Complaint Review: AFNI Collections

I got a letter JUne 22nd 2007, from AFNI COLLECTIONS stating I owed Versizon New York Inc. $212. I've NEVER even had an account with verizon!!! WHen I called Verizon they had no record of me under my name or social security number-NONE! Luckily for me I did not have a problem finding how to defend myself against these scumbags as they have done this to numerous others.

CLICK here to see why Rip-off Report, as a matter of policy, deleted either a phone number, link or e-mail address from this Report.

THIS IS HOW YOU HANDLE THEM Be aware of the following. DO NOT CALL THEM !!!! They will track your phone number and harass you. Those that have called confirmed that they send a Fraud / Dispute Resolution package when you call to complain. The package arrives in about two weeks later.

IN this package AFNI requests you to include: a copy of my driver license, a copy of my Social Security Card and/or proof of citizenship (copy of birth certificate or naturalization papers), proof of residence at the time the account was established utility bill, bank statement, tax document or the like, a copy of police report or ID theft affidavit, and any other documentation that might assist AFNI investigate the claim.

They use this as a fishing expedition to gather more information on you. DO NOT CALL DO NOT SEND THEM INFORMATION!! Correspond with them via USPS ONLY and keep a record of it Return receipt requests /certified mail(which is further explain below, the instructions and form letter are below too). USPS is better because AFNI is too afraid to face federal charges for mail fraud. Please click on the links below for further information.

You can also call the credit report companies (transunion, experian and equifax) to get a free credit report and take steps to protect your credit.

I suggest reporting them to DCA (department of consumer affairs) IN YOUR STATE, State Attorney general, FTC (Federal trades commission) Dateline NBC and post this information anywhere you can to stop them.

The information below was provided by yet another victim- I found it to be useful. GOODLUCK!

Registrant: Make this info private Afni 404 Brock Drive Bloomington, IL 61701 US

Domain Name: AFNICOLLECTIONS.COM

Administrative Contact : Angelo, Alan alanangelo@afninet.com 404 Brock Drive Bloomington, IL 61701 US Phone: 309-820-2918

Technical Contact : Network Solutions, LLC. customerservice@networksolutions.com 13861 Sunrise Valley Drive Herndon, VA 20171 US Phone: 1-888-642-9675 Fax: 571-434-4620

Record expires on 28-Feb-2012 Record created on 28-Feb-2002 Database last updated on 22-Jun-2006

I took a look online and found an excellent website that details how to query this. Here is the link to the form letter that you need to send Afni Inc. Once they receive this they will most likely lose interest or sell the collection on to another agency. If they break the rules you can report them to your state Attorney General, FTC and the Better Business Bureau and use the fact in small claims court :-

http://fair-debt-collection.com/Disputing_Collections/initial-dispute-letter.html

Here is the link for the procedure you need to follow to ensure you have documented proof that you have mailed the dispute letter :-

http://www.fair-debt-collection.com/Disputing_Collections/mailing-instructions.html

Here is an exert from the Form Letter :-

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Be advised that I am fully aware of my rights under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and the Fair Credit Reporting Act. For instance, I know that:

because I have disputed this debt in writing within 30 days of receipt of your dunning notice, you must obtain verification of the debt or a copy of the judgment against me and mail these items to me at your expense;

you cannot add interest or fees except those allowed by the original contract or state law.

you do not have to respond to this dispute but if you do, any attempt to collect this debt without validating it, violates the FDCPA;

Also be advised that I am keeping very accurate records of all correspondence from you and your company including recording all phone calls and I will not hesitate to report violations of the law to my State Attorney General, the Federal Trade Commission and the Better Business Bureau.

I have disputed this debt; therefore, until validated you know your information concerning this debt is inaccurate. Thus, if you have already reported this debt to any credit-reporting agency (CRA) or Credit Bureau (CB) then, you must immediately inform them of my dispute with this debt. Reporting information that you know to be inaccurate or failing to report information correctly violates the Fair Credit Reporting Act 1681s-2. Should you pursue a judgment without validating this debt, I will inform the judge and request the case be dismissed based on your failure to case be dismissed based on your failure to comply with the FDCPA.

Finally, if you do not own this debt, I demand that you immediately send a copy of this dispute letter to the original creditor so they are also aware of my dispute with this debt.

Good luck an don't take any wooden nickels

AFNICOLLECTIONS.COM

Mason
brooklyn, New York
U.S.A.