AFNI what are some of my options here?

[myscoresawful]

SUMMARY:

AFNI is reporting a charter communications collection to all three bureaus for a debt from around May 2005.

I DV'd them (past the initial 30 days, because I don't ever remember getting a 30 day notice, maybe because they sent it to an address that I don't live at, such as the one the service was at?).

They didn't reply.

I sent them a f/u letter and they replied with a form on their (AFNI) letter head with the amounts, etc hand written in.

I sent them a third letter (all of these were sent CMRRR) stating that we both knew this was NOT validation and to send me proof or stop reporting.

I haven't heard back. In the mean time, I did dispute with the CRAs and they all came back as verified.

It looks like they (AFNI) purchased this from Charter, though I can't be positive.

They obviously have nothing, also, the address the service was at, is NOT on any of my CRs as an address associated with me.

What should I do next? Dispute with Charter to see if they say they don't own it any longer?

Send AFNI an ITS letter?

MOV the CRAs? (we know this is a waste of paper and postage).

And for what ever it's worth, the TL on my CR states "factoring company"

[Robert Nashville/Savannah]

For a debt that recent and one you (apparently) know you do/did owe, I would suggest you attempt to settle for a PFD.

If you indicate you are willing to give them "something", they will be more likely to at lest verify that they do either own the debt or have the legal authority to collect.

You can do this without admitting legal responsibility for the debt on the basis that you just want to get the matter settled and off your credit history.

Beyond that, if they simply refuse to cooperate, all you can do is keep disputing and/or take it to court.

[myscoresawful]

For a debt that recent and one you (apparently) know you do/did owe, I would suggest you attempt to settle for a PFD.

If you indicate you are willing to give them "something", they will be more likely to at lest verify that they do either own the debt or have the legal authority to collect.

You can do this without admitting legal responsibility for the debt on the basis that you just want to get the matter settled and off your credit history.

Beyond that, if they simply refuse to cooperate, all you can do is keep disputing and/or take it to court.

No, I don't owe it. That's how I know they don't have anything.

I mean, I did have service with Charter, and when I got my final bill, all that was on there was the equipment I had been leasing. I contacted Charter and they said all I had to do was turn the equipment in to have the balance credited. I did, but I don't know where the receipt is or the final bill reflecting that.

I don't want to be honest with AFNI, because it will open this up and put the burden of proof in my lap and I can't prove.

So, I feel my only option is to try and force them to remove reporting on the grounds that they have nothing showing I owe this.

[Robert Nashville/Savannah]

Just because you “know” you returned the equipment doesn’t mean they don’t have anything nor for that matter does it absolutely mean you don’t/didn’t owe anything to the cable company.

Obviously the cable company thinks you owe them money or you wouldn’t be dealing with a CA…whether you really do/did owe the cable company money is certainly debatable…maybe there were legitimate charges applied to the account you didn’t know about…maybe they just never updated the records to show you returned the equipment (happened to me once)…the problem is, if you don’t have the proof you returned the equipment you may have a real problem on your hands unless you can get the cable company to do some research and/or correct their records (which would eliminate the debt the CA is trying to collect.

I would continue to dispute – try to make the CA prove they have evidence of the debt and what that evidence is but if your ultimate goal is to clear up your credit history; be prepared to have to spend some money to make this go away if you don’t have the proof you need to substantiate your position.