Consumer complaint received 2024-09-28
Product: Debt collection — Telecommunications debt
Issue: Written notification about debt — Didn't receive notice of right to dispute
Company: Amsher Collection Services, Inc. (FL)

I am submitting a formal complaint regarding an inaccurate debt reported by Amsher Collection Services ( Amsher ) that originated from XXXX. The debt is being wrongfully reported and has caused significant harm to my credit score, despite numerous attempts to resolve the issue directly with both XXXX  and previous debt collectors. I believe there have been violations of both the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ) and the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ), as well as issues regarding unfair billing practices by XXXX 

Summary of the Issue : XXXX. Inaccurate Debt : I transferred my mobile service from XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XX/XX/XXXX, which effectively terminated my XXXX service on that date. However, XXXX continued to bill me for services I did not receive after the transfer. Specifically, I received a bill for {$85.00} covering services from XX/XX/XXXX to XX/XX/XXXX. XXXX XXXX practice is to bill monthly in advance, and instead of crediting me for the unused service from XX/XX/XXXX to XX/XX/XXXX, XXXX instead wrongfully billed me for a full additional month of service and claimed that I owed them the full amount along with unjustified late fees. 

XXXX. Failure to Resolve and Identify : I made several attempts to resolve this billing error with XXXX. However, I was unable to access my account information because XXXX customer service refused to identify me through any method other than a PIN, which I did not recall. Despite my efforts to resolve the issue, XXXX wrongfully sent the account to collections, adding late fees and charges to the inaccurate bill. 

XXXX. Reselling of the Debt : I initially disputed the debt with XXXX XXXX Strategies, who sent me a letter dated XX/XX/XXXX, and I submitted a dispute electronically via their website on XX/XX/XXXX. After my dispute, XXXX failed to respond but instead added a collection account to my credit report. I successfully disputed this with XXXX, and the collection was removed in or around XX/XX/XXXX as evidenced by the lack of appearance of a collection account listed by XXXX on my credit report. However, I discovered that the debt was subsequently sold to Amsher when they reported it to my credit file in XX/XX/XXXX. This effectively reset the timeline on the debt collection process, forcing me to dispute the same inaccurate debt again. 

XXXX. Failure to Notify : Amsher has failed to notify me of their legal authority to collect the debt or provide me with a notification of my right to dispute the debt, as required by the FDCPA. The only indication of this debts assignment to Amsher was its appearance on my credit report. This is a clear violation of the FDCPAs requirement to provide written notice within XXXX days of the initial contact. 

XXXX. Damage to My Credit : This inaccurate debt has negatively impacted my credit score, which was previously 820. The reporting of this erroneous debt has caused a significant and unjust decline in my credit rating, despite my consistent efforts to resolve the dispute. I do not owe this debt. It stems from an incorrect bill issued by XXXX after my service was terminated. I however have no ability to dispute this debt directly with XXXX as they have written off the amount and will only refer me to the latest collections agency. I therefore remain at the mercy of Amsher and can not explain the original problem to them as they have nothing to do with XXXX billing practices. This account has already been written off twice by both the original creditor, XXXX, as well as XXXX and it is unreasonable and unfair for Amsher to report this as a collection account as of XX/XX/XXXX thereby restarting the clock in terms of the length of time that this derogatory remark can remain on my credit report and forcing me to dispute it all over again. 

Attachments : Copy of the bill from XXXX for services after termination dated XXXX XX/XX/XXXX. 
Copy of the letter from XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX, dated XX/XX/XXXX. 
Copy of my correspondence disputing the debt with XXXX, dated XX/XX/XXXX. 

I trust that you will investigate this matter promptly and take the necessary steps to resolve this wrongful debt collection and credit reporting. Thank you for your attention to this matter.