Consumer complaint received 2022-03-02
Product: Debt collection — Other debt
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed — Debt was paid
Company: Monterey Financial Services LLC (CA)

Complaint:
Monterey financial contacted me last year sometime in the fall of XXXX with a letter stating I had a collection account with a dentist. They stated if this is not true please write us within 30 days. First, I called the dentist and they had told me I dont owe anything and that I paid the balance directly to the dentist in full on XX/XX/XXXX. I had ask for a record from the dentist but they stated just have collection company contact them if there was an issue.I then wrote a letter to Monterey financial and let them know I didnt owe the debt. I never heard back from them.fast forward to XX/XX/XXXX I get a notification that my credit score dropped due to a collection on my account. I immediately called Monterey Financial and they stated they had received my letter last year but they were still waiting to hear back from dentist. ( No follow through on their part ). I asked how can we prove to you since emailing doesnt work. They said have dentist call us. What I did instead is called the dentists with the operator on the line and she said that wont work. I told her to stay on the line and listen for the answer she needed. Then she tells me and the dentist that she needs a statement sent to me so I can forward to Monterey financial. Ok great, so I got one. Didnt hear anything back from Monterey so I called. Spoke to XXXX and she had stated that statement wouldnt work either ( even though it clearly showed I paid it in full XX/XX/XXXX ). 
So I got ahold of the dentists again and copied Monterey financial on it so they can send the statement to them directly. Told them to take the collection off my credit file as it hurts me as a consumer and a business. Hadnt heard anything back from Monterey so I called them again. XXXX told me collection is as stands on credit report and this case was basically closed, then she told me to hold on. Gets back on the phone and tells me collection was closed on Monday the XXXX. Asked if she sent any thing to collections to take off my record. She said no. ( Keep in mind it is now Friday the XXXX ). I asked her to take it off my credit report ( she says it can take up to 30 days ) I also asked her for proof and send me the letter, XXXX also told me that can take up to 24 hours to get me a letter in an email. Fast forward to XX/XX/XXXX- it clearly has been more than XXXX hours, and still no letter from XXXX. At this point I seriously doubt she sent anything to Collection agency. I emailed my dentist again and threatened a lawsuit and Monterey financial and then I got a letter stating she sent to credit companies on the XXXX and letter was dated XX/XX/XXXX. 

This company has fraudulently put my account in collections. They bought out another collection agency and assumed all debt was valid when it wasnt. 

This company has very bad business tactics and has no follow through. 

If I were to mess with their lives like they have mine I am sure they wouldnt be too happy.

Company public response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law
Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief