Consumer complaint received 2022-09-16
Company: North American Credit Services
State: NC
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Other debt
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed
Sub-issue: Debt is not yours

Complaint:
On XX/XX/XXXX of 2022, I purchased medical devices from a manufacturer/merchant. The amounts were {$1300.00} and {$1000.00} for a total of {$2300.00} that was paid in full using a credit card. The items were not as expected ( off-gassing caused severe adverse reactions in me and my household ) and not as described with usage contraindications that were not disclosed to me prior to purchase even though I had specifically asked if there were medical usage contraindications associated with these devices. I found out only after the items had arrived by looking at the product manual that there were in fact usage contraindications. It would have been medically dangerous for me to use them. I asked the manufacturer/merchant if I could return them. They refused and said if I attempted to send back the products, they would evaluate them and if non-defective ( which they would be since they are brand new/unused ), they would send them right back. This was XX/XX/XXXX. On XX/XX/XXXX, the merchant accused me of stealing the products and demanded that I pay the invoices ( even though I already did ) or send proof of shipment to them by XX/XX/XXXX or they would contact a collection agency and/or file a lawsuit for damages and defamation ( baseless ). The products were entrusted with a reliable shipping carrier on XX/XX/XXXX but the merchant contacted the collection agency anyway. My only recourse in XXXX was to petition my credit card company for a dispute. The transactions are still in dispute and I have not been refunded my money in full for a permanent credit by the credit card company. I was told that this arduous process will continue conceivably for at least 3 months if not 6 months. The invoices had been paid originally. Invoice documentation showing they were paid is provided. The unused items have been returned and received already by the merchant ( proof of shipment, my out-of-pocket costs to ship out with damage and loss insurance ) plus proof of receipt by the merchant are provided. Because the items were brand new, the products can be sold. There is no debt. The debt was paid. I have not been refunded my money despite the fact that the merchant has received the brand new, unused merchandise that I had sent back with full insurance on the devices. The transactions are in dispute with the credit card company with no resolution at this time. The brand new merchandise had already been sent back with close to {$90.00} in shipping fees and insurance ( full coverage ) and received by the merchant as of XX/XX/2022. If anything, the merchant should just allow my money to be refunded. I am out {$2300.00} and no longer have the merchandise. The company has it now so there is no debt. They can sell the products because they were brand new. It would be a travesty to deny me a resolution to this situation where I had paid for the items and where I had returned the items in their pristine condition but now have the transactions in dispute with the credit card company. I have paid for the items but despite returning them, have not been refunded for what I paid. There is no debt. Persisting in harassment or collection efforts will not be tolerated.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation