Consumer complaint received 2019-03-15
Company: Franklin Collection Service, Inc.
State: AL
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Other debt
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed
Sub-issue: Debt is not yours

Complaint:
I had internet and cable service with XXXX XXXX XXXX. I got divorced and my ex-husband moved to another location in XX/XX/XXXX. In XX/XX/XXXX, I cancelled my cable service with XXXX XXXX XXXX. I received accurate bills showing only my internet service in XXXX and XXXX. At some time in XX/XX/XXXX, my ex-husband, who was living at another location, started cable service. In XXXX, XXXX, out of nowhere, my bill showed a past due cable charge. I contacted XXXX XXXX   XXXX by phone and email several times about this bill. I have a transcript with an XXXX XXXX XXXX rep stating that the cable charge was indeed for my ex-husband 's cable service, AT ANOTHER LOCATION, but that somehow his service got bundled with mine and after 2 days of calling several phone numbers and legal departments and fraud departments ( I have ph numbers and names of people I spoke with ), they actually told me nobody could figure out how to unbundle these even though they clearly showed the service was not at my address. I even went into an XXXX XXXX XXXX store and the person helping me called their XXXX XXXX XXXX contact and NOBODY could figure out how to unbubdle this charge from my account. Moreover, I couldn't pay my bill because it was combined with my ex-husband 's bill. I finally got tired of dealing with collection calls daily and no help, so I paid all my final bills and cancelled service. In XXXX, I received the first collection agency 's letter and replied with this message ( and attachments of copies of EVERYTHING ) : **** XXXX Unable to pay my bill because it is showing my ex-husband 's bill combined with mine ; also getting collection calls for my ex-husband 's bill!! Called XXXX XXXX XXXX again ; was on the phone with several departments ( see above ) for hours and NOBODY could tell me why my ex 's bill was bundled with mine and NOBODY could help me correct it until it was paid. To top it all off, I called XXXX XXXX XXXX again several days later because I was still getting collection calls and was told the same thing " they can't help me because it's not my account so they can't make changes to it! '' - THEN, I GET AN EMAIL SAYING I MADE PAYMENT ARRANGEMENTS ; PLEASE PULL UP THIS TRANSCRIPT BECAUSE IT IS A LIE!! I NEVER MADE SUCH ARRANGEMENTS AND I CHALLENGE SOMEONE TO COME UP WITH A PHONE CONVERSATION THAT SAYS I DID!! THIS IS A SCAM!!!! 
*** With this communication I included copies of the transcript showing the XXXX XXXX XXXX rep stating it was not my bill but it was bundled with my account and business card of the person I spoke with at the XXXX XXXX XXXX store who also verified it was not my charge. 
*** In XXXX I got another collection agency letter and again replied with all the info I had already sent to this agency : From : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Sent : Monday, XX/XX/XXXX XXXX XXXX  To : XXXX Subject : Disputing Bill from XXXX XXXX XXXX REF : XXXX ACCT : XXXX ***** I never heard back from them. I assume with the proof I provided they could see this wasn't my bill. Then in XXXX I receive ANOTHER ( different ) collection agency 's letter and replied as follows to this agency : From : XXXX XXXX XXXX [ XXXX : XXXX ] Sent : Friday, XX/XX/XXXX XXXX XXXX To : info XXXX Subject : Fw : Disputing Bill from XXXX XXXX XXXX **FILE NUMBER XXXX** Importance : High Hello, I am responding to your phone call regarding this bill. Below is the reply I sent to the previous collector. Note I do not owe this money and will pursue this matter to the fullest extent I have the right to. These collection practices appear to be some kind of scam. As I stated on the phone - what kind of practice is it for a company to continue to harass a loyal longtime customer ( who might I add has paid all her bills with this company ), hiring different collection companies until the customer pays a bill that doesn't belong to her??? I will be reporting every one of these efforts to the CFPB if I continue to be harassed. 
Thank you! 

******** I never heard back from them either. In XXXX of this year I found out there was a collection on my credit report for this ... I never even received notice or anything. I disputed it with the credit agencies ( XXXX and XXXX and I think XXXX as well ). 
XXXX Now, I received A THIRD ( DIFFERENT ) COLLECTION AGENCY 'S LETTER. I will be replying to them with the same info I sent the other 2 agencies, but it appears XXXX XXXX XXXX sends this to collection agencies, then when they can't collect they just send it to another. What kind of scam is this??? 
***** I protect my credit with my life and I don't want to pay something that's not mine - it's not fair! 

XXXX XXXX XXXX IS RUNNING A SCAM!! PLEASE HELP ME! 

I can provide proof of all the instances I was contacted as well as the aforestated copies of transcripts and contact info. 

Thanks in advance!

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation