Consumer complaint received 2016-03-09
Company: Diversified Consultants, Inc.
State: NM
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:
I suspended service with XXXX XX/XX/XXXX. At that time, I was told that I had a credit of {$34.00}. I was told to return the XXXX receivers I had in my possession. After three phone calls and several hours on hold, I received XXXX incorrect shipping labels and finally spoke to XXXX ( ID # XXXX ) on XXXX XXXX. He told me to send the receivers back even though the tracking numbers were incorrect. He further told me to call him with any further questions. I sent them out that day. I received an XX/XX/XXXX billing stating that my bill had a XXXX balance. 

Then XX/XX/XXXX I received an additional bill from XXXX XXXX saying that my account was in arrears for the amount of {$130.00}. I called the XXXX number on Saturday, XXXX XXXX, XXXX and was transferred to the collections department where I was placed on hold for 40 minutes. I was finally able to speak to a woman by the name of XXXX XXXX. She told me that the additional amount was for XXXX Pay Per View fights I 'd ordered in XXXX and XXXX XXXX via remote. She asked if I remembered ordering the fights. I told her my memory of specific charges occurring six years prior was a bit ridiculous to ask about. I asked her if she could supply me with the bills for those dates and subsequent billings to show that those bills had not been paid. She told me that XXXX XXXX does not save bills for that long. I then asked if I was supposed to pay the bill and trust XXXX XXXX 's allegations with no substantiated billing. She told me she was just doing her job, and I reminded her that I too needed to do my job as a customer advocating for my own rights. I asked that she send me verification that the bill had never been paid and she said she would do what she could. In the mean time, she told me to call a direct customer service number ( XXXX ) and speak to them. 

I tried calling that number and the recording told me to call back during normal business hours M-F. I called again on Monday, XXXX XXXX, and this time the recording said that that number was no longer in service. I tried calling the XXXX number for XXXX and each time I said I wanted to dispute the validity of the debt, the call was either disconnected or I was placed on hold for over 40 minutes, at which point I hung up and stopped calling. 

Since the XXXX XXXX call, I have researched the customer complaints with XXXX and have found that dozens of people have received the same types of bills after the fact even though they did not order the Pay Per View movies or events. These billing allegations were never made until after service with XXXX was terminated by the customer. Many of them have had the money taken from their bank accounts or charged to their credit accounts. Luckily my credit card on file with XXXX XXXX had expired or this would have been the case for me, I believe. 

My supposed bills are more than 6 years old. Since the phone calls, I have contacted Diversified Consultants , Inc twice ( XXXX/XXXX/XXXX and XXXX/XXXX/XXXX ) by certified mail, the latter with return receipt and a copy of the first letter. The return-receipt card was never returned. I 've written them once again ( XXXX/XXXX/XXXX ) for verification and documentation that there is a valid basis for claiming that I am required to pay. They have posted the debt on my credit reports as owed with a notation " Account information disputed by consumer, meets FCRA requirements. '' This was done on XXXX/XXXX/XXXX.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation