Verizon

[Corrine]

I just signed up at mycreditkeeper and pulled my report. My credit is in the good range so overall I'm pleased but I found one thing I'm not very happy about. Verizon is claiming some wierd crap. They are in the Collections section of the report and only TU is reporting it. Now it says:

Type of Account: Collection Account

Status of Account: Open

Balance: $0

Remarks: Placed for collection

Payment Status: Collection Account

Here's the problem. This is a phone I had shut off when I moved and payed the bill off completely the following month. I spoke to Lynn at Verizon and she doesn't see what the problem is. I explained that the account type was never a collection account and the account status should be closed since I no longer have that account. She told me that any phone shut off is classed as a collection account.... even if the shut off is customer requested because the remaining balance gets transferred to a different division for final payment and that they have no control over any of the other information that is reported. Then she said "well, it's showing a zero balance, isn't it?"

I guess I should just feel greatful to them that they are showing an accurate balance owing and overlook the rest of their cooky business practices. I've already disputed this through TU as a closed account, paid before collection to see if they change the account information. Here's the thing, the way I am reading it is that there is money owing on the account (even though they are showing a $0 balance) and collection efforts are being made through a collection agency. When the bank pulls my credit report will they think the same thing or will they know there is no money owed since it shows a $0 balance?

[KentWA]

Verizon is bad, very bad. divemedic has been battling them and had to sue to get them to delete, even after settling he had to threaten to refile to get them to actually delete.

I have been fighting them also with(never had an account with them) and started out the wrong way by disputing directly with Verizon. 623(a) allows you to do that, but you have no cause of action you can sue with. So I have gone back and done the dispute through the CRA (TU) and go through the whole process. Of course they have thrown a new wrench in the works, sending it out to a CA, who sent it to another CA.

[Corrine]

I disputed through TU. My problem is that it isn't even with a CA, never was but it's still being reported as a delinquent account with a CA even though it was paid in full to them. The Open staus is bugging me a little but I'm not sure how much that affects my credit score. TU score is about 25 points lower than EX and EQ.

[divemedic]

I am tickled, because a COURIER just arrived at my door with the settlement check......

Best evil laugh---- bwahahahaha!

[Corrine]

I'd be happy with a simple correction at this point but I'm thinking even if they correct all the information it won't matter much because the account itself is listed in the Collections section of the CR and dear Lynn already told me they absolutely will not delete the information.

[divemedic]

What you need to do is send Verizon a letter explaining the problem and asking them how an account with a $0 balance can be a collection. Ask for documents to prove this. Send it CMRRR.

Go over the TL with much attention to detail.

When you get the green card back, dispute with the CRA's. This will force them to do one of the following:

1 Reply with incorrect information

2 Allow delete through not responding

Repeat this process 1 or 2 times so you can build violations

Depending on your state, you can get other violations, but at the very least this is a 623( violation with willful noncompliance and possible state law violations as well.

[retmar]

I just got off of the phone with a Supervisor at Verizon after reading this post. She was of great assitance to me when Verizon errored in my transfer of service for my DSL. I must say she was very disappointed to hear what I had to say about this particular matter.

Her advice was for anyone who has a problem with their bill, such as described here, to call the 800 number and ask for a Supervisor. Explain the whole thing to them and they should be able to help you. She agreed that if the bill was paid in the described period of time, it should not reflect the collection. She also said that what the employee told you is not true. They only send delinquent accounts to collection when it is necessary. She also said that they do not mind helping a consumer with a bill in collections as all that is important is that the bill is paid. As to the reporting part, she is not involved in that part of it, so cannot respond as to deleting upon payment. She is not in disagreement with deleting after payment as long as the consumer is respective. She did say that when someone does call about their bill, to please be respectful and not make a fool of themselves as that will definitely get them nothing. Lastly, I cannot give out her information as I promised her I wouldn't. She is one very busy person.

[Corrine]

Thank you retmar. I will send a very sweet letter to Verizon explaining the issue. The only thing I'm wondering about is how they will resolve it. The woman I spoke to said they will not delete the account under any circumstances and because it's listed as a collection I think that will be the only way to fix it. But what the hay..... I'll try it.