Consumer complaint received 2025-09-11 00:00:00
Product: Debt collection — Other debt
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed — Debt is not yours
Company: TekCollect Inc.
State: FL

Complaint narrative:
The issue is that I am being pursued for a XXXX debt even though treatment was never completed due to the companys bankruptcy. I made consistent, on-time payments throughout my plan, with my final payment on XX/XX/XXXX. By tray XXXX, the aligners no longer fit properly, and before I could receive replacements, XXXX ceased operations, leaving me without the services I was paying for. I informed XXXX, the financing company, that I should not be charged for treatment that was never provided and requested that the charges be disputed. 

After requesting a dispute with XXXX, the account was sent to TekCollect for collections. I spoke with XXXX  by phone several times before this transfer, explaining that contracts go both ways I should not be expected to continue paying for services when the company had gone bankrupt and failed to deliver treatment. Despite this, XXXX forwarded the balance to collections. 

In XX/XX/XXXX, I formally disputed the alleged {$1600.00} balance in writing with TekCollect. My email, sent XX/XX/XXXX, stated : " Dear TekCollect Team, I am writing regarding my XXXX account, currently in collection with your agency. I am formally disputing the remaining balance of {$1600.00} for the following reasons : Services Not Provided : My treatment with XXXX was abruptly halted due to the companys bankruptcy. I never received full treatment as promised in my original contract. This left me unable to complete my care, which directly affects the validity of the remaining balance.

Lack of Communication / Unresponsive Company : Despite multiple attempts, I was unable to reach XXXX directly to resolve issues or clarify account status. This lack of responsiveness prevented me from obtaining proper guidance regarding my account and payments. 

Continued Charges After Bankruptcy : I was charged for an extended period after XXXX ceased operations and after my treatment was halted. While I acknowledge that XXXX had applied a minor credit of {$89.00} as part of the NY Attorney General settlement, this is grossly inadequate compared to the remaining balance and does not reflect the impact of halted treatment and continued billing. 

Previous HFD Guidance Ignored : A few months ago, I contacted XXXX regarding these charges. I was informed that the charges should be disputed due to lack of services, yet the account was subsequently sent to your agency for collections. This sequence of events reflects mismanagement and is irresponsible and not reflective of the original contractual agreement. 

Objective of Dispute : I am not seeking a refund for payments already made after the bankruptcy. My dispute is solely regarding the remaining balance. Given that the services corresponding to this balance were never provided and that the company is now defunct, this debt is invalid and should be removed. 

Based on the above, I respectfully request that TekCollect cease collection efforts and remove the remaining balance from my account. Please confirm receipt of this dispute and provide a written acknowledgment that the remaining balance is under review, and collection will be halted during this process. 

Thank you for your attention to this matter. 

Sincerely, XXXX XXXX '' On XX/XX/XXXX, TekCollect responded with an offer of 25 % off the balance but did not provide validation. I sent a follow-up email on XX/XX/XXXX, stating : " Dear TekCollect Team, Thank you for your recent response offering a XXXX XXXX reduction in the alleged balance. However, as stated in my prior correspondence dated XX/XX/XXXX, I am formally disputing this debt in its entirety. 

The balance stems from services never provided, as XXXX ceased operations, and I was unable to complete my treatment. Continuing to pursue payment without proper validation of this debt is inconsistent with the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ). 

While I acknowledge your settlement offer, it does not fulfill my request for validation. I require documentation proving that services were actually rendered, along with an accurate, itemized accounting of the alleged charges, including payments made, credits applied, and how the balance was calculated. 

Furthermore, given that XXXX is bankrupt and my treatment was never completed, I believe that proper validation of this alleged debt is not possible. Until such documentation is provided, I continue to dispute this debt as invalid. Please note that continued collection activity without proper validation may be reported to the Federal Trade Commission ( FTC ), the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ( CFPB ), and my state attorney generals office.

I respectfully request again that TekCollect : Cease all collection activity on this account until proper validation is provided ( recognizing that full validation may be difficult, as XXXX is bankrupt and my treatment was never completed ) Confirm in writing that the account is marked as disputed. 

If this matter is not resolved appropriately, I will have no choice but to file formal complaints with the above agencies. 

Sincerely, XXXX XXXX '' On XX/XX/XXXX, I discovered that TekCollect had reported the account to my credit despite my prior disputes. I immediately sent a final notice citing violations of the FDCPA and FCRA, demanding removal from all credit bureaus, and advising that I would be filing complaints with the CFPB, FTC, and State Attorneys General. 

Given that XXXX went bankrupt, my treatment was never completed, and I consistently made timely payments, I should not be held responsible for this alleged balance. The company failed to provide the contracted services, and XXXX and TekCollect pursued collection without proper validation, ultimately reporting inaccurate information to the credit bureaus. Contracts require performance from both parties, and I can not be required to pay for services that were never delivered. These grievances clearly demonstrate that this debt is invalid and should be removed from my credit report.

Company public response: Company believes complaint represents an opportunity for improvement to better serve consumers
Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation