Consumer complaint received 2018-03-21
Company: TekCollect Inc.
State: PA
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Medical debt
Issue: Written notification about debt
Sub-issue: Didn't receive notice of right to dispute

Complaint:
On XX/XX/XXXX, I received an email notification from XXXX XXXX informing me that a new account has been added to my credit. Unaware of any new accounts, I logged on to find out that a dental bill from XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX that I had been actively making payments on was sent to collections and that it had hit my credit report. On XX/XX/XXXX, I made an attempt to contact the dentist, XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, to whom I owed the remaining balance of my bill to for further clarification as to why the bill I was making payments on was sent to a collection agency and why I wasn't notified that it was being sent to collections. The woman, XXXX, who I had spoken to claimed that the debt was sent to the collection agency on XX/XX/XXXX. All that time, the dentist, XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, was still sending bills and contacting me for payment, but failed to mention that my bill was in collections. That same day, XX/XX/XXXX, at XXXX p.m., I contacted the collection agency, Tek Collect Inc. My first attempt calling, I spoke with a man whose name I can't recall, if he ever provided one. The man told me that he would " call me right back. '' I never received a callback. Concerned, I called Tek Collect Inc again on the same day at XXXX p.m. I spoke with a woman who claimed Tek Collect Inc tried to reach out to me by XXXX on XX/XX/XXXX, XX/XX/XXXX, XX/XX/XXXX, and XX/XX/XXXX. Additionally, Tek Collect Inc claimed to have called me on XX/XX/XXXX, XX/XX/XXXX, XX/XX/XXXX, XX/XX/XXXX, and XX/XX/XXXX. I never received any letters or phone calls. I asked Tek Collect Inc how they sent the letters and if they could provide a tracking number. They said that they send their letters XXXX first class mail, in plain white envelopes, with no return address or tracking information. I contacted XXXX customer service who confirmed that without a tracking number, there is no proof that any mail was ever sent. I also contacted my local post office to see if any mail was held for me for any reason and they said no and also confirmed that without tracking that there is no way to see if any mail was ever sent. With this information, I called Tek Collect Inc and asked if they had any kind of log proving that they sent me a debt notification and they confirmed that they could not prove anything was sent. On XX/XX/XXXX, I contacted my phone service provider, XXXX XXXX, who is owned by XXXX XXXX and requested my call detail records. Unfortunately, without a subpoena, they could only provide me with records going 90 days back, meaning I could only receive call detail records going as far back as XX/XX/XXXX. When reviewing the print out of my call detail records for the dates that Tek Collect Inc claimed they called, XX/XX/XXXX, and XX/XX/XXXX, I did not receive any calls from Tek Collect Inc. This proves that they did not call me. I was never notified of this debt until it hit my credit report. According to the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ), every collector must send you a written validation notice telling you how much money you owe within five days after they first contact you. This notice also must include the name of the creditor to whom you owe the money, and how to proceed if you dont think you owe the money. Tek Collect Inc never contacted me. This is a violation of the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act. I would like to know my rights and who to further proceed. 

I would like to specify that I am aware that I owe money. The dentist did do a procedure on me. According to the last bill I received from the dentist, I owe {$1000.00}. According to the derogatory mark listed on my credit report from the collection agency I owe {$1100.00}. I am disputing/reporting that I did not receive notification that the bill I was actively making small payments on was in collections.

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