Consumer complaint received 2019-09-05
Company: Diversified Consultants, Inc.
State: MD
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Other debt
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed
Sub-issue: Debt is not yours

Complaint:
On XXXX XX/XX/XXXX, I entered a brick and mortaXXXX corporate XXXX store ( XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, MD XXXX, XXXX ). Order number : XXXX. I explained to that representative that I was looking to leave mycurrent carrier ( XXXX XXXX XXXX ) and I am bringing my own devices. I told the representative that I did not want to pay over S 185.00 per month for all three devices ( 2 XXXX and 1 XXXX ) and did not want a service commitment. The representative declared that this was not an issue. The representative presented the " Beyond Unlimited '' plan for XXXX   per month, I mentioned that I am military and the representative declared that I would get an additional discount. Which brought my monthly bill below myobjective price point. I agreed to the unrestricted/open service agreement. Before I signed the purchase receipt, I reviewed the purchase receipt to ensure a service commitment was notrequired. In addition, I verbally confirmed with the representative that I did not have service commitment. The representative confirmed verbally and supported by the purchase receipt. Prior to departing the XXXX XXXX, the representative informed me that I would receive a {$150.00} reward for both XXXX for switching to XXXX. On XXXX XX/XX/XXXX, I received an email confirmation from XXXX, " We've received your submission for the Switch to XXXX and get {$150.00} promotion. Here are the tracking number ( s ) for the mobile number ( s ) you provided : XXXX & XXXX. '' In XXXX, I received two rewards of {$150.00}. In review of XXXX FAQ Reward Eligibility Requirements located at XXXX XXXX XXXX, the general requirements required that I switch my number from any wireless carrier to a postpaid XXXX account , which I did. Submit required materials within 30 days of activation, which I did. Devices remain activated for 45 consecutive days, which they were. ( Activated XXXX XX/XX/XXXX, deactivated XX/XX/XXXX, 146 consecutive days ), ( reference : XXXX XXXX XXXX ). 

On XXXX XX/XX/XXXX, I received a letter from XXXX XXXX informing me that I owe a debt of {$300.00} dollars. The letter does not disclose the basis for this debt. Therefore, on XXXX XX/XX/XXXX at XXXX, I called the provided number in the letter. I spoke to the customer service representative located at the South Carolina XXXX Call Center. I did not get the representative 's name. I explained to the representative that I received a letter, but did not understand why I have this outstanding debt. The representative reviewed my account and informed me that the debt was for a rebate that required a service commitment of six months. I explained to the representative that I did not sign up for a rebate, nor did I agree or commit to a six-month service agreement, but rather received reward for switching to XXXX and for bringing my own devices, ( provided reference to the XXXX reward receipt ( receipt # s XXXX & and XXXX ). The representative insisted that I had a serviced commitment. At this point, I then requested that the representative transfer me to a supervisor. The representative transferred and connected to a supervisor ( XXXX ) at the above stated Call Center location. I restated the above concern. XXXX repeated what the representative claimed and told me she was unable to assist me further and I should reach out to XXXX Escalation Department. I wrote a letter to the XXXX Escalation Department on XXXX XX/XX/XXXX, provided all of my supporting documents to facts outlined above. I mailed the letter and supporting document to XXXX XXXX Escalation Department, XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, NJ XXXX using USPS priority mail, signature required on XXXX XX/XX/XXXX. The letter was delivered and signed for by XXXX XXXX at XXXX on XXXX XX/XX/XXXX. XXXX was non-responsive to my letter. 

Based on the facts outlined above, I believe that XXXX has erroneously billed me {$300.00} and I request that XXXX absolve me of this debt. Moreover, to date, XXXX has not provided evidence supporting this debt or a signed contract to that fact ; nor did I directly or indirectly sign a contract or verbally commit to a six-month or any length commitment, other than the 45 days of activation, which was meet. In my opinion, this practice is a bait and switch tactic that misleads the consumer. 

On XXXX XX/XX/XXXX, I entered a brick and mortar  corporate XXXX store ( XXXX, XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, MD XXXX, XXXX ). Order number : XXXX. I explained to that representative that I was looking to leave mycurrent carrier ( XXXX XXXX XXXX ) and I am bringing my own devices. I told the representative that I did not want to pay over S 185.00 per month for all three devices ( 2 XXXX and 1 XXXX ) and did not want a service commitment. The representative declared that this was not an issue. The representative presented the " Beyond Unlimited '' plan for XXXX   per month, I mentioned that I am military and the representative declared that I would get an additional discount. Which brought my monthly bill below myobjective price point. I agreed to the unrestricted/open service agreement. Before I signed the purchase receipt, I reviewed the purchase receipt to ensure a service commitment was notrequired. In addition, I verbally confirmed with the representative that I did not have service commitment. The representative confirmed verbally and supported by the purchase receipt. Prior to departing the XXXX XXXX, the representative informed me that I would receive a {$150.00} reward for both iPhones for switching to XXXX. On XXXX XX/XX/XXXX, I received an email confirmation from XXXX, " We've received your submission for the Switch to XXXX and get {$150.00} promotion. Here are the tracking number ( s ) for the mobile number ( s ) you provided : XXXX & XXXX. '' In XXXX, I received two rewards of {$150.00}. In review of XXXX FAQ Reward Eligibility Requirements located at XXXX XXXX XXXX, the general requirements required that I switch my number from any wireless carrier to a postpaid XXXX account , which I did. Submit required materials within 30 days of activation, which I did. Devices remain activated for 45 consecutive days, which they were. ( Activated XXXX XX/XX/XXXX, deactivated XX/XX/XXXX, 146 consecutive days ), ( reference : XXXX XXXX XXXX ). 

On XXXX XX/XX/XXXX, I received a letter from XXXX XXXX informing me that I owe a debt of {$300.00} dollars. The letter does not disclose the basis for this debt. Therefore, on XXXX XX/XX/XXXX at XXXX, I called the provided number in the letter. I spoke to the customer service representative located at the South Carolina XXXX Call Center. I did not get the representative 's name. I explained to the representative that I received a letter, but did not understand why I have this outstanding debt. The representative reviewed my account and informed me that the debt was for a rebate that required a service commitment of six months. I explained to the representative that I did not sign up for a rebate, nor did I agree or commit to a six-month service agreement, but rather received reward for switching to XXXX and for bringing my own devices, ( provided reference to the XXXX reward receipt ( receipt # s XXXX & and XXXX ). The representative insisted that I had a serviced commitment. At this point, I then requested that the representative transfer me to a supervisor. The representative transferred and connected to a supervisor ( XXXX ) at the above stated Call Center location. I restated the above concern. XXXX repeated what the representative claimed and told me she was unable to assist me further and I should reach out to XXXX Escalation Department. I wrote a letter to the XXXX Escalation Department on XXXX XX/XX/XXXX, provided all of my supporting documents to facts outlined above. I mailed the letter and supporting document to XXXX XXXX Escalation Department, XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, NJ XXXX using USPS priority mail, signature required on XXXX XX/XX/XXXX. The letter was delivered and signed for by XXXX XXXX at XXXX on XXXX XX/XX/XXXX. XXXX was non-responsive to my letter. 

Based on the facts outlined above, I believe that XXXX has erroneously billed me {$300.00} and I request that XXXX absolve me of this debt. Moreover, to date, XXXX has not provided evidence supporting this debt or a signed contract to that fact ; nor did I directly or indirectly sign a contract or verbally commit to a six-month or any length commitment, other than the 45 days of activation, which was meet. In my opinion, this practice is a bait and switch tactic that misleads the consumer. 

Disputed the debt on XX/XX/XXXX and the debt was released due to the dispute outlined above. XXXX has now resold the debt to Diversified Consultants inc. ( DCI ). Received a phone call from Diversified Consultants inc. ( DCI ) on XX/XX/XXXX trying to collect this unvalidated debt. I explained that this debt was disputed and released, but DCI continues to harass.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation