Consumer complaint received 2020-04-01
Company: Amsher Collection Services, Inc.
State: NY
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Other debt
Issue: Written notification about debt
Sub-issue: Didn't receive notice of right to dispute

Complaint:
In XXXX, I signed up with XXXX under a business plan. When signing up, the XXXX agent at the retail store advised me that since this is a business account, my personal name and social security would not be affected in any way. In XX/XX/XXXX, I did a change in responsibility for this account and there was some equipment balance for about {$300.00}. When making this change, I advised the XXXX agent that I would like to pay off the balance, and he advised me that the amount will be transferred over to the new account. I called XXXX a few weeks later and was told that I would receive a final bill. They also had my email on file. I simply agreed to this and had my account charged via auto pay on a monthly basis and did not feel I had to follow up. XXXX had the business address for the business account and my home address and email. I never received a final bill via email or via mail to any of the addresses. 

Sometime in XX/XX/XXXX, I received a call from Amsher regarding a bill for {$810.00} due to XXXX. This caught me off guard and I called XXXX and spoke to a customer service Rep name XXXX or XXXX  on XX/XX/XXXX. The reference number for this call was XXXX. I explained my issues to the XXXX rep and he advised me to ignore the collection calls for the time being and that he will put in a dispute and that he will call me back on XX/XX/XXXX with an update. On XX/XX/XXXX, I received a voicemail from this rep stating that he is still waiting for a response to my dispute, so I simply waited. 
Then comes Late XX/XX/XXXX and I got laid off from work along with my wife and other family members due to the Covid-19 crisis going on in XXXX XXXX XXXX. I received a call from Amsher asking for payment and I told the collections company that I'm waiting for a response from XXXX. On XX/XX/XXXX I saw on my credit report and file that a collections was placed on my credit report which had a huge negative impact on my score, reducing it by 101 points. I called Amsher and spoke to the rep, XXXX XXXX. She offered a pay in full settlement and I paid a settlement offer of {$450.00} and requested that this negative item be removed from my credit file. They said they can only update the record saying paid in full and only XXXX can advise them to remove the negative item. I then called XXXX and it took about 5 or 6 transfers before I was able to speak to a business care representative. XXXX advised me that to ask the collection company to remove the negative item from my credit file. Neither company is trying to help me. I never received any bills or letters and wasnt aware of my rights. 

I am requesting that this negative item be removed from my credit as this will severely impact my family and I, especially during this time of crisis that my family and XXXX XXXX as a whole are facing. I've never had a late payment or collections on my credit report

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