Affiliated Acceptance Corp
PO Box 790001
Sunrise Beach MO 65079-9001
Complaint Description:
Affiliated
Acceptance Corporation is misrepresenting themselves and claiming to be
a third party billing agency, when they are a collection agency.
I had signed up at a tanning salon by the name of 'Urban Tannig' in
February of 2012. I had signed a contract with the owner. At the time, I
was working at First Associates LLC., a nearby company. I had explained
to the owner of the company that my co-worker had referred me and that I
appreciated that her salon was close to work, however, that I was not
planning on staying there for the duration of the tanning contract (6
months). The owner shrugged it off and told me it would not be a problem
to cancel the account in the future and that the contract was a way for
her to confine customers and create a customer loyalty base. After
three months, I left the company. On the fourth month, I called the
salon and spoke to a representative by the name of Melissa and asked to
cancel the contract. Melissa told me that that wasn't a usual thing but
that she for sure could. I also asked her to shred my credit card
information and to send me a notice that I could sign showing that my
contract was canceled. After of week of not receiving this notice, I
called and asked for someone to help me with this. The employee told me
she would have the owner of the salon call me. I never received a call. I
assumed the contract was canceled. A week later, on July 12th, Urban
Tanning withdrew 67.00 dollars from my account, which overdrew my bank
account that I had just emptied. I called the salon immediately and
asked for help. Again, they told me the owner would call me and to give
her 24 hours. Still no call. After four days of waiting, and bank fees
adding up, I decided to dispute the charge (considering it was
unauthorized). My Bank (Bank of America) had to do a two week
investigation to resolve the matter. I wrote an affidavit, that they
followed up with saying that Urban Tanning had indeed made an
unauthorized charge and that this would not happen again because they
were now blocked from my account. About two weeks later, I receive a
first notice from Affiliated Acceptance Corporation stating I owe the
67.00 and that late fees will be assessed. I work the same hours as the
company and therefore could never reach a representative. The emails
listed on their website are invalid. Today, 9-11-12, after receiving
multiple letters from this agency (with a mini-miranda) at the bottom, I
decided to give them a call. I spoke to representative by the name of
Shyla who did not state a mini-miranda nor verify any demographics
before discussing the debt. Having worked in collections for years, I am
very familiar with FDCPA, and this agency broke the law numerous times
in a very rude fashion. Shyla would not give me her last name, her
business's license number, or her supervisor's name. She told me they
had a collection department, and then changed the story, after finding
out my career past, and told me they were not a collection agency. This
agency is listed on the internet as a collection agency, and there are
multiple attorney websites requesting phone calls from upset consumers
that feel violated. When I had my legal adviser contact them to try and
get the information, they told him to send a POA letter. I called twice
and was transferred to Shyla who immediately hung up on me. Finally, a
customer service rep, Tracy gave me the fax number. She provided a
different last name for Shyla than what is listed online. I sent the POA
letter in by fax. When my adviser called again, Shyla said she was off
in ten minutes and did not have time for this matter. I will be
contacting the FTC as well as the Attorney General's office tomorrow to
report this situation. I feel that this company has broken the law in
misrepresenting themselves, and refusing the give out public
information. I am also disturbed by their weak professionalism and lack
of customer service.
Your Desired Resolution:
I would
like Affiliated Acceptance Corporation to speak to my adviser when he
asks for information. I would like this company's legitimate company
information. I would like this company to thoroughly investigate the
contract and have the salon owner call me. I would like this company to
revise their knowledge of FDCPA and privacy act and reconsider their
practice. I would like this 'debt' to be re-instated as UN-authorized
before I take further action. If all of this can be done, I will still
consider paying the initial amount due 67.00, although my bank has
proved it FALSE. If this settlement is not agreed upon, I will take
serious legal action and use every lawyer I have ever met in this
industry to unveil your malpractices.