Consumer complaint received 2017-03-06
Company: Viking Client Services
State: OH
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Other (i.e. phone, health club, etc.)
Issue: Cont'd attempts collect debt not owed
Sub-issue: Debt is not mine

Complaint:
On XX/XX/XXXX I rented a car from XXXX XXXX. As I was pulling through the departure gate of the rental lot the attendant inadvertently activated the gate system causing the surface barrier to come up and the gate arm to come down both impacting front of the car. The attendant readily admitted his mistake and apologized. I asked for the manager to come out as a witness and review the circumstances which he did. He explained the gate system was new and they were still getting used to it. He apologized for the incident and provided me with an upgrade for my inconvenience. I was asked to fill out a XXXX incident report in which I stated the " gate closed prematurely prior to car completely exiting. '' Due to the delays I was late for a business dinner and eventually had to cancel. Regardless, I picked up the upgraded car, returned it the following day and did not hear anything further until I received a letter from Viking Billing Service , Inc. dated XX/XX/XXXX. The letter stated I was " involved in an incident with a XXXX XXXX vehicle '' and they " are partnering with XXXX XXXX to assist in the processing of this claim '' and " requesting payment in the amount of {$300.00}. '' In response I sent a certified letter dated XX/XX/XXXX clearly stating " I am informing you that I have no responsibility for damage to the XXXX vehicle on XX/XX/XXXX and I am not liable for the {$300.00} you have requested. '' Also, I requested the results of any investigation that was conducted that could possibly indicate any responsibility on my part. Most importantly I wanted any statements from the attendant or manager that contradicted or confirmed the facts as I had stated them. Additionally, in a follow up phone call on XX/XX/XXXX with Viking Client Services I described the circumstances and that I had no responsibility for the damage or debt. Again I requested any information from the witnesses that contracted the facts as I had stated them. The same day I received an email providing some information but nothing that contradicted what I had told them. The email again asked to remit payment even though I clearly informed them I did not owe this debt and they had provided nothing to contradict what I had told them. In response to the email I again sent a certified letter dated XX/XX/XXXX stating I had no responsibility for the damage to the vehicle and did not owe this debt. 

On XX/XX/XXXX I received a letter from Viking Client Services, LLC that said " XXXX XXXX has assigned the above account to Viking Billing Services, LLC for collection. '' " Unless you notify this office within 30 days after receiving this notice that you dispute the validity of this debt or any portion thereof, this office will assume this debt is valid. '' Clearly my first two letters and phone call stated I disputed the validity of this debt. However, after three months, two certified letters, a phone call and email it appears Viking Client Services, LLC wants to re-start the entire process. In my opinion this is just harassment. To be clear Viking Billing Service , Inc. and Viking Client Services, LLC both share the same mailing address so any attempt by one or the other to claim they did not receive information is not valid. 

Other than taking a few pictures I do not believe an investigation was conducted and XXXX XXXX and Viking Billing/Client Service ( s ) care little about the actual circumstances, facts, liability or truth. Based on my own experience and in my opinion they are implementing a business model whose purpose is to harass the consumer for money regardless of the validity of the debt.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation