Consumer complaint received 2021-01-22
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:
AFNI is illegally collecting and reporting a fraudulent account to the credit reporting agencies. This is a violation of the FCRA, and being that this is the third collection agency that I have had to fight on this, it is borderline harassment. I have sent the documentation that unequivocally proves that I owe XXXX nothing, to no avail. Instead it has been reported to the credit reporting agencies, causing irrevocable harm and stress. ** ( Background ) ** In XX/XX/XXXX I was made aware of a collection notice for a company which shall be known in this document as XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  ). This company stated that I owed a bill of {$210.00} to XXXX from XXXX and XX/XX/XXXX. I called XXXX XXXX XX/XX/XXXX ), and I was transferred to young man named XXXX who found my account, could see where I turned in my equipment on XX/XX/XXXX ( I have this receipt ) at the local branch. He stated that he could see my last payment on XX/XX/XXXX for the period ending XX/XX/XXXX, and stated that I should have been billed a pro-rated amount from XXXX. XXXX also stated that he did not have the authority to credit that amount and that he would escalate to his supervisor that would call me back before XX/XX/XXXX. After receiving no phone call, I called back on XX/XX/XXXX and was escalated to the complaint department, they then told me that they could not credit me and that the the XXXX had to do so. They also stated that XXXX had all of the account information. On XX/XX/XXXX I called XXXX who then told me that they had to get the information from XXXX and that they would open an investigation. On XX/XX/XXXX I filed a complaint with the Minnesota XXXX XXXX XXXX That complaint was answered with a mailing from XXXX with statements from XX/XX/XXXX, and XX/XX/XXXX. The XXXX months following my equipment turn-in, and cancellation of service. I did not have a contract, and was billed for services not rendered. This is fraudulent billing, and it is being reported to the credit agencies, which is a violation of the FCRA. I have documentation showing that I turned in my equipment and cancelled my service XX/XX/XXXX and was billed the following two months. After filing several complaints to the XXXX, Attorney General, CFPB, and XXXX, XXXX, and XXXX, XXXX agreed, and closed the account and removed from my credit reports. Now, XXXX is trying to collect on this fraudulent debt. If you look at XXXX there are countless complaints of AFNI reporting inaccurate information to the credit reporting agencies and they even entered into a consent order with the United States of America Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection that stated Afni " furnished information to consumer reporting agencies ( CRAs ) that it knew or had reasonable cause to believe was inaccurate and failed to report to CRAs. '' I have attached documents that include my receipt for picking up and returning my equipment, payment on my last bill and emails from XXXX for coming into the branch and returning my equipment, and an email from a phone call made after I paid my payment thru XX/XX/XXXX. on this call I was told that I would receive a pro-rated bill for XXXX. This bill also shows that I was billed for XXXX and part of XXXX. These documents, which have been shared with AFNI, show reasonable cause and by ignoring them they are in violation of the consent order signed just 3 months ago. This matter with XXXX has been escalated to the FTC by the CFPB, and closed by both previous collection houses for cause.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation