Consumer complaint received 2026-04-29 00:00:00
Product: Debt collection — Telecommunications debt
Issue: Attempts to collect debt not owed — Debt was paid
Company: McCarthy, Burgess & Wolff, Inc.
State: NY

Complaint narrative:
* * CFPB Complaint Debt Collection / Incorrect XXXX Debt * * * * Company Name : * * McCarthy, Burgess & Wolff * * Account Number : XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX XXXX Complaint Summary : * * I am disputing an alleged debt of {$89.00} that has been incorrectly attributed to me in connection with a XXXX account. This debt is not valid and appears to stem from a billing error that was previously acknowledged and corrected by XXXX. * * What Happened : * * In XX/XX/year>, my XXXX internet account was disconnected and transferred to a new account holder. Despite this transfer, I was incorrectly charged for a month of service that should have been billed to the new account holder, who was also charged for that same period. I contacted XXXX multiple times between XXXX and XX/XX/year>. During these calls, multiple representatives confirmed that the charge was incorrect and that I was owed a refund of {$89.00}. XXXX issued a credit to my account, which is reflected in my XX/XX/year> billing statement showing a balance of - {$89.00}. My XX/XX/year> statement shows a final balance of {$0.00}, confirming that no amount was owed. Although XXXX attempted to issue refunds via prepaid cards, these were sent to an outdated address despite my informing them that I no longer had access to that location. No valid refund was received. After repeated attempts to resolve the issue, XXXX ceased meaningful communication, and I ultimately disputed the charge with my bank. * * Issue with Debt Collector : * * The debt has since been placed with a collection agency. I formally disputed the debt and requested validation. In response, the collector provided only screen prints that do not establish that I owe the debt. Specifically, the collector failed to provide : * A signed agreement or contract showing I am responsible for the alleged debt * An itemized statement explaining how the amount was calculated * Documentation demonstrating that a balance remained due after XXXX credited my account Notably, the documents provided by the collector appear to support my position, showing that my account was disconnected and credited, with a final balance of {$0.00}. Despite this, the collection agency continues to pursue the debt without providing proper validation as required under the Fair Debt Collection Practices Act ( FDCPA ). * * What I Want : * * * The immediate withdrawal and closure of this alleged debt * Written confirmation that I do not owe this amount * Removal of any related negative reporting to credit bureaus, or confirmation that it has not been reported * Compliance with FDCPA requirements regarding proper debt validation * * Supporting Documents : * * * XXXX XX/XX/year> billing statement showing - {$89.00} credit * XXXX XX/XX/year> billing statement showing {$0.00} balance * Correspondence with the collection agency I am requesting that this matter be investigated and resolved promptly, as the debt is invalid and unsupported by the creditors own records.

Company response to consumer: Closed with explanation