Consumer complaint received 2017-10-04
Company: ERC
State: MD
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Other debt
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed
Sub-issue: Debt was paid

Complaint:
On XXXX XXXX XXXX I received a collection request letter from ERC for a supposed past due bill of {$69.00} from XXXX. The past due bill was for a final payment from when I moved in the XXXX of XXXX. The final payment had n't been automatically taken out after I moved and set up a new account. When I was informed about it in XXXX XXXX I called the billing department at XXXX on XXXX XXXX and arranged for the payment to be debited from my XXXX  XXXX XXXX checking account. I was then given a confirmation number that I was told proved I paid the remaining bill. I did n't hear anything from XXXX about the account until I got the collections letter on the date previously mentioned. 

I contacted a XXXX agent over the phone to try and resolve the issue. I was told that I would have to go to my local XXXX office to resolve the issue. On XXXX/XXXX/XXXX I went into the office. I gave them the confirmation number. I was told that their computer said that I did n't pay the bill in XXXX of XXXX despite that I had a confirmation number from XXXX of XXXX that was to prove that I paid the amount. I asked them how I could prove that I had paid the remaining balance in XXXX of XXXX other than using the confirmation number I had been given. I was told that was n't enough proof and I would have to get a statement from my bank. 
I went to my bank and asked for proof of the transaction. My bank gave me a printout of the transactions that showed that on XXXX XXXX XXXX {$69.00} was debited from my account to XXXX. 
I brought the statement back to the XXXX office to show them. After scanning the statement I was told that the agent there could n't do anything and the issue was being sent to billing and that a ticket was being created about the issue and I would receive a call in 2 to 3 days. After 7 days I had yet to hear from anyone at XXXX. I called them. At first I was directed to call the collections company and take it up with them. The agent gave me contact info for a completely different collections agency. I contacted them and they had never heard of my account. I then called the collections agency, ERC, that I got the letter from. I was told that they had not heard from XXXX and the account was still open. 
I called XXXX back and was connected with a senior representative. She told me that the ticket had been closed on the same day it was made and that the agent noted that there was not enough proof that I had paid the bill. I asked her what more proof I could give to prove that I had paid the bill. She said that there was no way I can prove it and that there was nothing else XXXX would do and I would just have to pay the collection agency. 
I am very distressed by this. The confirmation number and a statement from my bank were not enough proof. How is anyone safe from constant continues billing. If there is anything you can do to help me with this issue I would greatly appreciate it.

Company public response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law
Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation