Consumer complaint received 2023-01-26
Company: Aldous & Associates, PLLC
State: UT
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Other debt
Issue: Written notification about debt
Sub-issue: Didn't receive enough information to verify debt

Complaint:
On XX/XX/XXXXXXXX I contacted Aldous & Associates to provide formal notification of my intent to dispute an alleged " defaulted contract '' with XXXX XXXX. I also requested a copy of the alleged defaulted contract and a list of charges resulting in the demand for {$100.00}. On XX/XX/XXXXXXXX, I received a copy of the alleged contract, but I was not provided with any details on what charges are included in the {$100.00} assessment. 

I again contacted Aldous and Associates on XXXX, by phone, to discuss my dispute along with concerns that I have with the contract that allegedly resulted in this claim of default. I first spoke with XXXX XXXX, self-identified as a debt collector. He only seemed interested in collecting payment from me and was not at all familiar with the details I had previously provided in my dispute. I asked XXXX if I could speak with one an actual attorneys at Aldous and Associates and he responded that I would first need to speak with a supervisor. I was then transferred to XXXX XXXX, who told me that my dispute had been denied, and that I still owed {$100.00}. However, XXXX was unable to provide me with any details on how the {$100.00} was calculated or on what basis my dispute had been denied. 

On XX/XX/XXXX I sent a letter to Aldous & Associates with the following explanation of why I am disputing the allegation that I breached a contract with XXXX : Any contract I may have had with XXXX XXXX was initiated under a corporate sponsorship and was therefore terminated when I left the sponsoring company. Furthermore, under Utah Code 13-23-3, I am disputing the legitimacy of the supposed " contract '' with XXXX XXXX you provided to me. It is evident to me that this contract is a forgery, perhaps by a XXXX employee, so that my minor son could purchase a gym membership. The following evidence supports this assumption : 1. When my son inquired about getting a XXXX membership, he was told that since he was only XXXX XXXX XXXX, he would need to join as an add-on member on his parents membership. I was the only member of our household with a XXXX membership ; therefore, he would have been required to join as an add-on to my company sponsored membership. 

2. The listed Buyer Name on the contract is ( me ) ; however, my signature is not found on the contract. 

3. Utah Code 13-23-3-2 states The health spa shall provide the consumer with a fully completed copy of the contract required by Subsection ( 1 ) - ( i ) at the time of the contracts execution. The executed contract was only provided to the e-mail address of a minor child ( my XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ). As the alleged buyer, I was not provided with a copy of the executed contract. 

4. The contract states that the membership was for ( my son ), a XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX, but the contract lacks a valid parental signature. 

5. The Promissory Note section of the contract contains four instances of my initials ; however, I was not the signor of the contract. 

6. Although the contract was allegedly completed by ( me ) Buyer, a different individual 's credit card was used for payment. 

7. I do not recognize the signature on the contract and as illustrated, when compared to my actual signature, the signature on the contract looks nothing like mine. 

I requested that Aldous & Associates either dismiss this demand for payment or provide me with details explaining the basis for denial. I also request a list of charges included in the {$100.00} claim. 

In response to my request ( this was my third ignored request for additional information ) I received what appeared to be a form letter stating that my " dispute is not valid '' and a threat that they " may report information about my XXXX XXXX account to credit bureaus ''. The only response they provided to my request was " we contacted the original creditor, and they verified the validity of the debt you disputed earlier ''. This doesn't address any of the issues I raised in my dispute nor was I provided with any details on how the {$100.00} claim was calculated.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation