Consumer complaint received 2024-04-17 00:00:00
Product: Debt collection — Telecommunications debt
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed — Debt was paid
Company: Diversified Adjustment Service, Inc.
State: AZ

Complaint narrative:
To whom it may concern, I opened my XXXX account in XXXX. I was always in good standing. 

In XXXX of XXXX, I switched from a post-pay account to a pre-pay account. The XXXX representative I spoke to on the phone to make the change was very nice and helpful and was able to implement the change immediately. 

I was happy with my new plan. Then, in XX/XX/XXXX, I received a collections notice for {$150.00}. 

I contacted XXXX and was told that the collection notice was for an early termination fee of my contract. When I changed to a pre-pay account, apparently there was 1 more month left on the contract. 

First of all, I was not aware of being under contract. Having been a paying XXXX customer in good standing for nearly 10 years at that time, I didnt even consider being restricted in such a way. 

Secondly, and most importantly, the XXXX representative I spoke to on the phone to change my account to pre-pay NEVER mentioned the fact that I was under contract, that there would be a {$150.00} termination fee, or that I only had 1 month left on the contract. 

Had I been informed of the termination fee and length of time left on the contract during that initial phone conversation, my response would have been exactly this : Thank you very much. I will call you back in a month to make the change to a prepaid account. 

I spent two days speaking with at least three supervisors at XXXX, and they were all in agreement that I was not at fault, given that the XXXX representative failed to disclose that there would be a termination fee. They pulled the recorded call and confirmed the XXXX representative was 100 % at fault. 

It seemed to take quite a bit of work, but they finally managed to remove my account from collections. I was assured that I was now in good standing and did NOT owe the {$150.00} termination fee, especially since I never left XXXX, I simply changed to a new plan. 

The very next month, I received a bill in the mail for the {$150.00} termination fee. I immediately called XXXX again. I was told that they show a XXXX balance in their system and that I owe nothing. They can not figure out why I keep being sent bills for the termination fee. They also can not seem to stop them from coming. 

Every single month since XXXX, I have received a bill for the termination fee, yet XXXX reps insist that they show this situation is resolved. Thats why this recent collection notice is so surprising. 

XXXX removed the charge from my account in XXXX of XXXX. I closed my account with a XXXX balance in XXXX of XXXX. Now, 6 years later I am sent to collections? This clearly makes no sense. 

In closing, I do NOT owe this amount, and I refuse to ever pay this termination fee to anyone, XXXX, or collection agency. 

I sincerely appreciate any help is resolving this matter. 

Thank you.

Company public response: Company believes it acted appropriately as authorized by contract or law
Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation