Consumer complaint received 2017-02-04
Company: Hillcrest Davidson & Associates
State: GA
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Other (i.e. phone, health club, etc.)
Issue: Cont'd attempts collect debt not owed
Sub-issue: Debt is not mine

Complaint:
I have already submitted a complaint about this company in XX/XX/XXXX but they have not replied, case number XXXX. 
XX/XX/XXXX I began having XXXX ( XXXX ) monitor my home security system on a month to month basis. I used them for two years but when the rental home that I was living in went up for sale it was impossible to set the alarm. So XX/XX/XXXX I called to cancel services and was told I had to do it in writing. When I asked where to send the certified letter the receptionist explained they do not accept certified letters and I needed to send it US first class mail. So as instructed, I sent the letter with the account number and address to cancel. Before moving we forwarded the mail and our phone numbers have never changed. After mailing my last payment I never heard from the company again. Until XX/XX/XXXX when I received a call from a collections agent after asking me if I was XXXX XXXX ( only qualifier no second proof of ID ) she told me that I had a charge off for {$600.00} and if I did not pay it right away it would impact my credit. I told her that this must be a mistake the debt could not be mine. She explained where the debt was bought from and I denied I owed anything. She then started reading off my full social security number without being sure she was really talking to me just to prove she had my information. I called XXXX immediately and was informed that no one at the office could help but the operator told me she would send a message to the department that can and I would have to wait for a call back. After 3 days with no call, I called back again to get the same story. They would not give me a number to call directly but only offered to send another message. I sent an e-mail to the collections agent asking for more information and any proof this was a valid dept. They sent me the month to month agreement I signed in XXXX but no breakdown of the charges and no proof of any attempt to collect. I do not see this as proof I owe anything especially knowing that I canceled the service. After three weeks with no call from the company I filed a BBB complaint hoping it would force someone to acknowledge me. They replied to it stating I was currently in collections and they were not at liberty to discuss anything with me until the collection has been resolved. They did not respond to any of your inquires. The collections agency did answer the Consumer affairs complaint that I submitted in XX/XX/XXXX and states they were allowed to collect the full term of the contract, up to 2 years ( I had service from XX/XX/XXXX-XX/XX/XXXX how could they still have 16 months worth of contract left? ) I was told there was no term limit and could cancel at anytime. The agreement I signed did not say anything about two years of service required. We choose this company in the beginning because of no contract and flexibility in cancellation if necessary. I believe the practices of this business intentionally lead to collections. I believe they have mislead the collections company too, I think the collectors are just trying to collect the debt that they think they bought. There is no contract only the month to month agreement I have submitted with the first complaint and with this one. I spoke with someone from the XXXX XXXX consumer assistance group and they told me they hear this all the time that security companies in XXXX do this a lot. According to the reviews on-line I am not the only renter that they bill like this. I believe that they violated FCRA laws by selling this invalid debt. Please follow up this matter, I believe this is an abuse of consumers in the XXXX Area. I have worked so hard repairing my credit and paying my bills I do not feel I deserve this treatment.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation