Consumer complaint received 2025-11-25 00:00:00
Product: Debt collection — Other debt
Issue: False statements or representation — Attempted to collect wrong amount
Company: Debt Collectors International, Inc.
State: NJ

Complaint narrative:
b'CFPB COMPLAINT - DEBT COLLECTION DISPUTE\nDate: XX/XX/XXXX\nComplainant: XXXX XXXX\nCompany: XXXX XXXX XXXX\nAddress: XXXX XXXX XXXX, XXXX, NJ XXXX\nEmail: XXXX\nComplaint Against:\n1.\tXXXXh XXXX XXXX XXXX (Original Creditor)\n2.\tDebt Collectors International, Inc. (Collection Agency)\nClaim Number: XXXX\nDisputed Amount: XXXX\nAmount Already Paid: XXXX (for services not rendered)\nLegitimate Amount Owed: XXXX\n________________________________________\nEXECUTIVE SUMMARY\nI am filing this complaint against Debt Collectors International, Inc. and XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX for attempting to collect XXXX for services that were not provided as contracted.\nThe Situation:\nXXXX XXXX XXXX had XXXX contracts with XXXX XXXX XXXX for white-label Meta advertising services (XXXX each, XXXX-month minimum):\n\tContract 1 (Company A): Services were being provided as agreed\n\tContract 2 (Company B): Services were NOT provided as contracted - THIS IS THE DISPUTE\nFor Contract 2 (Company B - signed XX/XX/XXXX):\n\tXXXX: Only minimal CRM and XXXX XXXX setup completed\n\tXXXXXXXXXXXX: ZERO ongoing services provided despite my client being unable to provide necessary materials\n\tI immediately notified XXXX XXXX XXXX of the impossibility of providing services without client materials\n\tThey refused to pause billing or work with me in good faith\n\tThey continued charging XXXX/month while providing zero deliverables\nMy Response:\n\tI paid XXXX (XXXX) for setup work\n\tI paid XXXX (XXXX) under protest\n\tIn XXXX, their material breach and bad faith was so severe that I terminated BOTH contracts - even Contract 1 which was working\n\tI did not use services for the final month(s) of either contract\n\tI made a clean break when they proved they would charge for impossible/non-performed services\nCurrent Situation:\n\tXXXX XXXX XXXX sent account to collections\n\tDebt Collectors International demanding XXXX\n\t5-day threat of litigation\n\tHanging up when I tried to explain the dispute\n\tRefusing to validate debt or discuss legitimate issues\nTotal Harm: XXXX already paid for minimal services + XXXX being demanded = XXXX for basic XXXX setup work only\n________________________________________\nDETAILED TIMELINE - CONTRACT 2 (COMPANY B)\nContract Signed: XX/XX/XXXX\nContract Details:\n\tService: XX/XX/XXXX (white-label)\n\tMonthly fee: XX/XX/XXXX\n\tTerm: XX/XX/XXXX-month minimum commitment\n\tDocument Ref: XX/XX/XXXX\n\tSigned via XX/XX/XXXX\nServices Promised:\n1.\tBlueprint complete Ad Build in client\'s ad account\n2.\tCreate offers that demand action\n3.\tCreate variations of ad copy\n4.\tCreate variations of images and videos\n5.\tCreate custom CRM with shared access\n6.\tSetup automated text & email campaigns\n7.\tMedia Buyers regularly optimize campaigns\n8.\tAccount managers regularly connect with clients\n9.\tReal-time reporting via XX/XX/XXXX\nXX/XX/XXXX - Minimal Setup Only\nWhat Was Provided:\n\tInitial CRM setup\n\tInitial XXXX XXXX account setup\nWhat Was NOT Provided:\n\tNo ad campaigns created or launched\n\tNo offer strategy developed\n\tNo ad copy variations\n\tNo image/video creatives\n\tNo automated campaigns\n\tNo optimization work\n\tNo account management\n\tNo reporting\nThe Problem: My client failed to provide necessary materials, information, and assets needed to run advertising campaigns. I immediately notified XXXX XXXX XXXX  that work could not proceed beyond basic setup without client materials.\nPayment: XXXX charged and paid\nXX/XX/XXXX - ZERO Services Provided\nWhat Was Provided: NOTHING\n\tNo campaigns launched\n\tNo optimization\n\tNo account management\n\tNo reporting\n\tClient still hadn\'t provided materials\n\tServices remained impossible to perform\nMy Actions:\n\tNotified XXXX XXXX XXXX that client materials weren\'t available\n\tInformed them work could not be performed\n\tRequested they pause billing or provide credit\nTheir Response:\n\tContinued charging full XXXX/month\n\tProvided zero services\n\tRefused to adjust billing\nPayment: XXXX charged and paid under protest\nXX/XX/XXXX - Material Breach Leads to Termination\nWhat Was Provided: NOTHING\n\tStill no campaigns\n\tStill no ongoing work\n\tStill no client materials\n\tStill zero services beyond XXXX setup\nMy Actions:\n\tStopped automatic payment for Contract 2\n\tContacted XXXX XXXX XXXX to dispute charges\n\tRequested refund/credit for XXXX (zero services)\n\tRequested waiver of XXXX charge (zero services)\n\tDue to their material breach and bad faith, I terminated BOTH contracts\n\tStopped Contract 1 (Company A) even though it was working\n\tDid not use services for final month(s) of either contract\nTheir Response:\n\tNo response to emails\n\tNo attempt to resolve\n\tSent account to collections\nXXXX XXXX - Sent to Collections\nContract Status:\n\tContract 2 expired: XX/XX/XXXX (XXXX months from signing)\n\tXXXX charges are completely outside contract term\nCollection Activity:\n\tAccount sent to Debt Collectors International, Inc.\n\tAmount inflated to XXXX\n\tCollection letter receivedXX/XX/XXXX\n\tXX/XX/XXXX-day payment deadline with litigation threats\n\tRefused to discuss legitimate dispute\n\tHung up when I tried to explain\n________________________________________\nTHE CORE DISPUTE\nWhat I\'m Disputing:\nContract 2 (Company B) charges for:\n1.\tXX/XX/XXXX (XXXX) - Zero services provided beyond XXXX  setup\n2.\tXX/XX/XXXX ($497) - Zero services provided beyond XXXX  setup\n3.\tXX/XX/XXXX (XXXX) - Partially/fully outside contract term + zero services\n4.\tXX/XX/XXXX (XX/XX/XXXX) - COMPLETELY outside contract term (unauthorized)\n5.\tPenalties/fees (approximately XXXX)\nTotal Disputed: XXXX\nWhat I Already Paid:\nJXX/XX/XXXX: XXXX - Acknowledged some setup work completed XX/XX/XXXX: XXXX - Zero ongoing services provided\nTotal Paid: XXXX for minimal XXXX  setup + nothing in XXXX\nThe Fundamental Issues:\n1. Services Could Not Be Performed\n\tContract required client materials to deliver services\n\tClient never provided necessary materials\n\tI notified them immediately\n\tPerformance was objectively impossible\n\tThey continued charging anyway\n2. No Ongoing Services Delivered\n\tContract promised "regularly optimize campaigns" - Never happened\n\tContract promised "regularly connect with clients" - Never happened\n\tContract promised "real-time reporting" - Never happened\n\tOnly minimal XXXX setup was completed\n\tXXXX: Zero deliverables\n3. Material Breach and Bad Faith\n\tI notified them services couldn\'t proceed without client materials\n\tGood faith required them to pause billing or adjust charges\n\tThey refused and continued charging full fees\n\tThey ignored my dispute attempts\n\tThis material breach justified terminating entire business relationship\n4. Contract Expired\n\tSigned: XX/XX/XXXX\n\tTerm: 3 months\n\tExpired: XX/XX/XXXX\n\tXXXXr charges are completely unauthorized\n5. I Did Not Use Services I Didn\'t Pay For\n\tWhen I stopped paying, I stopped using services\n\tI terminated both contracts\n\tI didn\'t try to get free services\n\tI made clean break due to their breach\n________________________________________\nWHY THEIR ANTICIPATED DEFENSES FAIL\nDefense: "We tried to follow up and you said client wasn\'t responding"\nMy Response: Yes, I notified them client materials weren\'t available, which made performance IMPOSSIBLE. This should have triggered billing pause, not continued charges for zero work.\nLegal Reality:\n\tImpossibility of Performance: When performance becomes impossible through no fault of either party, both are excused (Restatement 2d Contracts  261)\n\tSubstantial Performance Required: Being "ready and willing"  actually performing. Zero deliverables = zero performance\n\tDuty of Good Faith: When notified services couldn\'t proceed, good faith required accommodation, not continued charging (Restatement 2d Contracts  205)\n\tNo Consideration: No value provided = no payment owed\n\tUnconscionability: Requiring XXXX for services that couldn\'t be and weren\'t performed is unconscionable\nIndustry Standard: When clients can\'t provide materials, reputable agencies:\n\tPause billing until materials received\n\tOffer reduced rates\n\tApply credits to future months\n\tWork collaboratively on solutions\nXXXX XXXX XXXX  did none of this. They simply charged full fees while delivering nothing.\nDefense: "You signed a 3-month minimum contract"\nMy Response: 3-month minimum assumes the vendor will actually provide contracted services. They provided only minimal XXXX setup, then nothing.\nLegal Reality:\n\tMaterial breach by one party excuses the other\'s performance\n\tSubstantial performance is required to collect payment\n\tMinimal setup  substantial performance for ongoing service contract\n\tContract expired XX/XX/XXXX anyway\nDefense: "Contract says \'no refunds\'"\nMy Response: "No refunds" clauses are unenforceable when services aren\'t provided. This is unjust enrichment.\nLegal Reality:\n\tUnconscionable terms are void\n\tCourts don\'t enforce terms that result in extreme one-sided benefit\n\tTaking money without providing value = unjust enrichment\n\t"No refunds" doesn\'t shield non-performance\n________________________________________\nTERMINATION OF BOTH CONTRACTS\nWhy I Stopped Everything\nXXXX XXXX XXXX\'s material breach and bad faith on Contract 2 was so severe that I lost all confidence in their business practices. Their conduct demonstrated:\n\tWillingness to charge for impossible services\n\tRefusal to work with customers in good faith\n\tIgnoring legitimate disputes\n\tPrioritizing revenue over fair dealing\nI terminated both contracts, including Contract 1 which was performing, because:\n1.\tTheir breach on Contract 2 showed they couldn\'t be trusted\n2.\tAnticipatory repudiation - their conduct indicated future non-performance\n3.\tI couldn\'t continue business relationship with company acting in bad faith\n4.\tI did not use services I stopped paying for\nThis demonstrates:\n\tSeverity of their breach (justified terminating even working contract)\n\tMy good faith (walked away from services I was receiving)\n\tConsistent action (didn\'t cherry-pick disputes)\n\tPrincipled decision (sacrificed working relationship due to their wrongdoing)\n________________________________________\nCURRENT COLLECTION ACTIVITY VIOLATIONS\nDebt Collectors International, Inc. - FDCPA Violations\n1. False or Misleading Representations (15 U.S.C.  1692e)\n\tAttempting to collect XXXX for services not rendered\n\tClaiming I "owe everything because I signed contract" (ignores material breach doctrine)\n\tInflating debt without proper validation\n\tMisrepresenting amount owed\n2. Failure to Validate Debt (15 U.S.C.  1692g)\n\tNo documentation provided showing services were rendered\n\tNo proof of deliverables for XXXX XXXXn\tNo explanation of how debt increased to XXXX\n\tProceeding with collection threats without validation\n3. Harassment (15 U.S.C.  1692d)\n\tUnreasonably short 5-day deadline before litigation threat\n\tHanging up when I attempted to explain legitimate dispute\n\tRefusing to engage with valid concerns\n\tThreatening litigation without proper debt validation\n4. Unfair Practices (15 U.S.C.  1692f)\n\tAttempting to collect amount not authorized by contract (XXXX charges after expiration)\n\tAttempting to collect fees/penalties when original creditor breached\n5. Communication in Violation of Request (if applicable)\n\tI will be requesting all communications be in writing only\n\tI am currently on medical bed rest outside the United States\n\tPhone calls exacerbate my medical condition\n\tAny phone contact after written request will violate 15 U.S.C.  1692c(c)\n________________________________________\nXXXX XXXX XXXX - VIOLATIONS\n1. Breach of Contract\n\tFailed to provide "regular optimization" as promised\n\tFailed to provide "regular account management" as promised\n\tFailed to provide "real-time reporting" as promised\n\tProvided only minimal setup, then nothing for months\n2. Unjust Enrichment\n\tCollected XXXX for minimal XXXX  setup + zero XXXX services\n\tDemanding XXXX  more for XXXX non-services\n\tTotal: XXXX for basic setup work only\n\tTaking money without providing value = unjust enrichment\n3. Bad Faith / Unfair Business Practices\n\tContinued charging when services couldn\'t be performed\n\tRefused to pause billing when notified of impossibility\n\tIgnored dispute resolution attempts\n\tSent to collections without addressing legitimate dispute\n\tViolated duty of good faith and fair dealing\n4. Consumer Fraud (Potential)\n\tCharging for services not rendered\n\tRefusing to refund for non-performance\n\tUnconscionable contract enforcement\n\tMay violate NJ Consumer Fraud Act and FL Deceptive Trade Practices Act\n________________________________________\nHARM CAUSED\nFinancial Harm\n\tXXXX already paid for services largely not rendered\n\tXXXX being demanded for impossible/non-performed services\n\tTotal exposure: XXXX for basic July setup only\n\tLost Contract 1 services due to their breach on Contract 2\n\tDevastating for small business during financial hardship\nOperational Harm\n\tTime and resources diverted from business operations\n\tStress while on medical bed rest\n\tUnable to focus on business recovery\n\tThreat of litigation\nEmotional Harm\n\tSignificant stress and anxiety\n\tExacerbated by being on medical bed rest\n\tCurrently outside United States, unable to address in person\n\tHarassment and intimidation tactics\nCredit/Reputation Risk\n\tPotential negative credit reporting\n\tAppearance of non-payment despite legitimate dispute\n\tBusiness reputation at risk\n________________________________________\nMEDICAL HARDSHIP & SPECIAL CIRCUMSTANCES\nCurrent Situation\nI am currently on medical bed rest outside the United States. This creates several issues:\nMedical Limitations:\n\tCannot handle stress of phone calls\n\tCannot travel to United States for any proceedings\n\tNeed all communications in writing via email\n\tPhone contact exacerbates medical condition\nInternational Location:\n\tCurrently abroad for medical reasons\n\tCannot address this matter in person\n\tTime zone differences complicate phone communication\n\tMust handle everything remotely\nRequest for Accommodations:\n\tAll communications via email only: XXXX\n\tExtended response times if needed due to medical condition\n\tRemote participation in any proceedings\n\tNo phone contact\n________________________________________\nFINANCIAL HARDSHIP\nXXXX XXXX XXXX Current Financial Status\nXXXX XXXX XXXX is experiencing severe financial hardship:\nBusiness Situation:\n\tSignificant revenue decline\n\tStruggling to maintain operations\n\tCannot afford XXXX  for services not rendered\n\tAlready lost XXXX to XXXX XXXX XXXX\n\tLost Contract 1 services due to their breach\nFinancial Impact:\n\tTotal claimed: XXXX (XXXX paid + XXXX demanded)\n\tThis represents significant portion of operating budget\n\tPayment would cause severe hardship\n\tMay force business closure\nGood Faith:\n\tWe paid XXXX already despite minimal services\n\tWe\'re not seeking to avoid legitimate debts\n\tWe\'re refusing to pay for services that weren\'t provided\n\tWe walked away from Contract 1 services we were receiving\n\tWe sacrificed working relationship due to principle\nCannot Pay: Even if they win judgment, we cannot pay XXXX. This makes us effectively judgment-proof, making litigation pointless for them.\n________________________________________\nDOCUMENTATION AVAILABLE\nI can provide the following supporting documents:\n1.\t Contract for Company B (PandaDoc Ref: XXXX, signed XX/XX/XXXX)\n2.\t Evidence of Contract 1 - Documentation showing we had two contracts, stopped both\n3.\t Email communications notifying NAA that client materials weren\'t provided\n4.\t Email communications requesting halt or adjustment of billing\n5.\t Email communications attempting to resolve dispute\n6.\t Bank/credit card statements showing XXXX XXXX) and XXXX (XXXX) payments\n7.\t Collection letter from Debt Collectors International dated XX/XX/XXXX\n8.\t Proof of zero services provided: \no\tNo ad campaigns launched\no\tNo reporting provided\no\tNo optimization performed\no\tNo ongoing account management\n9.\t Documentation of terminating both contracts\n10.\t Evidence of not using services after stopping payment\nCritical Point: XXXX XXXX XXXX cannot provide documentation of services rendered XXXX because no ongoing services were provided beyond minimal XXXX setup.\n________________________________________\nRESOLUTION REQUESTED\nPrimary Request: Complete Waiver of XXXX\nI am requesting:\n1. Immediate Cessation of Collection Activity\n\tStop all collection attempts until proper investigation\n\tRemove 5-day litigation threat\n\tEngage in good faith discussion of legitimate dispute\n2. Proper Debt Validation Required XXXX XXXX XXXX must provide proof of:\n\tServices rendered inXX/XX/XXXX (campaigns, optimization, management, reporting)\n\tServices rendered in XX/XX/XXXX (same)\n\tServices rendered in XX/XX/XXXX (same)\n\tServices rendered in XX/XX/XXXX (same)\n\tLegal basis for charges after contract expired (XX/XX/XXXX)\n\tAuthorization for charges when services were impossible to perform\nWhen they cannot provide this proof (because services weren\'t rendered), the debt must be waived.\n3. Fair Resolution Based on Actual Services\nXX/XX/XXXX (XX/XX/XXXX): Already paid - Some setup work completed\nXX/XX/XXXX (XXXX): Already paid - Zero ongoing services provided (should be refunded but I\'ll accept the loss)\nXX/XX/XXXX (XXXX: Should be WAIVED\n\tZero ongoing services provided\n\tI notified them services couldn\'t proceed\n\tGood faith required billing pause\nXX/XX/XXXX (XXXX: Should be WAIVED\n\tContract expired XXXX 10\n\tZero ongoing services provided\n\tPartially/fully outside contract term\nXX/XX/XXXX (XXXX): Should be WAIVED\n\tCOMPLETELY outside contract term\n\tZero services provided\n\tUnauthorized charge\nPenalties/Fees (XXXX): Should be WAIVED\n\tThey materially breached first\n\tCannot penalize customer when vendor doesn\'t perform\n\tUnconscionable when services weren\'t provided\nProposed Resolution:\n\tI keep the XXXX loss (considering it payment for XXXX  setup + tolerance)\n\tThey waive the entire XXXX collection amount\n\tNo credit reporting\n\tWritten agreement that matter is resolved\n4. Alternative - Financial Hardship Accommodation\nIf they insist on some payment despite non-performance:\n\tAcknowledge my severe financial hardship\n\tSubstantial reduction to reflect actual services (XXXX setup only)\n\tPayment plan if any amount deemed owed (XXXX/month maximum)\n\tWaiver of all penalties and collection fees\n\tNo credit reporting during or after resolution\n5. Accommodations for Medical Situation\n\tAll communications via email only: XXXX\n\tNo phone contact\n\tExtended response times if needed\n\tRemote participation in any proceedings\n\tRecognition of international location and medical bed rest\n6. Investigation of Unfair Practices Request CFPB investigate:\n\tXXXX XXXX XXXX\'s practice of charging for impossible/non-performed services\n\tTheir "no refunds" policy even when services aren\'t rendered\n\tTheir refusal to pause billing when notified of impossibility\n\tTheir bad faith refusal to engage in dispute resolution\n\tDebt collector\'s FDCPA violations\n\tDebt collector\'s refusal to properly validate debt\n7. No Credit Reporting Prevent any negative credit reporting while dispute is investigated and resolved. This would devastate our struggling business.\n________________________________________\nSTATEMENT OF GOOD FAITH\nXXXX XXXX XXXX has acted in good faith throughout:\nWe Paid When Services Were Provided:\n\tXX/XX/XXXX: Paid XXXX for setup work\n\tXX/XX/XXXX: Paid XXXX despite zero ongoing services\nWe Notified Immediately of Issues:\n\tInformed them client materials weren\'t available\n\tExplained services couldn\'t proceed without materials\n\tRequested billing adjustment or pause\n\tAttempted resolution before stopping payment\nWe Acted Consistently and on Principle:\n\tStopped both contracts when their breach became clear\n\tTerminated even Contract 1 which was working\n\tDidn\'t use services we stopped paying for\n\tSacrificed working relationship due to their bad faith\n\tMade clean break rather than continuing problematic relationship\nWe\'re Not Avoiding Legitimate Debts:\n\tWe paid XXXX already\n\tWe walked away from Contract 1 services\n\tWe\'re refusing to pay for services that were objectively impossible to perform and weren\'t performed\n\tThis is about their non-performance, not our dissatisfaction\nWe Attempted Resolution:\n\tMultiple emails to XXXX XXXX XXXX\n\tNo responses received\n\tThey refused to engage\n\tSent to collections without addressing legitimate dispute\nWe Have Financial Hardship:\n\tBusiness revenue declined significantly\n\tStruggling to maintain operations\n\tCannot afford XXXX for non-performed services\n\tAlready lost XXXX + Contract 1 services due to their breach\nThis isn\'t refusal to pay legitimate debts. This is refusal to pay for services that couldn\'t be and weren\'t provided, combined with severe financial hardship and their material breach and bad faith.\n________________________________________\nREQUESTED CFPB ACTION\n1.\tInvestigate Debt Collectors International, Inc. for multiple FDCPA violations\n2.\tInvestigate XXXX XXXX XXXX for unfair billing practices and potential consumer fraud\n3.\tRequire proper debt validation showing actual services rendered (which cannot be provided)\n4.\tFacilitate fair resolution based on actual services provided, not contracted minimums when services weren\'t delivered\n5.\tPrevent litigation while dispute is investigated\n6.\tConsider my financial hardship and medical situation\n7.\tEnsure I\'m not held liable for: \no\tOngoing monthly fees when ongoing services weren\'t provided\no\tCharges after contract expired\no\tServices that were impossible to perform\no\tServices I didn\'t use after terminating contracts\n________________________________________\nCONTACT INFORMATION\nComplainant:\nXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX\nXXXX XXXX XXXXXXXX\nXXXX, NJ XXXX\nEmail: XXXX\nPhone: XXXX XXXX XXXX\nIMPORTANT: I am currently on medical bed rest outside the United States. All communications must be via email only due to my medical condition.\nCollection Agency:\nDebt Collectors International, Inc.\nXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX  FL XXXX\nPhone: XXXX\nFax: XXXX\nClaim #: XXXX\nOriginal Creditor:\nXXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX\n2XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX\nXXXX XXXX XXXX, Florida XXXX\nContact: XXXX\n\n\n\n________________________________________\nDECLARATION\nI declare under penalty of perjury that the information provided in this complaint is true and accurate to the best of my knowledge.\nI am providing complete transparency about my situation, including that I had two contracts with XXXX XXXX XXXX and terminated both due to their material breach and bad faith on Contract 2.\n\nDate: XX/XX/XXXX\nName: XXXX XXXX\nTitle: Founder, XXXX XXXX XXXX\n\nThis complaint is filed pursuant to my rights under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (15 U.S.C. 1692 et seq.), Fair Credit Reporting Act (15 U.S.C. 1681 et seq.), and in accordance with the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau\'s complaint process.\nI respectfully request the CFPB\'s assistance in resolving this matter fairly, considering that services were not provided as contracted, I have severe financial hardship, and I am currently on medical bed rest outside the United States.'

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation