Consumer complaint received 2019-10-29
Product: Debt collection — Other debt
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed — Debt was paid
Company: Franklin Collection Service, Inc. (CA)

In XX/XX/XXXX I moved and tried to get my internet transferred. On 4 different occasions I had XXXX XXXX XXXX out and they could only get it working intermittently so it would constantly disconnect. Additionally, because my complex wouldnt allow XXXX to install a dish, and I had a package deal, I was now being charged twice as much, $ XXXX/month for internet that wouldnt work. It was better than nothing until I could get other internet installed, which I did with XXXX approximately XXXX of XXXX. Despite my canceling, XXXX XXXX XXXX continued to charge me for approximately another month. Additionally, I had spoken with XXXX XXXX XXXX multiple times and was supposed to be charged only {$40.00} per month instead of {$60.00}, like when I had the package deal with XXXX. I was also supposed to receive several credits due to having to miss work 4 times for service technicians coming out but not being able to get my internet working properly. I was told that by the second visit they knew my complex management would not allow them to install new wiring and there was nothing that could be done. So after canceling I continued to get ridiculous bills from XXXX XXXX XXXX and I spent multiple hours on the phone being referred to different supervisors and departments, each time being told that my account had been adjusted so I only owed a total of {$40.00} that would show up in a couple of days, only to have to do the same thing all over again. I cant tell you how many times Ive been in tears because of this, the hold it has taken on my life for a year now as a single parent. Anyway, I finally thought Id found salvation when I spoke with a supervisor supposedly high up in the company who apologized profusely for what Id been through and assured me my balance was {$0.00}. A week later I received a collection notice for {$140.00} and started getting calls. I will be XXXX   if Im gon na pay a penny to these monsters who at this point should be paying me for putting me through XXXX. I tried explaining why I dont owe the money to the collection people who of course dont care. I tried calling XXXX XXXX XXXX again and wasted a whole lot of time to be eventually told my account was closed and there was nothing they could do. It began showing up on my credit reports and I began disputing it with all 3. Only time Ive ever been told they couldnt process my dispute and I needed to contact credit bureaus and do it all over again. My credit score finally jumped up a couple months ago and I thought it was over. Today I get alerts that my score has dropped dramatically and a large reason is because of the collection account for {$140.00}. Somehow Franklin Collections ( not sure if that was the original collection agency ) has it on my account listed as added on XX/XX/XXXX, when I started dealing with collections a full year earlier in XX/XX/XXXX! I am again trying to electronically dispute with XXXX, spent an hour on the phone with XXXX, and still need to do the same with ExperXXXXan. My score has taken a major hit due to this petty amount, which I refuse to pay on principal. This should be criminal. It is attempted theft of my money and theft of my time, mental health and ability to utilize my credit score when needed, which Im sure they are counting on so they can squeeze me into paying them {$100.00}!!! A few months ago I tried to finance {$200.00} tires because I had been laid off from my job and couldnt afford to buy them. I was declined SOLELY due to the existence of this one collections account, I was told by XXXX XXXX personally. All involved need to be held accountable for this. XXXX XXXX XXXX and Franklin Collections are frauds and thieves.