Consumer complaint received 2021-05-13
Company: TekCollect Inc.
State: AL
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Medical debt
Issue: Communication tactics
Sub-issue: Used obscene, profane, or other abusive language

Complaint:
Let me begin by saying that the company did not use profane language. There was no description that was similar to the problem I had but I could not go forward with this process without clicking one item. The complaint is against Tek-Collect. I had never heard of the company before and some man called and said he needed my personal information to go forward with the call. He wanted ME to give HIM my personal identifying information and would not give me any information to make me feel as though this was a legitimate company. He said I had an account that was placed with them for collection however he would not even tell me WHO the company was unless I gave him my identifying information such as my address and date of birth ( who knows what else he would have asked for had I given him the information?? ) When this came up on my credit report I called Tek-Connect on XX/XX/XXXX and spoke to a person who I believe was named XXXX and she told me at first I had 2 accounts at their agency XXXX???!!! ) but that both accounts had been paid and no longer had a balance. Then she said no it was only one that there was 2 people with the name XXXX XXXX with them ( breach of confidentiality?? ). She then told me to email XXXX XXXX who was the manager and she would help me further. I did this and got a letter via email from XXXX stating she was going to have the account removed from my credit ( I had went over my grievance with her about the shady tactics that were used to get information from me and that had I felt it was a legitimate company really trying to collect a debt and not trying to scam me I would have gladly given the person my payment information and it could have easily been resolved ). I was told by the first person ( XXXX? ) and XXXX as well that it was their policy to collect information from the person prior to disclosing any information to the person. We as a society are told all the time NOT to give someone calling you your personal information because they could be a scammer. I had never heard of Tek-Collect before and the guy also seemed to get a kick out of me trying to get legitimate information from him and then refusing to give him any information unless he proved legitimacy. That made me feel even more so like he was someone trying to scam me. Also, I never received any information from them via mail etc. Then I got the email communication from XXXX XXXX saying she was going to have this removed and she also said that the supposedly second account I had there was not me and in fact another person with my name. The next day I got another alert that they had sent a SECOND account to the credit bureau!!! Both of them told me I only had the one account there. Also when XXXX told me of the " second account " she told me it was also paid ( " BOTH '' OF THEM WERE PAID ) so that means when the second mark against my credit was reported they had sent something that was already paid to the credit bureau!! These people need to be stopped. They should at least tell a person who they are calling on behalf of. They also sent something to the credit bureau that was paid prior not to mention the fact they told me there was only ONE account with them yet they made a second mark against my credit. Prior to this ordeal with them I had EXCELLENT credit of well over 800 and now this has hurt my credit and should have and could have been avoided altogether. Please be aware that I have an email chain between me and XXXX XXXX. Also she told me I should have paid my bill when my insurance company sent me an EOB. Even so, that would put the company she works for out of business if people always did that wouldn't it? -- yes, I have this on my email.

Company public response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law
Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation