need help with tti national > verizon > c.a.

[nasturtium]

TTI National, a subsidiary of Verizon, started sending small bills to me a couple of years ago, of sometimes 0 and sometimes 2 cents. I didn't know who they were or why they were sending the bills to me. I called them quite a few times, and no one ever answered their phones. Eventually the bills added up to 25 cents.

In approximately April of 2012, they started adding $10 a month to the bills, which was crazy. I called their number again immediately and this time one of their agents answered the phone. He said that since I allegedly had a free 800 number in 2001, that they decided to start charging me in 2012. I said that I didn't have an account with them, didn't agree to the account, didn't have an 800 number, for them to send comfirmation of the debt and to delete the account. He said I would have to call "customer service" at a different number. I said you are customer service, and I'm telling you. He said he couldn't do anything and I'd have to call customer service at a different number, so I asked him to keep a record of my request, called the other number, and a message said they were experiencing high call volumes (no wonder). I kept on the line for 45 minutes, and no one ever answered the phone.

I wrote them a letter and got no response, and they kept sending the bills.

Concurrent with their unagreed to increase of $10 a month, I started receiving ominous messages early every morning, and at various times through the day to "Call Verizon." When I called Verizon, they didn't know why I was calling them and said they didn't leave any messages. After this went on for a few months, I asked if they had any connection with TTI National, and their agent said that was one of their companies. I said apparently they were calling me and telling me to call Verizon, would you tell them to stop. The agent said I would have to talk to TTI National. The constant phone calls containing no information of who they were or why they were calling, caused me to disconnect my phone, and to not be able to receive calls from anyone. One of the agents at TTI National confirmed that they were the ones who were calling. I asked for the calls to stop, and they again referred me to "customer service."

Several months ago I began getting letters from Verizon -MCI -TTI National, with the TTI National's account number, saying their account that they created was overdue, and would be suspended. Today I received another such letter, saying I owe them $140, and that they're going to start charging me late fees. Again, this is an account that they created without my permission or agreement.

I have been wanting to post about this for quite awhile, but trying to deal with them has been frustrating, so I've not quite known what to post here, and decided to just start typing. I imagine they are doing the same thing to many people, just ignoring any responses, and getting away with it. I called the state attorney general's office, and they told me to contact the company.

Suggestions are much appreciated.

[Flyingifr]

Since you obviously cannot contact the company, all you can do is tough it out until they send it to a Collection Agency, DV the Collection Agency and then sue the Collection Agency for the FDCPA violation of misrepresenting the nature of the debt. I would, however, keep a file showing that you protested the bill from the beginning to be able to head off any 'account stated" claim.

 

If this shows up on your credit file, you bypass all contact with whoever placed the trade Line and file an immediate FDCPA/FDCRA suit.

 

The only way to get their attention is to make yourself a big nuisance they cannot ignore.

[Torden]

Did you ask these people for their address?

 

It looks like TTI National is owned by Verizon:

 

Registrant:
        Verizon Business Global LLC
        Verizon Business Global LLC
        One Verizon Way
         Basking Ridge NJ 07920
        US
        domainlegalcontact@verizon.com +1.7033513164 Fax: +1.7033513669

    Domain Name: ttinational.com

        Registrar Name: Markmonitor.com
        Registrar Whois: whois.markmonitor.com
        Registrar Homepage: http://www.markmonitor.com

    Administrative Contact:
        Domain Administrator
        Verizon Trademark Services LLC
        1320 North Court House Road
         Arlington VA 22201
        US
        domainlegalcontact@verizon.com +1.7033513164 Fax: +1.7033513669
    Technical Contact, Zone Contact:
        Domain Technician
        Verizon
        1320 North Court House Road
         Arlington VA 22201
        US
        hostmaster@verizonbusiness.com +1.7038868523 Fax: +1.7033513669

The phone numbers listed above are for trademark offices.  But these people may know where the legal headquarters are.  Then those people might know about assets like TTI National.

 

More info:

TTI National, Inc

PO Box 31301

Salt Lake City, Utah, 84130

USA

 

1-800-681-8701

 

This seems to the the scam arm of Verizon.

[nasturtium]

Since you obviously cannot contact the company, all you can do is tough it out until they send it to a Collection Agency, DV the Collection Agency and then sue the Collection Agency for the FDCPA violation of misrepresenting the nature of the debt. I would, however, keep a file showing that you protested the bill from the beginning to be able to head off any 'account stated" claim.

 

If this shows up on your credit file, you bypass all contact with whoever placed the trade Line and file an immediate FDCPA/FDCRA suit.

 

The only way to get their attention is to make yourself a big nuisance they cannot ignore.

 

Thank you for the quick responses.  Maybe Verizon does their collections internally.  I don't know if this shows on my credit file, as  I don't use credit and haven't checked that recently.

 

The latest TTI National bill was for $17.31!  They keep adding on more.  The total is now up to $156.

 

TTI National has a P.O. Box address in Salt Lake City, Utah.  Verizon has a P.O. Box address in Dallas, TX, both of them out of state.  TTI National keeps sending their bills, and Verizon appears to act in a position of collections.

 

Suggestions are much appreciated for how to contact each of them in writing, in a more productive manner than I have been doing so far.

Should I send them another request for verification of debt and use certified mail?  Should I send them a cease and desist?

[nasturtium]

This seems to the the scam arm of Verizon.

 

Right.  The TTI National letter has 3 different addresses.

 

TTI National, Inc.

500 Technology Drive, Suite 870

Weldon Springs, Mo 63304

 

Mail Correspondence to:

TTI National Inc.

PO Box 31307

Salt Lake City, UT  84130-1307

 

Remit payment to:

TTI National Inc.

P.O. Box 660072   <------- This is the same address as Verizon

Dallas Tx 75266-0072

 

Verizon letters

Verizon

PO Box 660072

Dallas, TX 75266-0072

[Torden]

Be prepared to sue them.  They need it.

[TomnTex]

Forget the calls, if it's not in writing, it never happened!  In other words, send your letters CMRRR every time.

[admin]

I'd also get your state attorney general involved.  This is nuts!

[nasturtium]

Thanks much for all the helpful responses. 

 

What I'd like to do is write them a simple but thorough CMRRR letter, and send a copy to the attorney general and any other viable parties.

 

Any suggestions of how to set this up and proceed are much appreciated, plus anything else I can do.

[admin]

Tell them you deny that this is your account, explain the chain of events just like you have done so in this thread and threaten legal action.  Make sure you mention you're sending a copy to your state attorney general.  

[nasturtium]

Awesome, thanks very much.  Would it be okay to post a draft of it here when ready for comments?

[admin]

Absolutely.   

[nasturtium]

Wonderful. 

[kutuzov]

Also put in that cmrr letter, that you remove any concent you might have given them to call any number that you might have provided, to receive prerecorded, and autodialed calls, and to place your phone number in their Internal Do Not Call List, after that every call is $1.5k plus any damages you might have gone through, like I know you are feeling anxious about getting call every morning and need to go to the doctor, etc, add FDCPA/FCRA violations later on, and hey you might be talking about some money.

[nasturtium]

I've completed a draft of the letter, which is ready for comments, especially for things to add, change or remove.  Is it better to attach the letter somehow, or to post it here in this thread? 

[kutuzov]

If you want people to read it, post it here plain text, I seldom if ever click on images links for example.

[nasturtium]

My Name

My Address

My City, State Zip

 

May 07, 2013

 

 

TTI National

PO Box 31307

Salt Lake City, UT 84130

 

TTI Account # XXXXXXXX

 

You began sending bills to me a couple of years ago with small amounts from 1 to 3 cents.
I didn't know who you were or why you were sending the bills to me.  I called your number numerous times, and no one ever answered your phones.  Eventually the bills added up to 25 cents.

 

In about May of 2012, you began adding $10 a month to the bills.  

This time I reached one of your agents who said you decided to start charging me for an alleged free account, which was discontinued in 2001.

 

THIS IS NOT MY ACCOUNT.  I DO NOT HAVE AN 800 NUMBER, DO NOT AGREE TO HAVE THIS ACCOUNT, AND DO NOT AGREE TO YOUR TERMS.

 

 



I told you to delete this account, to send any evidence of a debt, and followed this up with a letter to TTI National but received no response.

 

Concurrent with the increase, you called me with ominous messages to “Call Verizon”, which Verizon knew nothing about.  Eventually the calls were confirmed by Verizon, and by your agent, to be yours.

 

By creating this false account and ignoring my written requests, you are in violation of my rights, including FDCPA/FDCRA.  I demand again that you cancel this account immediately, cancel any alleged debt, and stop sending bills to me, with the exception of one written letter confirming you have done so.  I demand that you stop calling and autodialing my number, and that you place my number in your internal Do Not Call List.  Any additional calls, from your receipt of this letter, are subject to a penalty of $1,500 for each call, or the maximum permitted by law.

 

Best regards,

 

 

 

Name & Signature

 

 

Encl.  your statement

CC:  Calif Atty General

[Torden]

Where are the words that you will be forwarding this matter to the state Attorney General for fraud investigation, and will be retaining an attorney to sue for all expenses, losses, damages, and fees?

[kutuzov]

Put the Federal Trade Commission and Attorney General threat somewhere in there, and also add a copy of the last statement they sent. That should be more than enough to sue them if they persist on these crap.

[admin]

@No Account 86 - hopefully you have some of the old letter they sent you?

[nasturtium]

@Torden & @kutuzov, thanks.  I'm not sure what to include and delete, without them just laughing and ignoring the letter.

 

@admin, yes, I have the latest bill sent by TTI and the latest letter sent by Verizon.  TTI sends what they call a "statement."  Verizon sends a collection type letter, which they have morphed to being from MCI dba Verizon Business Services instead of TTI though it's the same PO Box in Dallas, TX.  They ignore my previous correspondence in both their bills and letters and keep racking up their erroneous charges.

[drlumen]

Maybe CC the FCC as well as this seems like some type of phone cramming.

[kutuzov]

I think the letter is fine you could cc someone but that's about it, send them a copy of those documents, so they don't play the I don't know what you are talking about.

[nasturtium]

@drlumen @kutuzov

Thanks very much. I've made the changes suggested, am ready to send the letter tomorrow, and have a few questions.

1) As my previous correspondence had no CMRRR green, should I send another request for DV?

2) Should I send them a privacy letter, and to remove my information from their files?

3) Should I mention or CC the FTC?

4) If I end up having to sue them, would this be in small claims court in my local jurisdiction, and will they need to pay for my cost, time and trouble? How likely are they to show up for $155?

Thank you very much to everyone responding and your helpfulness.

[Torden]

It's past the 30 days for a DV to have any effect on suspending their debt collection efforts.  I don't know about the privacy thing.  Don't bother with the FTC in this way.  All debt collectors know the FTC does not handle individual cases (or at least assume they know).  Small claims is a viable way to sue them.  I don't know how likely they are to show up.