Consumer complaint received 07-07-2016 about Debt collection (Other (i.e. phone, health club, etc.)) with Allied Interstate LLC (MO).
Issue: Cont'd attempts collect debt not owed
Sub-issue: Debt was paid

Complaint: XX/XX/XXXX I disconnected my XXXX XXXX receiver in preparation to cancel my service because I was getting ready to move. 

At that time I attempted to call XXXX to notify them of my cancellation. I was unable to reach the company by phone because they use an automated system ... and the automated system required a XXXX digit code in order for me to get further into the process. ( I checked my account, my billing statement, and anywhere else I could imagine there might be a code that would allow me to have real phone contact with a real person at XXXX. But no such code could be found ). 

Therefore, I contacted XXXX by email in XXXX XXXX to notify them of my cancellation and also of my inability to contact them by phone. I also let them know that while I wanted my service cancelled in XX/XX/XXXX, I would pay my bill through XX/XX/XXXX and asked for shipping materials to return my equipment. XXXX XXXX from XXXX XXXX sent an appropriate response by email the following day, apologizing for my difficulty and also that they would let their " Loyalty Department '' know that my service is cancelled and to forward packing materials for my equipment. 

On XX/XX/XXXX I received an email from XXXX notifying me that payment on my account was " significantly past due. '' I emailed them back and told them I 'd cancelled in XX/XX/XXXX - and had a confirmation email from them acknowledging that, and that I was still waiting for my packaging for equipment return. To which I got no response. 

On XXXX XXXX I sent another email to various departments at XXXX out of frustration that I still had not heard from them, nor received packing materials for equipment. I also attached the previous email correspondences asking to cancel service and send shipping materials. Later that day I received a follow up email from XXXX XXXX who had gotten my email from his CEO and was asked to resolve my issue. We had a phone conversation and I was apologized to, and assured that I would get my packing materials immediately, and my account would be paid in full as of XX/XX/XXXX. 

I finally got the boxes to return the equipment ( not once but twice ) along with a letter inside each box that outlined how to return the equipment if it was still of use to XXXX. The letters gave a series of numbers to check my equipment against to determine if it should be returned. My equipment ( at that point XXXX XXXX XXXX ) was considered " Obsolete, and should be disposed of responsibly '' in both letters. It also indicated to remove the white data chip and throw it away and not to attempt to sell any of the components. 

I did all of the above. 

In XX/XX/XXXX I received a notice from XXXX that I was being charged {$98.00} for unreturned equipment. I contacted them yet again and told them that according to them my equipment was " Obsolete '' and I was to discard it. 

Dish subsequently turned my account over to a collection agency - to whom I explained the long running issue and they said they would notify XXXX XXXX. 

I heard nothing further and assumed the issue had been taken care of. 

Now XX/XX/XXXX ( nearly two years later ), I get a letter from Allied Interstate notifying me that XXXX is willing to settle my account for {$55.00}? ... for equipment that they told me to discard because it was obsolete. I do not owe XXXX anything - I have n't owed them since I paid my final monthly statement XX/XX/XXXX. 

I sent Allied Interstate this information along with all the supporting documentation and correspondences between XXXX XXXX & myself. They told me it would go into " Dispute status '' XXXX XXXX. 

After 30 days I followed up on the status and they sent me the following email, " It 's been validated and the account is on Active Status '' which I 've asked for clarification on the meaning of, including the response from XXXX XXXX.

Company public response: Company has responded to the consumer and the CFPB and chooses not to provide a public response
Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief