Consumer complaint received 2017-05-30
Company: Amsher Collection Services, Inc.
State: CA
Product: Credit reporting, credit repair services, or other personal consumer reports
Sub-product: Credit reporting
Issue: Problem with a credit reporting company's investigation into an existing problem
Sub-issue: Their investigation did not fix an error on your report

Complaint:
A few months ago, I spoke to a collection agency because XXXX had assigned an amount to collections against me. They assigned over {$1000.00}. I never agreed with that amount. It stemmed from XXXX not being able to provide legitimate service for me in the area I resided so I had to call and complain several times. Eventually XXXX sent me what they call " boosters. '' They stated that those would be free of charge. The " boosters '' did n't work. I called and complained again but they pretty much failed to do anything about it and said they could n't help so I cancelled my service with them. I understood that there would be a early termination fee of maybe {$350.00} and maybe a last month of service bill and was ready for it. Instead I received a bill for over {$1000.00}. Again I disputed this bill with XXXX and told them it was unfair to charge me this amount. In the end nothing was resolved. That however was not the problem. <P/>A few months later I get sent to collections even though XXXX never addressed my concerns. I end up speaking with a collection agency but I ca n't remember what their name was. I had the same discussion with them that I had with XXXX. I told them that this bill was highly disputed, the service was almost non-existant, and that even with early termination fees the bill could not possibly be that high and I would n't be extorted for a fake bill. I would rather fight the bill than pay it. In the end, I was told that because of the nature my dispute, if I simply paid them {$700.00} this would not be reported on my credit report. I really did n't want to do it but I figured that I legitimately owed somewhere in the {$400.00} range and this was essentially a split the difference with XXXX in exchange for no negative reporting. Against my better judgment I took the offer and went on my merry way. Of course here I am 3 months later and it is on my credit report. <P/>I am now attempting to use my credit for several transactions and this account is popping up on my credit report as an Amsher Collection Se. I am extremely upset because my credit was flawless before this highly disputed account appeared on it. My FICO score dropped 100 points! Furthermore, I was essentially lied to and given a bait and switch tactic by XXXX 's collection agency. I would even go as far as to say coerced. But again that is not the problem. The problem is what happened now that I am trying to speak to someone regarding this account. <P/>Today I call Amsher Collection Se to dispute this account on my credit report. I speak to a XXXX at XXXX. She tells me that she ca n't discuss the account with me because it is not in their system and that it has been transferred over to the XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX. She even goes as far as to say that any credit reporting issue needs to be addressed with the XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX because Amsher does not handle the account so they ca n't address any credit reporting issues. She provided me with an XXXX number that went to XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX. Since my father worked for a collection agency for 30 years I know that is not true. I am very well versed in the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act and the Fair Credit Reporting Act as well as a few relevant laws regarding certain types of accounts such as HIPPA, F.C.B.A, F.A.C.T.A, and many others. To tell me that Amsher Collection Se which is named on the credit report does not control what they report is a lie. To further tell me that the XXXX XXXX of XXXX XXXX controls the credit reporting for Amsher Collection Services Se is also a lie. When I started asking her to clarify or to answer me about why they were telling me a collector not named on the credit report who is not the original creditor was in charge of Amsher 's credit reporting capabilities they refused to answer. She again sated that they could n't see the account in their system and that a manager would tell me the same thing. I took her up on her offer and asked to speak with a manager. <P/>I then spoke with a supervisor XXXX XXXX. Sure enough, he told me exactly what XXXX told me ; the account is not in their system and they could n't speak to me because they ca n't see the status of the account. He claimed that the XXXX XXXX of XXXX XXXX handled all the credit reporting issues and I needed to speak to them. When I asked him several identifying questions he attempted to refuse on many occasions until I advised him I would be filing a complaint and then he gave me the information I wanted regarding him and his company. He finally gave me a number to a manager at the XXXX XXXX XXXX   XXXX XXXX which was XXXX and told me to speak with a XXXX XXXX. I finally ended the call and attempted to call this number. The number immediately went to a automated system with no identifying information that said no voicemail was set up and ended the call on me. I tried 3 times and got the same message every time. I end up calling the XXXX instead and end up speaking with a XXXX XXXX at XXXX XXXX. He was somewhat rude as he kept interrupting me and I had to call him out on it but essentially he told me that XXXX XXXX does not handle credit reporting, would n't accept my dispute, and that I would have to speak with Amsher Se. In this case he was right since they are just a law office collecting on a contingency basis for Amsher who has been assigned the account from XXXX. We argued a lot but unfortunately there was nothing for me to do so I called Amsher back. <P/>I called Amsher and explained to them the situation in its entirety so they would understand what was happening and they hung up on me. I called again and they were refusing to address my concerns and kept sending me back to XXXX XXXX XXXX and hung up on me again. I called yet a third time and this time managed to get someone to transfer me to a supervisor or so it appeared. I heard the representative who I was speaking with saying out loud to someone, " let me know when your ready to take him. '' I was then transferred to a voicemail. I call yet again and I finally threatened them with litigation and they finally sent me back to the original supervisor I spoke with named XXXX XXXX. I advised him that I was upset that the number he gave me to a supposed manager at XXXX XXXX XXXX was not a good number and confirmed the number to make sure I had the right one and it was exactly what he had given me. I told him of everything I had been going trough and that I was at the point that I would not accept any more run around as XXXX XXXX XXXX said they have no power over credit reporting and to talk to Amsher. I told XXXX I wanted an answer. He finally attempted to speak with his boss XXXX XXXX and have me transferred to him directly but he came back stating that his boss was referring me back to XXXX XXXX XXXX. He then gave me another number of XXXX to a XXXX but again told me I needed to talk to XXXX XXXX the manager. <P/>I 'm sure you could understand my frustration at this point. I had spent hours on the phone just trying to speak to someone about the account reporting on my credit and no one was taking responsibility. I tried calling XXXX and it went straight to voicemail. I then tried calling the number to XXXX XXXX XXXX 's main line and spoke with a XXXX XXXX. He was extremely rude and hung up on me even though I explained my situation and how I was upset and needed to speak with XXXX XXXX. I then called immediately and finally spoke to a lady who seemed to legitimately care a bit about the situation I was going trough but even she did not transfer me to XXXX XXXX XXXX. She transferred me back to XXXX XXXX because he was the person handling the account. Again he told me the same thing as before, XXXX XXXX XXXX does not handle any credit reporting as that is Amsher Collection SE 's job even though he did n't name them directly but referred to them as the data furnisher. I had to ask him verbatim if he was referring to Amsher SE to which he replied yes. He also stated that they are not a debt purchaser therefore are not a reseller. <P/>I was going to call Amsher Se back but I am done with them. I want you to seriously go after this company. They have violated the F.D.C.P.A. and F.C.R.A. on multiple occasions. 15 USC 1692 e. 807. False or misleading representations. A debt collector may not use any false, deceptive, or misleading representation or means in connection with the collection of any debt. Amsher Collection Se has repeatedly told me that they do not handle any credit reporting issues as they ca n't even view it in their system and that the XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX XXXX XXXX handle all credit reporting issues even though only Amsher Collection Se is listed on the credit report. By lying to me on multiple calls to them about this credit reporting, they are in violation of that subsection. Furthermore, they ca n't hide behind the fact that the account is paid and therefore they are n't " attempting to collect '' anymore as Arizona District Court, Case No. XXXX determined that the act of credit reporting an account on a credit report is in fact an attempt to collect a debt. <P/>Amsher Collection Se has also violated 611-15 U.S.C. 1681i. ( a ) Reinvestigations of Disputed information. ( 1 ) Reinvestigation Required. ( A ) In general. Subject to subsection ( f ) if the completeness or accuracy of any item of information contained in a consumer 's file at a consumer reporting agency is disputed by the consumerand the consumer notifies the agency directly, or indirectly trough a reseller, of such dispute, the agency shall, free of charge, conduct a reasonable investigation to determine whether the dispute information is inaccurate and record the current status of the disputed information, or delete the item from the file in accordance with paragraph ( 5 ), before the end of the 30-day period beginning on the date on which the agency receives the notice of the dispute from the consumer or reseller. By not taking my direct dispute to them and initiating an investigation of any kind, they have failed to adhere with this subsection. Also, by their own admission, they could n't validate the debt either since they have no information whatsoever on this account which is a violation of 15 USC 1692 e 809.  Validation of debts. I have today submitted my request to Amsher Collection Se to XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, Alabama XXXX. That is the address provided to me by Amsher Collection Se. <P/>There are other laws that they broke as well but I will not name them all to save us both time. I 'm sure you have a lot to read trough. Again I say to you, I will not have it. This one highly disputed account is dropping my score 100 points  and is preventing me from using my credit for any large transactions. If Amsher will not even attempt to resolve this with me since they are the credit reporting party, then I will sue them as well as XXXX for faulty service and placing me in this situation in the first place as well as the XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX for their lies in order to get me to pay this debt knowing full well they had no power to remove this account from my report in the first place.

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