Consumer complaint received 2017-01-09
Company: Linebarger Goggan Blair & Sampson LLP
State: TX
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Other (i.e. phone, health club, etc.)
Issue: Disclosure verification of debt
Sub-issue: Right to dispute notice not received

Complaint:
On XXXX XXXX, 2017, I had to call the XXXX County Toll Authority because I was having trouble retrieving my account online. I spoke with XXXX who informed me that I have a {$40.00} credit in my account, by the XXXX tag in my car had been inactivated and I now have toll violations totaling over {$200.00}. I asked XXXX why I was never informed about the violations and she said the two notifications they sent out came back. Come to find out, they had my apartment number incomplete ; which does n't make sense because I 've received correspondence to my address from the Toll Authority before. I also verified with XXXX they had my correct email on file and asked her why was n't I notified via email when they saw the mail had gotten returned. XXXX could n't give me a reason, but apologized for the mix up and said she would waive the administrative fees that had accrued since I was n't properly notified. However, there were XXXX violations that they already invoiced and sent over to a third party collector : Lineberger, Goggin, Blair and Sampson. XXXX told me she could n't waive the collector 's fees and I would have to contact them directly to discuss that. I spoke with XXXX at the collector 's office and told her that I was never notified of the debt I wanted to speak to someone about the fees being waived since due diligence was n't done. Just like the XXXX County Toll Authority, XXXX read my address and the apartment number was incomplete. XXXX said they get all their information from the Toll Authority who gets their information from the DMV. I told XXXX that I 've received documents from the Toll Authority before at my current address and my address is also reflected on my license ( so the DMV would have the correct information as well ). I informed XXXX that because of their mistake, the Toll Authority was going to waive their fees and I would just have to pay the toll amounts. XXXX advised me to fax proof of the fee waiver from the Toll Authority to XXXX, attn : XXXX and someone will review the information to determine if the fees from the collector should be waived as well. I called the XXXX County Toll Authority back and spoke with XXXX at XXXX, who said they do n't provide physical papers to the collector because the collector can see all of the notes in the system. XXXX documented my account that the Toll Authority was waiving their fees and told me to call the collector back and tell them they can find the documentation they need in the notes. I called the collector back at XXXX and spoke with XXXX , who transferred me to the XXXX branch by mistake. I called the collector back again at XXXX and spoke with XXXX , who then transferred me to XXXX XXXX the original rep I had spoken with ). I told XXXX what the representative from the Toll Authority told me and she said they ca n't take off the fees. I then requested to speak with a supervisor or someone who is authorized to exercise discretion about their collection fees and she transferred me to XXXX XXXX ; I left XXXX XXXX a voicemail requesting a call back at XXXX. It 's been a week and I still have n't heard back from XXXX XXXX or anyone at the collection agency. My issue is that I was n't aware of the toll violations because I thought my XXXX tag was working and was never notified by anyone, about the violations. I should n't have to pay a fee for something I was n't informed about ( especially when they had other ways to contact me : email, phone ) and therefore, never had a chance to dispute the debt ; Which is a violation of my consumer right. I have already paid the tolls that were owed, but I 'm not able to pay the XXXX that were invoiced because the amount includes the collector 's fees, which I feel I should n't have to pay. The collector did not do their part in contacting me and should n't be able to charge a fee for a service that was n't provided.

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