Consumer complaint received 2018-06-10
Product: Debt collection — Other debt
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed — Debt is not yours
Company: Southwest Credit Systems, L.P. (NJ)

While owning a home at XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX XXXX, NJ XXXX for approximately 6 months, I only had electrical service from XXXX XXXX XXXX for approximately 3.5 months of this time due to many restrictions of the home being vacant for an extended period of time. During this time, I never received a bill for payment until after the property was sold and transferred out of my name. I received a bill for approximately {$770.00}. I disputed the bill because the property was a rehab and was vacant. After electric was turned on in XX/XX/XXXX, a majority of construction was already completed using a generator, which would have use of any major tools drawing power. There were no major appliances being used during this time until approximately one week before settlement. The home was being heated with portable propane heaters because of an current electric furnace that was not functioning. Due to this, we decided to switch furnace to gas. Approx 1 week before settlement, XXXX XXXX XXXX came to hook up their end, at which time they struck an underground wire which prompted XXXX XXXX XXXX to respond for repair. After completed, the furnace became operational just a few days before final settlement. The reason that information is important, is because the furnace system was literally the only major appliance operational and was only operating for just a few days. I disputed this information to XXXX XXXX XXXX, and advised them we have all receipts, documents, and township permits to support our claim. They even obviously have the info regarding their repair in their system. There was no investigation done and they just took approximately {$100.00} off of the bill. I deemed that to be unacceptable and tried to suggest that there must have been some type of issue with the meter ( which was replaced by them after the fact ). Or there really was no true reading and XXXX XXXX XXXX just estimates bills due to the seasons. Either way it is literally impossible to incur such charges. The first bill from XX/XX/XXXX-XX/XX/XXXX was approx {$10.00}, then XX/XX/XXXX-XX/XX/XXXX was approx {$30.00}, then the next two bills were over {$300.00}. It logistically makes no sense at all and I disputed that there must be an explanation on their end because nobody was living in the house and only power being used was light bulbs until just a few days before settlement. After I received the adjusted bill of {$100.00} dollars off from my initial dispute, I called back to ask for investigation results and was denied any explanation at all. I stated I wanted to dispute still and demanded an explanation. I never heard back from them until I got a call from XXXX XXXX offering me something after I verified some information. Oddly enough, the only reason I entertained an odd phone call from XXXX XXXX XXXX in the first place was because I had recently applied for a XXXX XXXX credit card. After I Verified information, Southwest then told me about a collection rather than a promotional offer. I was surprised and told them I have been waiting to hear back from XXXX XXXX XXXX. They told me they would put status in dispute and contact XXXX XXXX I then went to purchase a car and the dealership advised me that I have a collection status on my report. At this time I called back XXXX XXXX to again resolve the situation. Supervisor XXXX XXXX ( refused to provide full name ) stated hat she would look into the situation. I requested all communication between myself and the company and the only thing I received was the final bill they had sent me 2 years prior. I never heard back from her and called 2 more times and left her messages without any return. Then I was able to speak with a different supervisor, XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX ( also refusing to give first name ) who stated that the bill in question is too far out of date and no investigation could be completed but at the same time expects me to pay full balance for a situation that was never investigated at all or communicated with me. XXXX XXXX  XXXX did state however that he would look into the debt collection placed on my credit report. I explained to XXXX XXXX XXXX that I will and want to pay what is fairly owed, however there is clearly an unfair handling of my account with no regard for me and proper justice and accounting. Since then, I have not heard back from him, after following up with him 3 different times. So I called on XX/XX/XXXX and spoke to an employee only identified as XXXX and asked her if she could verify my calls in their system and she did verify all of my attempts to call in to speak with Ms. XXXX and XXXX XXXX XXXX. She then stated that XXXX XXXX XXXX was not in yet today and would leave him a message to call me anytime after XXXX XXXX. Like all of my other attempts to rectify the situation, I again did not get a return phone call from XXXX XXXX XXXX. I have NEVER missed a payment on anything in my life and up until recently had a steady 850+ credit score.  XXXX XXXX is abusing their power and authority with no regard for my personal being. All I wanted was to have this properly investigated with evidence of the alleged usage. XXXX XXXX XXXX was never able to provide the proof of usage to support their charges. Instead, they referred my bill to a collection agency, without ever trying to workout the situation, other the just send me a bill. Most of my documents are home depot receipts. If needed, I will contact my accountant for the settlement sheet proving sale just a few days after gas installation. However, both XXXX XXXX XXXX and XXXX XXXX XXXX will have records of their service work showing their work.