Consumer complaint received 12/22/2016 about Debt collection (Other (i.e. phone, health club, etc.)) with Diversified Consultants, Inc. (CA).
Issue: Cont'd attempts collect debt not owed
Sub-issue: Debt is not mine

Complaint: Today I spoke with a few collectors working for Diversified Consultants Inc . I was speaking with them because I was attempting to purchase a home and was told that there was a collection account for {$68.00} reporting on my credit report. Because I have never had a collection account I was completely shocked. I was more shocked that this {$68.00} collection was the only thing keeping me from buying a home. 
Because it was the only thing keeping me from buying a home I asked the lender if I could simply pay it and move on even though I did n't recognize the debt and did not owe it. The lender said that unfortunately paid collections are still derogatory accounts on my credit report and it would do nothing to improve my score. At that point I became furious but decided to attempt to be political about the entire situation and contact Diversified Consultants. 
At first I spoke with XXXX. To make things concise and to the point, she admitted that they had my phone number but never made any contact with me about this debt. This debt being a XXXX XXXX " final bill '' from 3 years ago. I made it clear that I fulfilled my 2 year contract with XXXX XXXX and was on a month to month with them. I also made it clear that I stopped their services to switch providers in a proper manner. Furthermore, I pointed out to her that XXXX XXXX bills you a month in advance. Not only did I fulfill my obligation, I cancelled in a proper manner and paid any amount due. Never once did XXXX XXXX call me or bill me for any amount due. 
Not only did XXXX XXXX never bill me or call me for any amount, but any amount they claim I owe for a final bill is erroneous as they are paid a month in advance. Switching providers mid month would only cause me damage as I have paid in full for a month 's service that I will not receive. Furthermore, XXXX admitted that Diversified has never made phone contact with me and she admitted they had my phone number. She did try to claim they sent bills to my address but I have never received XXXX. In other words, they are placing an account on my credit report for money I do n't owe or that ANYONE has ever notified me about. Because I have been at my address for many years and have had my phone number for just as long, Diversified and XXXX XXXX have had ample opportunity to notify me about it. They have failed to do so. 

I even attempted to be amicable and offer them to pay the account in full since it was a measly {$68.00} in exchange for taking this account off my report. They refused. They stated that they do n't control the credit reporting ... I told them I knew that was a lie. Since it is their company who reports to the credit bureaus, they are the ones choosing to place and maintain the account on my report. When I then asked to speak to a supervisor I was transferred to XXXX XXXX. 

XXXX was just as bad as XXXX and further lied to me. He stated that They could n't remove accounts from the credit report since they did n't control the reporting and that was n't proper. If that was really true, then how about accounts that are fraudulent? Do those get permanently stuck on the credit report as well? Furthermore, would n't contacting me about the debt and giving XXXX a chance to dispute it before they damage my credit report be the proper way of collecting a debt? We all know the answer to both those questions. Also, when I told him I was filing a complaint against him and the prior representative, He gave me his full name but when I asked for XXXX 's, he said he ca n't give out the full names of employees ... I told him to transfer me back to XXXX and he refused. I asked him 6 times and he refused 6 times. I then asked him to speak to his manager and he sent me to his voicemail. He even went as far as to lie again and said we did n't have your phone number to contact you in order to protect himself.. I informed him XXXX already said they did so he was lying

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation