- Report: #230060
Complaint Review: Afni Verizon Anderson Financial Network TransUnion - Bloomington Illinois
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Afni Verizon Anderson Financial Network TransUnion
404 Brock Drive Bloomington, 61702 Illinois, U.S.A.
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800-767-2364
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Afni, Verizon, TransUnion Fraudulent, Dubious Collection Notice For Old Phone Bill Bloomington Illinois
I am writing, on behalf of my wife. She received a fraudulent/dubious collection notice from Afni(a collection company) due to a delinquent account (from 1997) with Verizon Communications, Inc. Afni is seeking a settlement or the entire portion of $1,151.95 (on behalf of Verizon).
I called both Verizon and Afni and explained that she's never had an account with Verizon.
When I spoke with Verizon, they informed me that the account was held by a person with her maiden name in Long Beach, California (residential phone service). We have never lived in California or had Verizon phone service in her name or her maiden name.
I believe this is a case of mistaken identity. Her maiden name was the same as the person referenced in the collection notice. Her name was legally changed when we married in 1997. The originating debt was also in 1997. That seems like an excessive amount of time for this kind of claim.
Apparently, Afni got my information from TransUnion (credit agency). I believe they trolled TransUnion for her contact information and that was how we were drug into this mess.
Based on the feedback from others, it seems like this is a much larger problem. Perhaps, we'll have legal recourse as a class.
Afni wanted my wife to submit a copy of a police report, a copy of her driver's license, and a W2 from 1997 and/or settle. At this point, I will attempt to write (using some of the templates I've found on this forum and others) since calling is futile and time consuming.
Tim
Alpharetta, Georgia
U.S.A.
I called both Verizon and Afni and explained that she's never had an account with Verizon.
When I spoke with Verizon, they informed me that the account was held by a person with her maiden name in Long Beach, California (residential phone service). We have never lived in California or had Verizon phone service in her name or her maiden name.
I believe this is a case of mistaken identity. Her maiden name was the same as the person referenced in the collection notice. Her name was legally changed when we married in 1997. The originating debt was also in 1997. That seems like an excessive amount of time for this kind of claim.
Apparently, Afni got my information from TransUnion (credit agency). I believe they trolled TransUnion for her contact information and that was how we were drug into this mess.
Based on the feedback from others, it seems like this is a much larger problem. Perhaps, we'll have legal recourse as a class.
Afni wanted my wife to submit a copy of a police report, a copy of her driver's license, and a W2 from 1997 and/or settle. At this point, I will attempt to write (using some of the templates I've found on this forum and others) since calling is futile and time consuming.
Tim
Alpharetta, Georgia
U.S.A.
2 Updates & Rebuttals
Pro
Simi Valley,California,
U.S.A.
About Afni and Verizon
#2Consumer Suggestion
Fri, January 12, 2007
I have also received a similar collection notice. I am posting this because it includes information that may help you understand and resolve your issue. The quick on my problem was a collection notice from Afni in the mail yesterday stating I owed a bill from a Verizon Communications Inc phone number. I did a credit bureau check and a reverse phone check for the address of the phone in question. I then files a police report. All of this was unnecessary. Here are the facts: Afni IS contracted by Verizon for bill collection. Afni does try and pull together little pieces from here and there to collect a legitimate debt. I call Verizon fraud at: 1-877-462-5825. Ignore the recording and just press "7" Someone will answer the phone. Give them the phone number of the Verizon debt. They will tell you when the bill occurred. In my case, as with many other Afni debts, the bill was from 1996. Someone used my name and SS number back then. The bottom line is that this debt is now noncollectible. Notice how Afni does not put the debt date in their correspondence to you. DO NOT call them. Just find out from Verizon the date of the debt. If the date is more than 7 years, then it is noncollectable and they have no recourse. In my case it was over 10 years and cannot even appear on a credit report. This is the good news. The bad news is that Verizon follows the letter of the law, but go no further. Anyone can get a phone line with them as long as they have your Name and SS #! If they rack up a big bill stealing your identity Verizon will give Afni your name as a collectible debt!!!! They never really verify you are really you with any sort of identity protection and then turn your life upside down with wasted time because they did not take a few minutes to completely verify the person opening the account was really you. I suggest that if a company behaves this way that you do not do business with them. I am going to drop my Verizon Wireless account today. Good luck Everyone.
Pro
Simi Valley,California,
U.S.A.
About Afni and Verizon
#3Consumer Suggestion
Fri, January 12, 2007
I have also received a similar collection notice. I am posting this because it includes information that may help you understand and resolve your issue. The quick on my problem was a collection notice from Afni in the mail yesterday stating I owed a bill from a Verizon Communications Inc phone number. I did a credit bureau check and a reverse phone check for the address of the phone in question. I then files a police report. All of this was unnecessary. Here are the facts: Afni IS contracted by Verizon for bill collection. Afni does try and pull together little pieces from here and there to collect a legitimate debt. I call Verizon fraud at: 1-877-462-5825. Ignore the recording and just press "7" Someone will answer the phone. Give them the phone number of the Verizon debt. They will tell you when the bill occurred. In my case, as with many other Afni debts, the bill was from 1996. Someone used my name and SS number back then. The bottom line is that this debt is now noncollectible. Notice how Afni does not put the debt date in their correspondence to you. DO NOT call them. Just find out from Verizon the date of the debt. If the date is more than 7 years, then it is noncollectable and they have no recourse. In my case it was over 10 years and cannot even appear on a credit report. This is the good news. The bad news is that Verizon follows the letter of the law, but go no further. Anyone can get a phone line with them as long as they have your Name and SS #! If they rack up a big bill stealing your identity Verizon will give Afni your name as a collectible debt!!!! They never really verify you are really you with any sort of identity protection and then turn your life upside down with wasted time because they did not take a few minutes to completely verify the person opening the account was really you. I suggest that if a company behaves this way that you do not do business with them. I am going to drop my Verizon Wireless account today. Good luck Everyone.
