Consumer complaint received 2025-07-06 00:00:00
Product: Debt collection — Other debt
Issue: False statements or representation — Attempted to collect wrong amount
Company: Credit Counsel, Inc.
State: WA

Complaint narrative:
-I am XXXX XXXX military and currently XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX of last year, I started getting moisture coming up through the ground floor of my townhouse in Florida. My insurance provider, XXXX, was extremely unhelpful and were threatening to close out the claim. Their leak finder stated that it was condensation coming up through the slab and I knew it was a small plumbing related leak. So I contacted a local leak detection company to get a second opinion. Upon calling XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX different companies showed up at my house ( XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX and a public adjusting firm ). I was pressured into letting Restoration 1 start mitigation efforts on the spot ( ripping up flooring, cutting out damp drywall, etc ) to start the dryout. I received clearance from the XXXX claims adjuster over the phone and after Restoration 1 assured me they bill directly to insurance and I would not be responsible for any of the charges, I signed a contractual agreement with Restoration XXXX. 

When Restoration XXXX submitted the bill to XXXX, the initial figure was around $ XXXX. Upon reviewing the charges, I noticed that they billed for faulty equipment, equipment that was not on site and PPE that was not usedsome of this is verified not just by my photos, but the photos Restoration XXXX submitted to XXXX. I immediately notified Restoration XXXX and XXXX regarding these errors. That is when my problems with Restoration XXXX began. A few days later, Restoration XXXX submits the same exact bill to my insurance, but inflated the costs by 49 %, bringing the bill to almost $ XXXX. My insurance adjuster was trying to work on the billing issues and the costs with Restoration XXXX throughout the claims process over a course of months. They were unwilling to adjust anything even to simply remove the billing for the faulty equipment and items not used. They also indicated that they use industry standard pricing and inflate it and that I am report pay whatever they deem fit to charge. 

It took until about XXXX for XXXX to cut a check for the undisputed portion of the bill around $ XXXX. Restoration XXXX around the same time sent me a letter of demand. I formally responded with a letter challenging them on the enforceability of the contract due to the fraudulent billing, their obligation to mitigate my financial obligation by providing the insurance company with industry standard documentation, etc. While the check was in the mail from XXXX, they sent me to the first collection agency. That same day, I spoke with XXXX XXXX and they agreed to discharge/settle the debt upon receipt of the undisputed payment check from XXXX. ( All of which I have well documented ). XXXX closed out the account as settled around XXXX last year. 

In XX/XX/year>, I was PCS transferred from XXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX, WA. On XX/XX/year>, I received a call from another collection agency- Credit Counsel INC , XXXX XXXX XXXX FL XXXX XXXX XXXX from Credit Counsel is extremely aggressive both over the phone and via email. Since I was in the process of a cross country movemail is being forwarded --, I had not received anything from him to verify the debt in the mail. I formally emailed him, and responded with a letter dated by his cutoff date ( XX/XX/year> ) that I dispute the validity of the debt, am XXXX XXXX and XXXX, etc. I also requested that he verify the debt and charges, and provide his professional license # and he still has not responded. This man responded to me via email aggressively stating that I have until XX/XX/year>, to pay the bill in full or they will seek legal action.

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 explanation