Consumer complaint received 2016-08-18
Company: Hillcrest Davidson & Associates
State: GA
Product: Debt collection
Sub-product: Other (i.e. phone, health club, etc.)
Issue: Cont'd attempts collect debt not owed
Sub-issue: Debt is not mine

Complaint:
In XXXX I began having XXXX ( XXXX ) monitor my home security system on a month to month basis. I used them for two years but when the rental home that I was living in went up for sale it was impossible to set the alarm. So in XXXX of XXXX I called to cancel services and was told I had to do it in writing. When I asked where to send the certified letter the receptionist explained they do not accept certified letters and I needed to send it US first class mail. So as instructed, I sent the letter with the account number and address to cancel. The house sold quickly and we moved into our new home in XXXX. Before moving we forwarded the mail and our phone numbers have never changed. After mailing my last payment I never heard from the company again. Until XXXX when I received a call from a collections agent after asking me if I was XXXX XXXX ( only qualifier no second proof of ID ) she told me that I had a charge off for {$600.00} and if I did not pay it right away it would impact my credit. I told her that this must be a mistake the debt could not be mine. She explained where the debt was bought from and I denied I owed anything. She was pushy and I told her this felt like a scam. She then started reading off my full social security number without being sure she was really talking to me just to prove she had my information. This was very uncomfortable and I refused to talk to her until I got a hold of the original company. I called XXXX immediately and was informed that no one at the office could help but the operator told me she would send a message to the department that can and I would have to wait for a call back. After 3 days with no call I called back again to get the same story. They would not give me a number to call directly but only offered to send another message. I sent an e-mail to the collections agent asking for more information and any proof this was a valid dept. They sent me the month to month agreement I signed in XXXX but no breakdown of the charges and no proof of any attempt to collect. I do not see this as proof I owe anything especially knowing that I canceled the service. After three weeks with no call from the company I filed a XXXX complaint hoping it would force someone to acknowledge me. They replied to it stating I was currently in collections and they were not at liberty to discuss anything with me until the collection has been resolved. I believe the practices of this business intentionally lead to collections. I spoke with someone from the XXXX XXXX consumer assistance group and they told me they hear this all the time that security companies in XXXX do this a lot. According to the reviews online I am not the only renter that they bill like this. I then filed a complaint with the Attorney General of Ga that will take 6 weeks or more to process. After several more emails and calls I ended up speaking with the manager of the collections company ( after the associate that called me had to suddenly clock out ) on XXXX/XXXX/XXXX, I could hear that he had been listening and commenting to the associate the whole time I was talking to her. He explained that XXXX continued to bill me for 18 months ( XXXX quarters ) without payment or contact. He informed me that he could assist by taking 25 % off the bill leaving a {$400.00} bill. He also stated that he would remove the negative credit entry from my history if I locked in the payment right now but only now. He said he could not do it if I called back after talking to my husband. I did not agree to pay anything at this time. I believe that they violated FCRA laws by charging off this invalid debt, especially without trying to contact me and settle this the proper way. I am especially concerned about the way they try to collect and force me to make decisions about our finances without my husband.

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