Verizon is at it again, check this out!!!!

[hbseth]

So the good news is thru following the direction of this forum, I was able to purchase my house. Since I registered with this forum it has become an addiction. I check my score on a daily basis now w/ true credit and it is one of the most important things in my life, TO HAVE GOOD CREDIT.

I have a story that is pretty interesting and I would like to get some advice before I even start Validation process.

In early August I purchased a home. In the moving process I had all of my utilities transferred to the new address. Verizon told me that I had to pay like $300 to get my new phone hooked up because of past due amounts from this Fios service I purchased a while back or something. I didn’t agree, but paid anyway because the lady said she would credit my account if it was found to be inaccurate down the line. With my experience on this forum, I was a good boy and paid immediately knowing what the repercussions could be if I didn’t.

A couple of months later (Oct), I called Verizon to see if they straightened out there billing mistake. After speaking with the rep for a while, she credited my current account $70 for over payment. Again the lady told me that she would credit my account properly again if it was still found to be inaccurate down the line.

January 11, 2007 rolls around and I get a call from a collection company called AFNI. This company was trying to collect on the $300 dollars that I originally paid Verizon back in August. I didn’t believe this and actually thought that it was some kind of scam because the person on the phone sounded like she had a 3rd grade education. I wrote her # down and promised to call her right back after I verified who she was thru Verizon.

I called Verizon only to find that my account had been sent to collections because of nonpayment. After a lengthy conversation with her, she told me to just pay it before it gets reported on my credit and she would just give me the proper credit if it was found down the line. After I got off the phone with her I checked my credit and had nothing negative reported from either company so I then immediately called AFNI back and paid the account in full with a check over phone.

February rolls around and while doing my regular credit check, I see that VERIZON (not AFNI) has a charge off account for $302!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I call Verizon and they tell me I need to talk to AFNI. I call AFNI and they say I need to talk to VERIZON because they DO NOT REPORT and they show the account as paid in full. The lady assured me that they sent the update to Verizon and they would resend (bullsh!t) but nothing she can do because VERIZON is the one reporting, not AFNI.

I know AFNI sent me a receipt but I cannot find it. AFNI said they would resend but still nothing and it’s a month later. I don’t really think they are going to help much because there is no money to be made on me anymore.

VERIZON still claims that AFNI didn’t give them an update. I told him that the whole reason I over paid this inaccuracy is so it wouldn’t get to my credit profile. He told me that now that it is reported on my credit they will not take it off even if it was paid; they will only reflect the payment. ERRRRRRRRRRRRRR!

At this point I figured it to be in my best interest to stop calling either one of them and start the Validation process thru mail. I wanted some input before I begin so maybe you guys can save me some time here. VERIZON is the one reporting but I can’t seem to get the right person on the phone who knows what to do. NAME’s, ADDRESS’s or PHONE #’s anyone??

Just out of anger I want to just go right into a lawsuit but I know that I need to just calm down and follow protocol. Can anybody help or at least make me feel better about this. If this was properly investigated it might show that I overpaid x3. I feel like I am getting so screwed by these guys!

[retmar]

First thing you need to do is get all of your previous info in one pile, correlated as to date, current on top. This includes notes of the dates and times you called, who you talked to, and what was stated by both of you, copies of each check you sent, or copies from your bank if done by electronic check (could also be on your monthly statements). Once you have sat down and compiled everything, made notes as to what must be done, call Verizon and demand to speak to a supervisor. Yes, you may have to give a short history to the rep first. If no one will assist you in resolving this matter, ask them where do you send your dispute. Once you have hung up, sit down at your computer and put everything in writing, and I mean everything, from day 1 until today. Send it CMRR to Verizon.

Be sure and incude in your letter that if there was such a problem with your account for this period of time, why weren't you notified as to the problem. At the same time, you have been a customer since XXXX, thus, why wasn't these charges added to my monthly statement. In short, you want them to understand that for this whole time frame you have always been available. And, lastly, in capitals, if you want, if you still have the same phone number as the one they say is delinquent, let them know. Also infom them you are filing with the PUC, your AG, your BBB, and all other governing agencies, including the FCC. I always like to throw in about incompetent employees and how it damages their reliability as a business.

Here's the kicker. I am fairly positive you never received any written notification from them that they reported negative information on your CR. If true, they are in violation of FCRA 623(7), which is actionable.

Forgot to add. If you have none of this, sit down and recall all you can. Then, if asked, your response would be that you had thought all was resolved, so tossed your notes. Again, you want to reflect on their character in handling things. Also, as to that idiot's comment about not removing the TL, he is wrong. If it is found their claim is wrong, you can develop another violation.

[cracrap]

the threat of the puc involved will go along ways towards making your case...unlike the ftc,the ca puc investigates all claims made and people can end up losing their jobs over it as well as verizon getting fined...

[cracrap]

based on the context of your earlier statement of transferring a line , i assume its a landline and not a cell phone otherwise the puc doesnt regulate them only the fcc

[hbseth]

I finally received a validation of payment from AFNI in the mail. Funny, the collection amount paid to afni was about $302 minus the $70 I got credit for from Verizon in Oct but Verizon just said that I didn’t pay afni in full and it was still considered a late payment even though I paid them. Because it was late, even though not reported to cra’s at the time, they have every right to report and will only update to paid in full when I pay it *for the 4th time!. The Afni letter I got states that they would not report anything to my cra’s and that I had a $0 balance on my account. Funny, now Verizon claims that another CA is involved so I don’t need to talk to afni anymore. Why would they change CA’s on me? These guys are killing me!

I am assuming puc=Public Utilities Commission. I will look into this next. I will also make sure I put together a good case before I speak to anybody about this case.

[Fizzle1979]

I finally received a validation of payment from AFNI in the mail. Funny, the collection amount paid to afni was about $302 minus the $70 I got credit for from Verizon in Oct but Verizon just said that I didn’t pay afni in full and it was still considered a late payment even though I paid them. Because it was late, even though not reported to cra’s at the time, they have every right to report and will only update to paid in full when I pay it *for the 4th time!. The Afni letter I got states that they would not report anything to my cra’s and that I had a $0 balance on my account. Funny, now Verizon claims that another CA is involved so I don’t need to talk to afni anymore. Why would they change CA’s on me? These guys are killing me!

I am assuming puc=Public Utilities Commission. I will look into this next. I will also make sure I put together a good case before I speak to anybody about this case.

I had good luck with Verizon after I filed a BBB complaint against them. They credited me back about ten months of charges, they billed me for, when I didn't use the service.

[Rick9972]

BBB is death on Phone Companies for some reason. Bell South sent us a bill for service and threatened court action. Problem is where we live has not been, is not and cannot be serviced by Bell South. Have no idea where this came from.

DW filed complaint with BBB and FTC and two days later Bell South called DW and actually paid us 50.00 to tell the BBB that Bell South had dealt with the situation in a satisfactory manner.

[momof5]

I had success with Gary Brown @AFNI....try to reach him.

[retmar]

This has gone beyond ridiculous. Get the complaints filed today with the PUC and BBB, for starters. Call Verizon's number for billing questions for your area. Demand a supervixor. Give the supervisor a generalized reason as to why you want the number for the bggest boss in Verizon. Do not settle for less. Stress with all you have that for this period of time you have dealt with this particular billing office, and due to their lack of, you will now take it to the highest authority. Let them know you have already filed the complaints with the PUC and BBB. If they refuse, go online and find it there by calling other office numbers, and, being polite, ask how to contact. You might try thier website as I'm sure they list all numbers there.