Consumer complaint received 2020-07-13
Company: Helvey & Associates, Inc., Warsaw, IN Branch
State: CA
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Other debt
Issue: Written notification about debt
Sub-issue: Didn't receive enough information to verify debt

Complaint:
Checked my credit score via XXXX  XXXX XXXX and XXXX XXXX   observed DROPPED from score of 800+ in XX/XX/XXXX to ~710 range XXXX until current date XX/XX/XXXX. My score has been above 800+ for over 10 years prior to this mishap. 

XXXX XXXX  have incorrect mailing address for invoice, I never saw or received electricity bill for this rental unit ( I have many with XXXX ).  Since XXXX XXXX  was never paid for the outstanding amount of {$120.00} power used before unit rented again, the bill to XXXX XXXX  went into arrears ( me not paying ). I phone XXXX XXXX immediately after seeing my credit history drop and payed XXXX directly rather than HELVEY BUT since it was not paid the bill was also passed to : HELVEY and ASSOCIATES XXXX XXXX XXXX  XXXX XXXX, IN XXXX XXXX I talked to many HELVEY Reps and asked why I did not receive an invoice from XXXX or them advising that this bill was in arrears. HELVEY nor XXXX NEVER Sent an invoice advising that the bill had not been paid and was overdue. I only discovered by looking at my credit score. 

HELVEY got the invoice from XXXX and notified credit agencies to impact my credit score with NO Request for payment from me. When I contacted HELVEY ( after seeing their name on my credit file ) I provided my PO Box to ensure all future correspondence sent to the correct address and get my credit score mess resolved. ***** They now claim they sent everything to this PO Box prior to notifying credit agencies ( I say XXXX  they never had correct address ). Nothing from HELVEY or XXXX was sent to my PO Box address, or email of file or phone call performed. **** HELVEY >>> Notifies the credit agencies and drop customer credit scores rather than hunt me down for {$120.00}. Essentially they just sit and wait until ANY customer needs to get mortgage or car purchase which in my case is what happened THEN ... .They will get paid eventually. I contacted HELVEY today XX/XX/XXXX, It is now seven months later and I still see my credit score at XXXX with XXXX, HELVEY has not fixed this also. Equifax I put a dispute in XXXX XXXX. My FICO score is XXXX since XX/XX/XXXX. XXXX  is still a mess all because no one made the effort to contact me. Nothing goes missing from my PO Box . HELVEY never sent a first notice, second letter, email or call, they just notified credit bureaus and sit and wait till get paid eventually but destroy customer credit history in process. They picked the work person to XXXX XXXX  nor is this the legal way to collect payment. 

*******They claim they sent a notice to my PO Box that they never had originally until I contacted them and asked why they had lien on me for {$120.00}! Where is the content of those letters from them and what dates were they sent!! Compare to the date XXXX sent my {$120.00} bill to HELVEY and the date collection agencies notified by HELVEY ******** My 800+ credit score went to just barely above 700 after they dinged me. HUGE impact on my car loan application after this.

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