I received a collection notice for a bill from a company (Sage Telco) I have never heard of nor ever had an account with. I researching it appears this is a scam.
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tj
AFNI routinely collects on old telecom accounts by just matching names against databases and sending out dunning letters. They have thousands of complaints, going back years, from people who have received their collection letters demanding payment of "debts" that are not theirs. They also have numerous complaints of using deception to convince people to pay unowed "debt".
Send them a letter, mailed certified, disputing the alleged debt, and demanding they obtain proof from the original creditor and send it. Send this immediately, and if it is sent within 30 days of receiving your first letter from them, they must cease all collection activity until they send you proof. If they continue collection without sending proof of the debt, they are violating FDCPA, and you can sue them.
They are reported to evade sending documentation from original creditors that might prove a debt isn't owed. If it's not your account, then the original creditor's information would show a difference in name, or a billing address where you never lived. Any final statement would prove you didn't own someone else's account. Watch out for deceptively fabricated "verifications", such as a letter under AFNI's name just listing the account number and amount, and saying they checked and you owe it.
It is a violation of FDCPA for a debt collector to use deception to collect debts, and you can sue them for violations.
Also, check your credit reports to see if they have posted any negative information on this "account" on any of them. If you find any erroneous negative tradelines, dispute them through the CRAs. If AFNI "verifies", rather than removes, the erroneous information, see an attorney to discuss suing for violations of FDCPA and FCRA.
You might try www.naca.net to find a consumer attorney in your state.
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Never used this so called company
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We've rec'd this as well, never had any dealings with the so called Sage Telco company they say they obtained the debt from. In researching the Sage Company - there is nothing to be found(?) AFNI is apparently a fraud- try to call them lol, you can not get thru...
Comments
Send them a letter, mailed certified, disputing the alleged debt, and demanding they obtain proof from the original creditor and send it. Send this immediately, and if it is sent within 30 days of receiving your first letter from them, they must cease all collection activity until they send you proof. If they continue collection without sending proof of the debt, they are violating FDCPA, and you can sue them.
They are reported to evade sending documentation from original creditors that might prove a debt isn't owed. If it's not your account, then the original creditor's information would show a difference in name, or a billing address where you never lived. Any final statement would prove you didn't own someone else's account. Watch out for deceptively fabricated "verifications", such as a letter under AFNI's name just listing the account number and amount, and saying they checked and you owe it.
It is a violation of FDCPA for a debt collector to use deception to collect debts, and you can sue them for violations.
Also, check your credit reports to see if they have posted any negative information on this "account" on any of them. If you find any erroneous negative tradelines, dispute them through the CRAs. If AFNI "verifies", rather than removes, the erroneous information, see an attorney to discuss suing for violations of FDCPA and FCRA.
You might try www.naca.net to find a consumer attorney in your state.
You can find a consumer attorney in your state through www.naca.net