Consumer complaint received 2021-09-08
Company: Constar Financial Services, LLC
State: ID
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Other debt
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed
Sub-issue: Debt is not yours

Complaint:
XXXX XXXX, XXXX I ordered XXXX XXXX service Sometime in between : the modem arrived XXXX XXXX, XXXX installer XXXX arrived to make the phone line connection. It was dark and raining. We scrambled all over the back yard and basement, but he finally got a signal to my office. By then it was late. 

XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX  I worked all morning trying to make the XXXX XXXX work. It was easy to establish an internet connection, but I was not able to get XXXX XXXX  to connect with our email which goes through the server XXXX ( XXXX and XXXX ) I spent many hours all day trying to make this work. I called XXXX XXXX help and found it completely useless. The XXXX XXXX  tech did not even understand the problem. When I discovered that XXXX XXXX support was worthless, I decided to return their equipment and cancel the service. 

XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX I called XXXX XXXX and explained that I wanted to cancel service and return their equipment. I was given a confirmation code XXXX. 

XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX PM I delivered the modem to the XXXX XXXX at XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX in XXXX, ID. The person working there told me I should retain proof of shipment, because XXXX XXXX is terrible at losing things, and I will probably need proof. 

XXXX XXXX, XXXX I mailed the Notice of Cancellation to XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX received the first bill from Century Link by mail. 

XXXX XXXX, XXXX I called XXXX XXXX to remind them that I had cancelled the service. The person I spoke with said, OK. You dont owe anything. We will cancel that billing. 

XXXX XXXX, XXXX Received an email from XXXX asking for payment. I called the numbers on the email, but none of the answered. I replied by email and said that I will put future emails from XXXX XXXX in spam folder. My email to XXXX bounced. 

XX/XX/XXXX Received a notice of collection placement from XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX, MA XXXX, attempting to collect the Century Link debt of {$61.00}. 

XX/XX/XXXX I mailed a very complete Dispute Letter to XXXX XXXX in which I explained all of the above, and also provided numerous supporting documents. I mailed this by certified mail with return receipt, and later received notification by email that my communication had been received by XXXX XXXX. 

XX/XX/XXXX XXXX  XXXX called and claimed that they had not received my dispute letter and that I had therefore admitted to owing the debt. I called XXXX, requested a manager, gave them the proof of delivery, and they suddenly became apologetic. They then admitted that I did not owe anything, and promised that this would never happen again. 

XX/XX/XXXX I received a notice " Collection Alert '' from CONSTAR FINANCIAL SERVICES, LLS, XXXX XXXX. XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX, XXXX, AZ XXXX, which attempts again to collect the debt of {$61.00} which I allegedly owe to XXXX XXXX. This letter gives a " Constar # of XXXX, in case that helps with reference. 

XX/XX/XXXX I called XXXX XXXX to ask why this debt continues to appear, even though they have promised to cancel, and their previous agency XXXX XXXX had likewise promised to cancel. Both Century Link and XXXX XXXX have acknowledged that I did not owe this money, and promised this would never happen again. This time I spend 2 hours on the phone, and was passed through six different phone numbers and through approximately twice that number of agents. I am sure I spoke to about 12 different people, many of whom said that the debt was cancelled, but others maintained it existed. One person, a XXXX, whose work ID is XXXX told me specifically that she had cancelled this debt of {$61.00}. At that point I said thank you and asked her to send me something - a letter or an email - stating that I did not owe XXXX XXXX anything. She said she was unable to do this, and then tried to refer me to another person ( the " collection team '' ) who might be able to provide this. I was then passed to at least six more persons, none of whom were able to provide a letter, and many of whom still saw that I owed {$61.00}. I think there is something wrong with the accounting system at XXXX XXXX. 

XX/XX/XXXX I called ( XXXX ) XXXX ( Consumer Finance Protection Bureau ) and spoke with a helpful person who told me that I should : 1 ) check my credit to ensure that this alleged debt had not been reported 2 ) file this complaint against CONSTAR. I would prefer to have filed against XXXX XXXX, since in my opinion they are the true bad actor, but I am filing thus. 
3 ) do NOT file a dispute letter with CONSTAR, because this resets some time clock and perversely perpetuates the alleged debt. 

My request is that this stop.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation