Consumer complaint received 2020-04-08
Company: Southwest Credit Systems, L.P.
State: MA
Product: Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports
Sub-product: Credit reporting
Issue: Incorrect information on your report
Sub-issue: Account status incorrect

Complaint:
In XX/XX/XXXX, Southwest Credit Systems on behalf of XXXX reported a Collection account dating back to XXXX against me with the three credit reporting agencies. This listing is incorrect and my credit score to immediately drop over 100 points, causing me significant harm, especially during the current Coronavirus emergency, when access to credit is vital. 

Here are the facts : XX/XX/XXXX : I ordered an XXXX XXXX XXXX from XXXX via the internet for {$740.00} and paid {$250.00} including tax as the down payment. ( See addendum 1 ). 

The order was processed, payment cleared, and the phone was mailed to me. 

Upon receipt I discovered XXXX  reception and coverage at my home office location of XXXX, MA, was very poor. I promptly contacted XXXX  customer support to discuss this and options for resolution. This included testing at various locations between XXXX and XXXX ; investigating internet based XXXX XXXX and/or special antennas to improve coverage in my house. None of these solutions worked well. 

After spending substantial efforts on the above solutions, I contacted XXXX  customer support again to cancel the phone and made arrangements to return it. The service was cancelled within approximately 10 days of my receipt of the phone and the phone was promptly mailed back to XXXX after approval by customer service, within less than 14 days of the date I received it. This was as soon as possible after working through the testing, cancellation and return procedures and approvals with XXXX. 

Two months later, on XX/XX/XXXX, XXXX confirmed receipt of the returned phone showing the date received as XX/XX/XXXX. This return confirmation ( which took XXXX 60 days to send me ) also confirmed refund of my original deposit. ( See addendum 2 ) XX/XX/XXXX XXXX  send an additional confirmation of refund of my down payment. THIS WAS CLEAR CONFIRMATION THE PHONE WAS TIMELY RETURNED, MY REFUND ISSUED AND THE MATTER WAS CLOSED. 

XX/XX/XXXX Jump forward 7 years, Southwest Credit Systems filed a Collection listing on my credit report at all credit reporting agencies based on a debt that does not exist. 

Today XX/XX/XXXX I called Southwest Credit Systems disputing the Collection listing and requesting them to remove it from my credit report. Instead of handling this reasonably and in accordance with the laws governing incorrect credit reporting, they tried to convince me to pay 40 % of their stated {$600.00} amount due, suggesting that would clear my credit issue. I almost fell for that, just to remove the aggravation and time involved in clearing this from my credit record. However, after more questioning they admitted that even if I were to pay this XXXX fee ( my words not theirs ) the collection would remain on my credit report. I then spoke with a manager, who confirmed this but tried to convince me that my credit would be fine after paying the fee even though the collection record would NOT be expunged. I declined and am now trying to fix this wrong. 

I believe both XXXX and Southwest Credit Systems have broken the laws and/or regulations protecting consumers from false derogatory credit listings. I believe both companies have used unfair and deceptive methods to try to collect money that is not due. I believe Southwest Credit Systems additionally used deceptive tactics to try to convince me to pay something not due and other violations of the consumer protection regulations. 

The facts above and the documentation provided clearly show I acted diligently and promptly to resolve the poor coverage/signal-quality issue with XXXX and properly cancelled the service and returned the phone properly and promptly and in consultation with XXXX. XXXX clearly acknowledged and accepted the return and properly refunded my deposit because there were no lingering issues. 

Further the timelines documented by the order date ( allowing for shipping time to me ) and date they confirm receiving the return ( allowing for mailing time to them ) are well within the terms of any purchase/return policy. Further, even if they were not ( but they were ), my reason for the return was because of poor service and the timing was the minimum possible to try to solve the issue and then to cancel the service, receive permission for the return and return the phone. Lastly, it is outrageous that XXXX retains position of the properly returned phone and seeks to be paid for its cost. 
All of the above should make it clear that XXXX and Southwest Credit Systems should now act responsibly and remove all record of this incorrect Collection listing.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation