Consumer complaint received 2018-03-22
Company: HW Holding, Inc
State: CO
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Other debt
Issue: Written notification about debt
Sub-issue: Didn't receive enough information to verify debt

Complaint:
I received a letter from Hunter Warfield on XX/XX/XXXX regarding a debt. The letter was prepared on XX/XX/XXXX and was proposing a resolution offer for an outstanding debt with XXXX XXXX. Our college age son co-leased an apartment at XXXX XXXX and we cosigned on the lease. He moved out of the apartment on XX/XX/XXXX and neither our son nor us, have received any communications or invoices regarding additional payments.

On XX/XX/XXXXI called Hunter Warfield and spoke to a representative ( XXXX XXXX  ) about the letter we had received. XXXX XXXX informed me that they were attempting to collect a debt of {$1000.00} owed to XXXX XXXX I told him that we have no knowledge of the debt and have not received any information from XXXX XXXX.

XXXX XXXX told me that XXXX XXXX turned the account over to them on XX/XX/XXXX. He mentioned that apartments often turn these invoices over to collect company rather than billing the leases. I told him we would be happy to pay the amount once we review and validate the charges. Therefore, I requested a copy of the XXXX XXXX  invoice.

Given the length of time since the account was turned over to Hunter Warfield, I asked why this is the first communication weve received. He informed me that notices had been sent to the XXXX XXXX apartment address ( XXXX XXXX XXXX ). I informed him that our son has not lived there since XX/XX/XXXX and that he never used that mailing address.

I checked our credit score onXX/XX/XXXX and found that Hunter Warfield had reported the outstanding debt to the credit agencies in XX/XX/XXXX

I called Hunter Warfield on XX/XX/XXXXand spoke to XXXX XXXX. I informed XXXX XXXX that I had just learned that Hunter Warfield reported the debt to the credit agencies in OXX/XX/XXXX and that we had never received any information about the charges from either XXXX XXXX  or Hunter Warfield. XXXX XXXX told me that Hunter Warfield had sent a written notice to our home address in XX/XX/XXXX. I told him that we never received a notice from them and I asked for a copy of the letter. He would not provide me with a copy. Given that I had no notice of the charge or their efforts to collect the debt, I asked them to withdraw the credit bureau notice to provide me time to review and validate the charges. He told me that they would not remove the credit bureau notification. He told me to pay the debt and they will notify the credit bureaus. I told him that was not the same as withdrawing the notification.

As of XX/XX/XXXX, I still had not received a copy of the XXXX XXXX  charges. Therefore, I called Hunter Warfield to inquire on the status. My call went into the general voice mailbox where I left a voicemail with my information and question.

I called Hunter Warfield on XX/XX/XXXX as I still had not received the information nor a return phone call. I spoke to XXXX  in Support Services and explained that I had not received the XXXX XXXX invoice. XXXX  reviewed my past call history and found my request for the invoice. He said that the information had not been sent and that he would ensure it went out this time. I again asked for a copy of the original Hunter Warfield notice letter that they claim was sent to my home address. He said they dont send out copies of these letters.

Given the inability to verify the debt and the lack of notice, I again requested that they remove the credit bureau notice while we resolve the issue. He told me that they could not do it and that I should just settle the debt. He added that its Hunter Warfields policy was to wait 90 days from receipt of an account before filing a report with the credit bureaus. I reminded him that I never received a written notice prior to XX/XX/XXXX. Furthermore, I also pointed out that even if they sent me a letter in XX/XX/XXXX, which I never received, their notice to the Credit Bureaus occurred before the letter would have arrived. Given these facts, I asked to escalate the issue to a manager. He said he would talk to his supervisor and put the call on hold. He came back several minutes later and told me the answer was no.

On XX/XX/XXXX I received a copy of the XXXX XXXX  Invoice. Im currently in the process of contacting them to review and verify the charges.

Company public response: Company believes complaint represents an opportunity for improvement to better serve consumers
Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief