Consumer complaint received 2020-07-26
Company: The CBE Group, Inc.
State: MT
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Other debt
Issue: Written notification about debt
Sub-issue: Didn't receive enough information to verify debt

Complaint:
This debt is related to a military household goods move. 

In early XXXX of XXXX, I received correspondence from the U.S. Department of Treasury, Bureau of the Fiscal Service ( DOT ), dated XX/XX/XXXX in which the DOT stated, in relevant entirety, that : The DOT continues to try to collect the debt you owe to for the amount of {$6400.00}. 

Previously, during midXXXX of XXXX, I received correspondence from the Department of the XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ( XXXX ), dated XX/XX/XXXX in which the XXXX stated, in relevant entirety : " Our records show that your XXXX move from XXXX, XXXX to XXXX, XXXX exceeded your authorized weight allowance of XXXX pounds... you exceeded your entitlement by XXXX pounds resulting in an excess cost of {$4900.00}. '' Enclosed with this initial letter was a general breakdown of the costs associated with the excess weight shipped. While the itemization document showed the associated costs, it did not shed a single piece of evidence proving the validity of the alleged total weight. The required weight tickets associated with the weight calculation ( which are the basis for this debt ) were not provided. 

The household goods move from which this debt originates happened during the end of XX/XX/XXXX -- from XXXX, XXXX to XXXXXXXX XXXX. On XX/XX/XXXX, two employees from XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX arrived at my residence in XXXX I am a former XXXX XXXX Diver and have a significant amount of diving equipment. Under the Joint Travel Regulations ( JTR ) : a ) Professional books, papers, and equipment ( PBP & E ) are not charged against the servicemembers weight allowance ; and b ) it is the weight masters responsibility to determine an accurate weight of each specific shipment when transporting goods belonging to two separate servicemembers. 

Despite my concerns regarding excess weight associated with my professional diving equipment, the XXXX employees continued to pack all the belongings together without separating the PBP & E. 

On or around XX/XX/XXXX, I received a telephone call from the XXXX truck driver ( and weight master ) in which he indicated that he would be transporting another consumer 's household goods in the same load, which could cause a delay in the delivery of my belongings. I did not object to such notice ; however, I requested the driver to save a copy of the certified weight ticket from XXXX, XXXX  and communicated my concern regarding excess weight to XXXX customer service department. On XX/XX/XXXX, the XXXX   driver arrived in XXXX, XXXX without a certified weight ticket from neither XXXX   nor XXXX. I asked the driver to please return to the nearest weight station and he asked me to " don't worry about it, because an excess weight situation was very uncommon. On XX/XX/XXXX, I submitted a formal complaint to XXXX customer service department via telephone and did not receive any follow-up communication regarding this matter. 

After receiving the notice of the aforementioned notice of debt, I logged in to my Defense Travel System ( DTS ) account and found the following : 1 ) Actual Pro Gear Weight amount : XXXX 2 ) Delivery Date : XXXX 3 ) Delivered weight : XXXX 4 ) Reweighs : none The DTS report does not show neither my request for a reweigh nor the original weigh from XXXX , XXXX . As stated in the JTR, it was the weight masters responsibility to determine an accurate weight for each specific shipment. Neither XXXX nor XXXX addressed my concerns regarding : 1 ) the lack of a weigh ticket leaving XXXX ; 2 ) professional gear not being weighted separately ; and 3 ) the drivers inability to produce a certified weigh ticket upon delivery. My request for a debt validation requesting more information about this debt was ignored, along with my request for an appeal hearing, which is a clear violation of the FDCPA Section 1692g ( Validation of Debts ). 

The debt was ultimately referred to CBE XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX for collections. As of the date of this complaint, CBE has not answered my request for validation of this debt either. Moreover, my XXXX tax refund payment of {$2900.00} was applied to this non-validated, disputed, and illegitimate debt. I received a notice of tax refund offset on XX/XX/XXXX. 

Based upon XXXX, DOT, and CBE 's fundamentally inaccurate collection of this debt and inaccurate credit reporting, I provide the following report : 1 ) The delinquency itself is not legitimate which bars subsequent reporting to credit agencies and subsequent debt collection efforts ; 2 ) the assertion that I still owe this debt is a materially false statement ; and ; 3 ) XXXX DOT, and CBEs denial for an appeal hearing is a clear sign of bad faith, which is actionable under several federal laws. 

I have discussed and appealed this matter ad nauseam with DFAS, DOT, and CBE to no avail. Attached my last communication with CBE regarding this dispute.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation