Two years ago, I received a letter from CBCS, an Ohio based collections agency, informing me that I owed Verizon $290.21. I knew this to be false. Over a sixth month period, I disputed this collection action with the credit reporting agencies, CBCS, and Verizon itself.
Equifax and the other credit report agencies would remove the false collection action. CBCS would then re-report it. Total scum bags.
I kept writing letters. I sent detailed proof showing that I had canceled my phone and Internet service with Verizon. After several months, I received a letter from Verizon indicating that I did not owe them any money. Gee, thanks for screwing my credit up for six months.
Almost two years later, CBCS and Verizon are at it again. They sent me another collections letter!
After doing extensive research, I concluded that this is a scam that CBCS and Verizon are running together. We're considering filing a class action against Verizon and CBCS for violating the Fair Credit Reporting Act, among other things. At the very least, we're going to sue them in small claims court. We can collect $5,000 from Verizon and CBCS - $1,000 for each violation of the Fair Credit Reporting Act. There have been way more than five violations. We're still considering our options.
I wrote them a nasty letter, demanding that they pay us for having to deal with this drama, and for having our credit score lowered. I suspect they'll ignore it. I hope they do. A judge will see the letter, which is carefully reasoned, and realize what shysters CBCS and Verizon are. Please, please, please ignore me!
I suspect others have been ripped off. If you've gotten one of these nasty collection letters, leave me a comment. We should talk. These crooks really need to be stopped.
In the meantime, I've disputed the charges with the credit reporting agencies. Here are their relevant addresses:
Equifax
P.O. Box 105873
Atlanta, GA 30348
Experian
P.O. Box 2104
Allen, TX 75013-2104
Trans Union LLC
P.O. Box 1000
Chester, PA 19016-1000
I informed the credit reporting agencies that they are under an affirmative obligation to investigate this invalid debt. I told them it's invalid. These agencies usually do a good job of removing stuff.
Verizon and CBCS are another story. If they keep reporting it, the agencies will keep repeating it. What Verizon and CBCS are doing is illegal.
Under 15 U.S.C. § 1681s-2(A): “A person shall not furnish any information relating to a consumer to any consumer reporting agency if the person knows or has reasonable cause to believe that the information is inaccurate.” Likewise, under Section 1681s-2(B)(i): “A person shall not furnish information relating to a consumer to any consumer reporting agency if the person has been notified by the consumer … that specific information is inaccurate [].” In Nelson v. Chase Manhattan Mortgage Corp., 282 F.3d 1057 (9th Cir. 2002), the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals held that a consumer may sue a party who reports false information to the credit bureaus.
The crooks can be contacted at:
Verizon California
236 E. Town Street
Columbus, OH 43215
CBCS
PO BOX 69
Columbus, OH 43216
I'm so sick of this. I am considering making it my life's work to sue these types of companies. I've never wanted to do criminal prosecutions, but I have a vengeful streak. It doesn't get much more corrupt than this.
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