Consumer complaint received 2024-12-09 00:00:00
Product: Debt collection — Telecommunications debt
Issue: Written notification about debt — Didn't receive notice of right to dispute
Company: Southwest Credit Systems, L.P.
State: FL

Complaint narrative:
I am submitting a formal complaint regarding an inaccurate collections account reported by Southwest Credit Systems LP ( " Southwest '' ) on my credit file that originated from XXXX. 

The debt is being wrongfully reported and has caused significant harm to my credit score, despite numerous attempts to resolve the issue directly with both XXXX and previous debt collectors. I believe there have been violations of both the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ) and the Fair Credit Reporting Act ( FCRA ), as well as issues regarding unfair billing practices by XXXX 

Summary of the Issue : 1. Inaccurate Debt I transferred my mobile service from XXXX to XXXX XXXX XXXX on XX/XX/XXXX, which effectively terminated my XXXX  service on that date. However, XXXX continued to bill me for services I did not receive after the transfer. Specifically, I received a bill for {$85.00} covering services from XX/XX/XXXX to XX/XX/XXXX. XXXX XXXX practice is to bill monthly in advance, and instead of crediting me for the unused service from XX/XX/XXXX to XX/XX/XXXX on my final bill, XXXX instead wrongfully billed me for a full additional month of service and claimed that I owed them the full amount along with unjustified late fees. 

2. Failure to Resolve and Identify I made several attempts to resolve this billing error with XXXX. However, I was unable to access my account information because XXXX customer service refused to identify me through any method other than a PIN, which I did not recall. Despite my efforts to resolve the issue, XXXX wrongfully sent the account to collections, adding late fees and charges to the inaccurate bill.

3. Reselling of the Debt I first learned that this account had been sent to collections when I received a letter from XXXX XXXX XXXX ( XXXX  ) on XX/XX/XXXX. I submitted an electronic dispute via their website on XX/XX/XXXX to which XXXX failed to respond in any way. Instead, they proceeded to report a collection account to my credit report. I successfully disputed this with XXXX, leading to the removal of the collection account from my credit report in XX/XX/XXXX. 

Subsequently, the debt was sold to XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX ( XXXX ), which reported it to my credit file in XX/XX/XXXX. I disputed the account again with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and successfully had it removed from my credit report in XX/XX/XXXX. Now, the account has been sold again, this time to Southwest who have reported it as a collections account opened on XX/XX/XXXX. 

This repeated resale of the debt resets the collection process timeline each time, forcing me to dispute the same inaccurate debt again and again. It has been over a year and a half since this debt was purportedly due ( XX/XX/XXXX ) yet this latest activity has unfairly restarted the clock. 

Further, the reselling of this debt and the subsequent re-reporting of it after it was removed from my credit file on multiple occasions indicates improper handling under the FCRA.

4. Failure to Notify Southwest has failed to notify me of their legal authority to collect the debt or provide me with a notification of my right to dispute the debt, in writing or otherwise, as required by the FDCPA. Instead, the only indication of this debts assignment to Southwest was its appearance on my credit report. This is a clear violation of the FDCPAs requirement to provide written notice of the debt.

5. Damage to My Credit The reporting of this erroneous debt has caused a significant and unjust decline in my credit rating, despite my consistent efforts to resolve the dispute. I do not owe this debt. It stems from an incorrect bill issued by XXXX after my service was terminated and XXXX actually owes me a credit for unused services. I however have no ability to dispute this debt directly with XXXX  as they have written off the amount and will only refer me to the collections agency when I attempt to contact their customer service department. I can not explain this problem to or resolve it with Southwest as they have nothing to do with XXXX billing practices. This account has already been written off three times by both the original creditor, XXXX, as well as 2 subsequent collection agencies, XXXX and XXXX. It is unreasonable and unfair for Southwest to report this as a collection account as of XX/XX/XXXX thereby restarting the clock in terms of the length of time that this derogatory remark can remain on my credit report and forcing me to dispute it all over again.

The following documents are attached for your review : Copy of the bill from XXXX for services after termination dated XXXX XX/XX/XXXX ; Copy of the letter from XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XX/XX/XXXX ; and Copy of my correspondence disputing the debt with XXXX, dated XX/XX/XXXX. 

I respectfully request the immediate removal of the collections account from Southwest from all credit bureaus and the restoration of my credit score to its previous standing before the erroneous collection was reported.

I trust that you will investigate this matter promptly and take the necessary steps to resolve this wrongful debt collection and credit reporting. Thank you for your attention to this matter. 

Regards, XXXX XXXX

Company response to consumer: Closed with non-monetary relief