Complaint Review:
Columbia House
I just received a letter from a collections agency called "Nationwide Collections, Inc", claiming to take me to court for a Columbia House charge of 98.85. I never ordered anything from Columbia (not sure if DVD side or music).
When I tried to call Columbia House to get a human being to ask them information on this charge (in case of identity theft), the voice message said my account was turned over to collections, and then it hung up on me. I've tried to call the agency, but they haven't called me back (they apparently had a class-action suit filed against them in Pennsylvania, so Columbia seems to be riding with good company).
Is there any way to get a HUMAN at Columbia to get more information on this mysterious account? When I sent an email to the company, the automatic response said they will try to get back to me within 4 business days.
This is outrageous. And from what I've just read, it looks like I'm not the only one who has been ripped off by this company, and I will use it in any defense I need to for this charge to be dismissed.
Ariel
Los Angeles, California
U.S.A.
3 Updates & Rebuttals
Steve
Bradenton,Florida,
U.S.A.
Ariel, the answer is yes, it is called a SUMMONS!
#4Consumer Suggestion
Fri, December 01, 2006
Ariel,
Just file a lawsuit on both companies. It is a frivolous collection attempt that is clearly costing you time and money to fight, and you are entitled to be paid.
Sue them immediately, then when you get a real person all of a sudden wanting to talk to you, settle for $1000 from each out of court.
This is how you deal with arrogant bottomfeeding scumbag collectors.
Christine
Stephens City,Virginia,
U.S.A.
You can talk to a human!
#4Consumer Suggestion
Fri, December 01, 2006
I have a website bookmarked for actual telephone numbers where you can actually get a human, not recordings. It is gethuman. The number at Columbia house to speak with a human is 812-466-8402. Hope this helps. Just wait for the prompt to speak to a customer service rep.
Ariel
Pasadena,California,
U.S.A.
Columbia House sent me to collections for items I never ordered
#4Author of original report
Fri, December 01, 2006
I just received a letter from Nationwide Collections, Inc. (which itself was a subject of a class-action suit in Pennsylvania), saying that I owed a debt to Columbia House of 98.85.
The address listed was a former address of mine, but I was never a member of the club.
I have sent an email to the company requesting more information, as when I called Columbia and entered my account number, it said the account was in collections, and hung up. That is inexcusable. The collections agency has not gotten back to me and I fully intend to dispute the charges.
The letter from Nationwide is threatening to take me to court, and to destroy my credit rating (though doubtful it would go anywhere for such a small sum).
Is there any way to contact a human being at Columbia House to ask them what they are doing? From what I've read so far, it seems this has become a common occurence with this company.