Consumer complaint received 2018-12-17
Company: Franklin Collection Service, Inc.
State: TX
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/XXXX, I called in an " Early Cancellation '' to my XXXX XXXX XXXX  Account # XXXX  for our Internet/Phone/XXXX XXXX XXXX. XXXX XXXX XXXX  advised that I was to pay a {$200.00} early cancellation fee, which I accepted.

On XX/XX/XXXX, at XXXX XXXX   # XXXX, I returned all the XXXX XXXX XXXX equipment and XXXX   accepted. I have the XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Return Receipt w/Reference Number XXXX as proof of all equipment being returned.

I kept receiving statements with amounts due for services after my cancellation date of XX/XX/XXXX. I called XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Customer Service several times complaining that the account had been cancelled, therefore I saw no charges owed. One Representative stated that the statement was wrong because the entire " cancellation '' credits had not been done yet ; it was suggested that I wait for the final bill. On XX/XX/XXXX via telephone w/Rep. XXXX, Rep. # XXXX, I paid a total of {$210.00} w/confirmation # XXXX which was my total balance due. I even called to re-confirm that XXXX XXXX XXXX had received my returned equipment and that the balance was -XXXX-. Then, I continued to receive statements with a balance of {$230.00} which I argued w/XXXX XXXX XXXX that I did not owe due to the fact that all my services were cancelled on XX/XX/XXXX. I REFUSED TO PAY FOR SERVICES THAT I DID NOT HAVE.

Then the harassing calls start to come in constantly! XXXX XXXX XXXX  kept stating that I owed the amount of {$230.00} for services received and I did not agree.

I received a letter from Franklin Collection Service , Inc. dated XX/XX/XXXX. I called Franklin Collection Service on XX/XX/XXXX and specifically told the Agent that I did not owe XXXX XXXX XXXX any such sum. I explained that if they could prove that I owed a charge that I would gladly pay it but that I would not pay for service charges after my cancellation date ofXX/XX/XXXX. That's when I was told that the amount owed was due to XXXX XXXX XXXX receiving a piece of damaged equipment which was {$150.00} + services in the amount of XXXX, which totals to {$230.00}. THIS IS THE VERY FIRST TIME THAT I WAS NOTIFIED OF A DAMAGED PIECE OF EQUIPMENT. All the harassing calls from XXXX XXXX XXXX   were for {$230.00} for services received. If in fact, XXXX XXXX XXXX   received a damaged piece of equipment they should have taken that to XXXX because I handed all my equipment and XXXX  accepted it without stating any damages.

XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX   Billing Department kept increasing the monthly amount owed without a satisfied explanation. This is the main reason why I cancelled my account with XXXX XXXX XXXX.

The fact that XXXX XXXX XXXX kept sending statements with a balance due of {$230.00} after the cancellation date and now they claim that the amount of {$230.00} is for receiving damaged equipment, is not acceptable. If in fact, XXXX XXXX XXXX received 1 damaged piece of equipment, why was I never notified? XXXX XXXX XXXX has been over-billing and incorrectly billing customers for many years, it is time for that to stop.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation