Consumer complaint received 2024-12-22 00:00:00
Product: Debt collection — Telecommunications debt
Issue: Took or threatened to take negative or legal action — Threatened or suggested your credit would be damaged
Company: Amsher Collection Services, Inc.
State: AZ

Complaint narrative:
I became aware of a XXXX account that is being handled by Amsher Collection Services and is listed on my credit report as a delinquent or past due account with XXXX. I tried contacting XXXX regarding this matter because the only thing that this debt could pertain to is a router for my home internet service which I returned to a XXXX and was issued a receipt for the router approximately 9 months ago. XXXX explained to me that the router was not properly logged in to their main warehouse and for that reason, I was never given credit for the router and that I needed to wait for the router to now be located, logged in at their main warehouse and then the proper credit would be issued to my account. I tried to explain to the agent at XXXX that this is now way beyond that. I told the agent that the account has been placed with a 3rd party collection agency and it is adversely affecting my credit in significant ways. The agent at XXXX referred me to their collection agency Amsher Collection Services at XXXX. 
I called Amsher on XX/XX/XXXX and spoke with an agent who did not speak XXXX well enough for me to understand her name. I asked to speak with her supervisor and she declined to transfer me to anyone and said could only take a message. I went ahead and spoke to the very difficult to understand woman who went through a verification process which was really a pre written script in order to obtain my current contact and location information. The agent informed me that her final verification question included me providing her with a valid debit or credit card and allow her to charge {$1.00} to the card in order to prove my identity. At that point I asked the agent to please allow me to speak and to listen carefully and take notes and to stop me at any point if she had any questions. I then explained to the agent that A ) I do not owe the debt that is erroneously listed on my credit report by Amsher Collection Services. B ) I am hereby putting Amsher on notice that I am disputing the validity of the debt and request any and all documentation that Amsher can provide. I told the agent that I have not received a single notice from Amsher regarding their handling of the matter which is required under the FDCPA and that they are in violation of several State and Federal laws pertaining to collection of debts in particular the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( among others ) and that I do not owe this debt and that I have disputed this debt to the original credit granter who also has failed to validate the debt and instead, turned it over to Amsher as an alternative to validating the debt which also is a violation of the Law. The agent then attempted to convince me that I needed to contact the credit bureau itself if I disputed the debt and that the only way I would get relief from Amsher was to pay the debt in full. I again informed the agent that I do not owe the debt and why and that it is not my responsibility to prove that I dont owe it but rather it is XXXX and Amshers responsibility to prove that I do by providing documentation to include a written contract or other pertinent documentation and they have not done that. I have not received a single document from Amsher such as the 30 day notice to dispute the debt or any correspondence at all. The Amsher agent told me to contact the credit bureau if I dispute the debt or whats on my credit report. I informed the agent that me contacting the XXXX credit bureaus is not appropriate at this time and that I have disputed the debt with XXXX and now Amsher and that Amsher is reporting it to the Bureaus not XXXX and not the Bureaus themselves. And that I realize Amsher is only reporting what XXXX tells them to report however, they are responsible and liable for their own reporting and errors and that if I take legal action, it will be against Amsher as they are the Agency that is in violation of the FDCPA and the Fair Credit Reporting Act and again, under the law, I do not have to prove anything. Its not my responsibility under the law to prove I do not owe this debt, it is their responsibility to prove that I do by providing legal documentation in the form of a written contract or other prudent, tangible documents. Not their internal notes or records but something signed by me either in writing or virtual signature and that they have not done that and can not do that because such documentation does not exist. Rather than continue a debate over the law which this collection agent clearly does not understand nor adhere to, I again asked to speak to a supervisor and the agent refused and said would have someone from their legal department call me back. I told the agent to cease and desist all phone calls or other forms of contact unless or until they can provide me with validation of the debt. I also informed the agent I would be filing a complaint with the CFPB, the FTC and the AZ State Attorney General for their unlawful collection practices and for reporting a erroneous debt to my credit report and failing to validate the debt as per the FDCPA. She stated that she understood and would request someone from their legal department call me and could not promise the account would be removed from my credit report or not. After the call ended I sent an email to the corporate office of Amsher requesting validation of the debt and a phone call from the legal department and have not received a single thing from them.

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