Consumer complaint received 2022-10-14
Company: The CBE Group, Inc.
State: IL
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Other debt
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed
Sub-issue: Debt was paid

Complaint:
I cancelled my Charter Communication ( d.b.a. XXXX ) internet service in XX/XX/XXXX or XX/XX/XXXX. At the time, the Charter representative told me that I need to return 3 pieces of equipment ; a modem, a DVR and a cable tv box. I explained at that time that the only equipment I had was a modem. I never had a DVR in my possession as I never had that service and it had been at least 5 years since I had Charter XXXX XXXX. The TV box had either been returned several years ago or was never requested to be returned. The representative told me that they would only require return of the modem. I returned the modem to the XXXX XXXX  as instructed where the QR code was scanned and supposedly returned to Charter. Several months later I started getting letters from Charter saying I had an outstanding balance of {$160.00}. No explanation was given as to what this balance was for. I attempted to contact Charter get an explanation but no one could tell me what the balance was for, only that I owed. I told them that I would not pay unless they told me what the balance was for. Some time later I started receiving phone calls from a company called CBE Group. The CBE group representative began asking personal information questions without telling me what the nature of the call was. I told them I would not answer any personal information questions until they explained to me the nature of the call. I instructed them not to call my number until they had identified what the call was about. I got then got a letter in the mail from CBE group explaining that they were attempting to collect a debt of {$160.00} for Charter Communications. I wrote back requesting that they provide an explanation of what the outstanding balance was for, information that Charter had refused to provide. On XX/XX/XXXX I received a letter from CBE group stating that they had received a response from Charter regarding the balance owed and that I still needed to pay the {$160.00} charge. Included were copies of the last three months of service I had with Charter for XXXX, XXXX and XXXX of XXXX. Each invoice showed a Total Due of {$79.00} ( which does not add up to {$160.00} ). I have bank statements showing these payments made to Charter. Additionally, Charters own invoices indicate that the previous months payment had been received. Example : The " Summary '' section of XXXX 's invoice shows XXXX 's payment received. Same for XXXX 's showing XXXX 's payment received. I do not have a XXXX invoice showing XXXX 's payment received as I had already cancelled my service. I do, however, have bank statements showing that I paid {$79.00} to XXXX ( Charter Communications ) on XX/XX/XXXX. Same for XX/XX/XXXX and XX/XX/XXXX. I called CBE group and explained this to them. At the time they told me that the invoices they sent me where not correct and the the balance due was for " equipment ''. I told CBE at that time that I needed them to provide me a written invoice detailing exactly what equipment I owed them for. They told me they would provide this information. On XX/XX/XXXX I received another written explanation with the exact same information previously provided with invoices for the last three months of internet service, which as stated above have already been paid. To date, neither Charter nor CBE group have been able to provide any information whatsoever regarding the " equipment '' that they claim I owe them for. As for the invoices for internet services that they have sent me, I have proof of payment for these balances. I have a wife that is due to give birth any day now and I do not have time to continue going round and round with this debt collector over what I feel is a fraudulent debt.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation