent by certified mail, return reciept requested. Be sure to put the certified # on the letter itself and keep a copy for your records. This is very important as it proves exactly what you sent.
Now, in this letter clearly dispute this debt to them. Demand to see the original signed contract that created the original debt, and a full account history and itemization of all charges.
Also demand proof that they are legally entitled to collect on the debt, and if they claim to own it demand to see the purchase contract, proof of payment, and a complete chain of title.
Also demand proof that they are properly licensed in your state to do debt collections, if required.
If you do this the way I described, you will most likely never hear from them again.
And, if you paid by personal checks, you can go back to the bank you used at the time and they can research and print out copies of the checks even if you no longer bank there. They charge a research fee and then a per check copy fee.
You can also sue them for the frivolous collections attempt.
Be sure to file a complaint online at ftc.gov.
Steve [Not A Lawyer]
Bradenton,Florida,
U.S.A.
Jackie, this is a typical scam.
#12Consumer Suggestion
Sat, January 06, 2007
Jackie,
This is why you NEVER speak to any collector on the phone. ALWAYS make them put everything in writing.
And, you never pay any collector without a contract in place FIRST. Once you pay a third party collector, you get tagged as an easy mark. They will keep reselling this over and over again.
The MAX SOL in CA is 4 years, therefore it would be uncollectable anyway. However,
The good news is, you do not have to prove anything to them. The entire burden of proof is on them. Here's how you get it.
Send a DEBT VALIDATION request. This should be sent by certified mail, return reciept requested. Be sure to put the certified # on the letter itself and keep a copy for your records. This is very important as it proves exactly what you sent.
Now, in this letter clearly dispute this debt to them. Demand to see the original signed contract that created the original debt, and a full account history and itemization of all charges.
Also demand proof that they are legally entitled to collect on the debt, and if they claim to own it demand to see the purchase contract, proof of payment, and a complete chain of title.
Also demand proof that they are properly licensed in your state to do debt collections, if required.
If you do this the way I described, you will most likely never hear from them again.
And, if you paid by personal checks, you can go back to the bank you used at the time and they can research and print out copies of the checks even if you no longer bank there. They charge a research fee and then a per check copy fee.
You can also sue them for the frivolous collections attempt.
Be sure to file a complaint online at ftc.gov.
Steve [Not A Lawyer]
Bradenton,Florida,
U.S.A.
Jackie, this is a typical scam.
#12Consumer Suggestion
Sat, January 06, 2007
Jackie,
This is why you NEVER speak to any collector on the phone. ALWAYS make them put everything in writing.
And, you never pay any collector without a contract in place FIRST. Once you pay a third party collector, you get tagged as an easy mark. They will keep reselling this over and over again.
The MAX SOL in CA is 4 years, therefore it would be uncollectable anyway. However,
The good news is, you do not have to prove anything to them. The entire burden of proof is on them. Here's how you get it.
Send a DEBT VALIDATION request. This should be sent by certified mail, return reciept requested. Be sure to put the certified # on the letter itself and keep a copy for your records. This is very important as it proves exactly what you sent.
Now, in this letter clearly dispute this debt to them. Demand to see the original signed contract that created the original debt, and a full account history and itemization of all charges.
Also demand proof that they are legally entitled to collect on the debt, and if they claim to own it demand to see the purchase contract, proof of payment, and a complete chain of title.
Also demand proof that they are properly licensed in your state to do debt collections, if required.
If you do this the way I described, you will most likely never hear from them again.
And, if you paid by personal checks, you can go back to the bank you used at the time and they can research and print out copies of the checks even if you no longer bank there. They charge a research fee and then a per check copy fee.
You can also sue them for the frivolous collections attempt.
Be sure to file a complaint online at ftc.gov.
Steve [Not A Lawyer]
Bradenton,Florida,
U.S.A.
Jackie, this is a typical scam.
#12Consumer Suggestion
Sat, January 06, 2007
Jackie,
This is why you NEVER speak to any collector on the phone. ALWAYS make them put everything in writing.
And, you never pay any collector without a contract in place FIRST. Once you pay a third party collector, you get tagged as an easy mark. They will keep reselling this over and over again.
The MAX SOL in CA is 4 years, therefore it would be uncollectable anyway. However,
The good news is, you do not have to prove anything to them. The entire burden of proof is on them. Here's how you get it.
Send a DEBT VALIDATION request. This should be sent by certified mail, return reciept requested. Be sure to put the certified # on the letter itself and keep a copy for your records. This is very important as it proves exactly what you sent.
Now, in this letter clearly dispute this debt to them. Demand to see the original signed contract that created the original debt, and a full account history and itemization of all charges.
Also demand proof that they are legally entitled to collect on the debt, and if they claim to own it demand to see the purchase contract, proof of payment, and a complete chain of title.
Also demand proof that they are properly licensed in your state to do debt collections, if required.
If you do this the way I described, you will most likely never hear from them again.
And, if you paid by personal checks, you can go back to the bank you used at the time and they can research and print out copies of the checks even if you no longer bank there. They charge a research fee and then a per check copy fee.
You can also sue them for the frivolous collections attempt.
Be sure to file a complaint online at ftc.gov.