Consumer complaint received 2021-08-23
Company: AFNI INC.
State: LA
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Other debt
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed
Sub-issue: Debt was paid

Complaint:
In XX/XX/, I contacted XXXX XXXX XXXX inquiring about the availability of home internet service, for a home in the XXXX, LA area, being occupied by my wife. The XXXX XXXX XXXX representative, in XXXX, informed me that XXXX XXXX XXXX provided home internet service to the area, so I signed up for the service. Within a few days of service activation, I realized that XXXX XXXX XXXX provided a hotspot service and not home XXXX XXXX as I had inquired about and thought I would be paying for, because the account was being charged on an hourly basis for exceeding the daily data usage limit. 
On XX/XX/18, five days after opening service, I called XXXX XXXX XXXX to cancel the service I had not requested initially, and informed that I would be returning the equipment, which the representative acknowledged was a ongoing complaint from customers, who had requested home internet, but instead received a hotspot service plan. XXXX XXXX XXXX did not cancel the service and continued to overcharge my account for a whole month of service. Upon noticing the billing problem, since I was living in California at the time, and after receiving a bill for {$370.00}, I contacted XXXX XXXX XXXX to resolve this inappropriate billing issue. After two hours of transfers to the billing dept., then collections dept., back to billing, then collections again, a rep finally referred me to XXXX XXXX XXXX Loyalty program. The individual I spoke with reassured me that the issue would be resolved by the time I got off the phone. Two hours later, after being placed on multiple holds, I was informed that I would not be receiving resolution, so therefore, I would be required to pay the bill of {$370.00}. 
In order to maintain my excellent credit and history of on time payments, I paid the bill, but contacted my credit card company for advice/assistance. A decision was made to dispute the charge for misrepresentation of goods and services, since XXXX XXXX XXXX did not live up to their promises of providing home internet services. XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX accepted my dispute claim and investigated my complaint. I provided XXXX with an initial letter of the circumstances and evidence, then they requested additional evidence as a follow-up, which I subsequently provided to them. After approximately two months, XXXX adjudicated the claim in my favor and informed me that based on the evidence provided, they issued credit to my account for the {$370.00} and considered my dispute resolved. I considered this issue, no longer an issue. 
Approximately 3-6 months later, XXXX XXXX XXXX recharged my account for the chargeback amount of {$370.00} and would not accept my attempts to explain the disputed claim circumstances that had been finalized. At some point, they sent the bill to collections, despite a valid investigation and measured decision by XXXX to validate my dispute claim. XXXX XXXX XXXX falsely pretended that I defaulted on the debt and falsely placed my name and reputation into collections, though I have never defaulted on any of my financial obligations in over 25 years of credit card usage or bill payments. 
Prior to the collections actions, my credit score was above XXXX and it immediately took a XXXX point deduction due to this unlawful action by XXXX XXXX XXXX. XXXX XXXX XXXX did not pursue any action throughout XXXX 's diligent process of investigation. Nor did they contest the chargeback through the representment process, therefore, they obviously did not have any compelling evidence, any rebuttal or a valid dispute response to XXXX 's final decision and action. XXXX XXXX XXXX chose to underhandedly and inappropriately recharge my account without just cause, which landed my good name into collections, where it stands today.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation