Consumer complaint received 2020-06-04
Company: V and H Portfolio
State: NY
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Credit card debt
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed
Sub-issue: Debt was paid

Complaint:
I walked into XXXX XXXX  to pay a small monthly bill and told them my services wasn't working properly. The sales rep then told me it's my phone that I should buy another one. I told him in the future I will, when I have enough to afford one. He said that I could get a phone through them by just paying a down payment of {$100.00} for a phone that's worth around {$170.00} and a free case and cover for free and then I would just have to pay him the remaining balance of {$15.00} dollars extra a month to pay my {$75.00} dollars off. I said is there any hidden fee or taxes he said no! I took the deal and paid with my bank card and he told me to sign for my bank debt card and gave me only a reciept for my {$100.00} down payment. The following month I get a huge charge of like {$85.00} dollars out of my bank account and get a insufficient charge on my card to only find out that it was from a company called XXXX XXXX  that was charging me for the phone XXXX XXXX had just sold to me. I went to XXXX XXXX and the sale man claimed he had no idea that they would charge me up front the remainder of the payment at once. I said I made a deal with you not them. He claimed not to worry that now I'm done paying for it and apologized! The following month I get another charge of {$85.00} more dollars taken out my account by XXXX! I run upset into XXXX XXXX and the guy acted like he didn't know me and asked what was my problem. When I told him that I work with the community leaders and his scam is going to be exposed. He claimed that they where only charging me for the case that he claimed was free with the purchase and some hidden taxes. I told him to take back the phone and his case and that I want a refund. He then claimed he will give me 2 month free on my monthly bill to make it up to me. I said ok! I also had my debit card changed just in case these scammers tryed anything new in the future! This was 5years ago. I didnt get any reciept or and no contract but only a reciept of my down payment of {$100.00}. About a month ago I get a collection charge by a company called Vance & Huffman phone number XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX placed on XXXX  a dept of {$240.00} dollars claiming they bought the dept from XXXX XXXX. I called Vance & Huffman explaining to them that it's a fraud and that I don't owe them anything and why wasn't I contacted by XXXX XXXX  and that this isn't right and they refuse to believe me and told me to pay them or else it's going to stay in my statement. They asking for reciepts I no longer have. Now I don't who to takes this to. I need your help. I WROTE TO MY MAYOR and waiting to see what happens. I put a dispute with XXXX  and they left it as acuturate with there conclusion and also changed the claim date Vance & Huffman placed thier claim to a year ago when they placed it a month ago. Since I dont have a option to explain verbally and only by hitting some options they have placed in thier despute questionnaire now I'm screwed. My number email is XXXX My name is XXXX XXXX! The Amont I'm stating above is a assumption since I never got a contract or receipe from XXXX XXXX

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief