Consumer complaint received 2022-02-28
Company: The CMI Group, Inc.
State: FL
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Other debt
Issue: Written notification about debt
Sub-issue: Didn't receive enough information to verify debt

Complaint:
I received a debt collection notice from the company, Credit Management , LP for the amount of {$400.00}. The notice claims this charge is from XXXX XXXX XXXX and was unpaid by me and sent to this debt collection company. This debt amount was from my late mother and father 's cable account. My mother died on XX/XX/XXXX and my father died, unexpectedly, last year on XX/XX/XXXX. This cable bill was actually only listed under my late mother 's name, but when she died, my father never bothered to inform XXXX of her death, and continued making the monthly payments until he died. 
Last XXXX, as I was working towards closing all of his financial affairs, including his XXXX  XXXX  bill, I was told by the cable company that in order for me to do anything related to that account, I had to show proof of my mother 's death certificate and complete a change of ownership account into my name, which I did. 

Once it turned over to my name, I proceeded to close the account. I had been clearing contents of my late father 's condo and included in the clearing was the cable box, which was so old I did not think XXXX would want it back, because the equipment box said " XXXX '' which was the cable company bought by XXXX several years ago. When XXXX asked me to return the equipment, despite how old and outdated it was, and after I told them I through it out, they issued me an equipment fee of something like {$200.00}. That amount, plus my father 's cable bill of another $ XXXX added to the {$400.00}. 

The last communication I had with XXXX  was in XXXX of XXXX to close the account, but I was told by the agent that the bill amount would be forgiven in light of my father 's passing. Of course, in hindsight, I should have requested a written confirmation of this, but in all honesty, I have been in non-stop trauma since XX/XX/XXXX of last year, because not only did I not get to say goodbye to my father when he died, I have now had to assume responsibility for the welfare of my XXXX adult brother who can not take care of himself. I am in month 5 waiting on Social Security XXXX to make a determination on whether my older, XXXX adult brother, will qualify for any financial benefits because- despite not being able to work for the past 20 years, and being cared for by my late parents all that time- they never applied for him to receive SSI XXXX benefits. I applied on his behalf so that the financial toll which has cost me considerably, could be lessened a bit. This debt collection nonsense was the last thing I needed to go through. I am a wreck. 

Nevertheless, I am a financially responsible person, and always pay my bills on time. When I got this collection notice, I called XXXX who confirmed they sent my bill to collections. I never once received any notification from them that the bill was still outstanding. And the agent told me there was no record of the balance being forgiven on my dead father 's behalf. It is all especially insulting considering I have a XXXX account for my own home, and the fact that they could not link both accounts once I transferred ownership of my dead parents ' cable bill with my own is criminal. Because if the bill was still showing on my account, of course I would have paid it off. But it had been closed, and I never received notices that the bill was still outstanding, so how could I know I needed to pay it when the person told me it would be forgiven. I am so incensed. I believe this has had a detrimental affect on my credit report and I am furious. XXXX  told me once it went to collections there was nothing they could do. 

So on Tuesday, XX/XX/XXXX I called Credit Management , LP and I paid the debt with my checking account, which cleared from my bank on Wednesday, XX/XX/XXXX. I requested an email be sent to my email address confirming payment. They told me it would be sent in two business days. On Friday, XX/XX/XXXX, I still had not received an email confirmation. When I called back, they said they had no record of me requesting this email confirmation, which was very concerning, so I made the request again. They confirmed that the payment was showing as paid, but I still requested an email confirmation be sent so I could send that correspondence to the three credit agencies. I was told, once again, it would take two business days. 

I have been through so much, and every day is a new financial struggle and responsibility ; I had not had a chance to contact this credit agency until today, Monday, XX/XX/XXXX, to inquire about the email confirmation as I still did not get one. When I called this morning, I was put on hold, for 20 minutes and then abruptly hung up on. I called back, now beyond furious, and told them that I will be contacting the CFPB and XXXX if they did not get me my email confirmation. They tried to give some obviously false excuse by saying they " attempted '' to mail me a confirmation but the address they had on file was not valid. I then said " Oh really, how can that be when you mailed me the XXXX debt collection letter to my dead father 's condo, which I have spent the past 7 months renovating because he and my XXXX adult brother were living in such squalor that it was nearly condemnable by the city of XXXX, so that address is still active because I got your letter a few days ago - the first one by the way - informing me of this debt collection notice, so how can it now be invalid. They have told me they will try to email me a confirmation by the end of today. I also requested a physical letter by sent to my own home address. But I do not believe them. I do not trust them. I am in trauma and desperately need help. Thank you and I apologize for this rambling email.

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