Consumer complaint received 2017-01-24
Product: Debt collection — Other (i.e. phone, health club, etc.)
Issue: Disclosure verification of debt — Right to dispute notice not received
Company: Diversified Consultants, Inc. (CA)

On Wednesday, XXXX XXXX, XXXX, at XXXX PST, I called Diversified Consultants, Inc. to discuss the settlement of an alleged debt. I spoke with XXXX XXXX and his manager, XXXX. Through discussing the matter with both of them, I was assured that an email would be sent to me regarding the alleged debt and the reduced settlement amount that they had quoted to me. I gave XXXX my email address ( which he read back to me ), and assured me that I would receive that email soon after I got off the phone. XXXX had stressed the importance of making the payment on the XXXX, because it was the end of the month, and that he would not be able to guarantee that I would get such a reduced settlement amount in XXXX. The reduced settlement amount that was quoted to me was {$190.00}. 

As of XXXX XXXX, XXXX, I have not received any email from Diversified Consultants, Inc. XXXX XXXX did not do what he said he he was going to do. He did not send me the email that he said he would send me. I have the recording of the phone conversation between myself, XXXX, and XXXX ( at the beginning of the conversation, I explicitly asked XXXX if it was okay for me to record the conversation for documentation purposes, and he did not at any time object to be being recorded ). 

I should neither be penalized nor required to pay any higher amount because Diversified Consultants ( namely, XXXX XXXX ) did not follow through on sending me the requested email. Furthermore, on Thursday, XXXX XXXX, XXXX, I requested during a phone conversation with XXXX XXXX ( at XXXX ; I informed her that that call was being recorded for record-keeping and documentation purposes, and she did not object to being recorded. ) and in writing the following documentation ( via USPS Certified Mail ) : 1. The amount of money owed. 
2. The name of the original creditor. 
3. A statement that if I do not dispute the debt within 30 days, the debt is assumed valid. 
4. A statement that if I dispute the debt within 30 days, the agency ( DIVERSIFIED CONSULTANTS ) will obtain proof of the debt and send it to me. 
5. A statement that upon request, the agency ( DIVERSIFIED CONSULTANTS ) will provide the name and address of the original creditor, if it differs from the current creditor. 
6. Proof that the agency ( DIVERSIFIED CONSULTANTS ) either owns or has been assigned the debt from the original creditor. 
7. A copy of the statement from the original creditor. 

As of XXXX XXXX, XXXX, I only received one letter from Diversified Consultants, Inc. with the original bill attached. I have not received all of the documentation that I requested. I never received notice of right to dispute. For context, during XXXX XXXX, XXXX, I had been contacted several times by the offices of XXXX XXXX, Attorney At Law, regarding the same alleged debt. On Monday, XXXX XXXX, XXXX, I requested the same documentation from XXXX XXXX, Attorney At Law in writing ( via USPS Certified Mail ), to which I never received a response. I am aware that this alleged debt has switched hands at least several times. As such, I am naturally reticent to agree to the settlement of any alleged debt without the proper documentation that verifies both the legitimacy of said debt, and that the agency that is attempting to collect on said debt is the legitimate, legal possessor of that debt. 

Diversified Consultants, Inc. has clearly not conducted its affairs professionally or in good faith. I am, however, still willing to settle the alleged debt for the previously discussed amount of {$190.00}. I should not be in in any way penalized or subjected to a higher amount on account of the blatant, unprofessional negligence on the part of Diversified Consultants , Inc . 

This debt settlement will be paid with the explicit understanding that Diversified Consultants, Inc. will permanently remove this collections debt from my credit score.