fradulant verizon bill
Complaint
gina simmons
Country: United States
I have just received a collection notice from Afni Inc that states I owe $246.85 to verizon. This account is said to be from 1999. I don't owe verizon anything.When asked why if I owed this then why haven't I heard anything until now. The Afni employee said that gte was taken over by verizon, and that the files had not been audited in the last 5-10 years. This Afni company has now bought these files, but have no notes on any bills that have or have not been paid. I could not beleive that people could get away with this scam. I have filed a better buisness report, and have found out the statue of limitations law in my state. It was very helpful, and I now know my rights under the laws to proctect people from monsters like Afni. I have had a verizon account for the last past 5 years,and have never had any problems. It's unfortunate that a company like Afni is smearing the Verizon name.
Comments
That is the game they routinely try to play. "You have to prove you don't owe it. Either that, or pay us." Deception. If that was true, they could make up anything, send it to anyone, and we would all have to pay whatever they fabricated. Or "You're lucky! This isn't on your credit report yet!", on an alleged debt that even they admit is over 7.5 years old. How about "We can't validate at this time, but until you send us your full identification, and proof of your claim, we can't investigate." Or "You may have been 8 years old at the time, so it's obviously id theft, but unless you send us a police report for id theft, you have to pay us." They were actually attempting to collect a debt they knew you didn't owe. What about your other choice: You could tell them to go to hell, and there would be nothing they could legally do to you.
In intelligence analysis, Deception is paired with Denial: D&D.
To effectively deceive, they must first deny you access to the truth. You want validation? Lots of reasons they can't or won't send it to you. Want proof from Verizon? They sold the alleged "debt", so they don't have to do anything. AFNI will even claim Verizon doesn't have the records, in which case AFNI would not be able to get Verizon to validate anything. Or you had the chance to ask for that 20 years ago (on an account that is not yours!), but it is too late now, you were sent lots of letters (none of which you got).
The application of deception can then be split into two forms: fabrication, and manipulation.
Fabrication is creating the appearance of, or claiming something not true. "Is this your SSN? That is the number on the account, so it must be your debt." (They routinely pull credit reports, getting SSNs, so it proves nothing.) You ask for validation on an account you know you never had, they send you some letter saying they "verified" it with Verizon. How do you know they checked anything with anyone? How do you know what they checked? Fabrication, with Denial.
Manipulation is using even true facts out of context to create a false impression. "This isn't on your credit report yet. You wouldn't want that. If you pay only half right now, we can make this go away." If it's older than 7.5 years, it is illegal to put it on your credit reports. Technically, they didn't actually say they were going to, but the threat was made, and you were intended to hear it.
http://www.fas.org/irp/eprint/deception.pdf
They say the "statue of limitations" is 6 years on bills.
You can be sure that Verizon/Nynex/Atlantic Bell knows this.
Some have reported NY AG is investigating AFNI. Any indication from the NY AG of awareness of this problem, or of any action they may be taking?
http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/310/RipOff0310211.htm
http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/310/RipOff0310220.htm
http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/310/RipOff0310348.htm
http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/309/RipOff0309884.htm
http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/309/RipOff0309205.htm
http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/309/RipOff0309601.htm
http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/308/RipOff0308760.htm
http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/308/RipOff0308116.htm
http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/308/RipOff0308079.htm
Attempt by AFNI to allege "id theft" by son, or else billing this consumer for someone else's account with a name similar to son's name. If they actually believe the son opened the account, why would they then send a bill in the name of the parent, and not in the son's name? Not very credible, since consumer knew son had no phone when he was 16.
http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/309/RipOff0309524.htm
If you should choose to settle with AFNI on a fraudulent charge, just to keep it off your reports, expect to see it on your reports anyway.
http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/308/RipOff0308524.htm
Refusing to accept registered mail.
Might be useful if you want to get a default judgement.
http://www.ripoffreport.com/reports/0/310/ripoff0310589.htm
"I sent them proof it is not my account they refused to accept it and return mailed it. I sent it registerd mail it was unopend and just refused. "
This showed up on answerbag via Google search, but only the cached google page still existed.
http://209.85.173.104/search?q=cache:0FtrBZoI ... lnk&cd=12&gl=us
" I am a business reporter for Gannett Newspapers and I am interested in speaking with people who have had problems with AFNI?Verizon. I can be reached at adrury@thejournalnews.com or at 914-694-5069. "
The name and phone number check out, and match other stories by Allan Drury, as for example, here:
http://www.lohud.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20071023/BUSINESS01/710230443
Note that the cached page was marked "PROBLEM: This question has been rejected. spam/offensive", although there is nothing visibly offensive about the wording of the question, and indeed it is quite neutral, and the e-mail and phone number does in fact check out. Either some AFNI troll spiked it, or it was blocked solely for containing an e-mail or phone number.
Since there are comments dated 2-13-08, this is a recent request.
If you are having, or have had problems with AFNI's collections methods, and you would like to talk to a business reporter apparently working on a story on the subject, you might contact him:
Allan Drury
The Journal News
adrury@thejournalnews.com
914-694-5069
Gannett Newspapers publishes a number of newspapers, including USA Today.
http://www.gannett.com/web/newspapers.htm
http://burbsbiz.lohudblogs.com/author/adrury/?loc=interstitialskip
months beacause I never used the Internet and I did not know I had sign-up.
I called Verizon twice on 02-21-08 spoke with a sales rep and the manager and he could only give 15.00 off! I told them there is no activity in the account. I'm self support and can't afford to give my money away!!!...I can use the Interntet at home I don't need to use my cell for the Internet...Thank You, Esther
months beacause I never used the Internet and I did not know I had sign-up.
I called Verizon twice on 02-21-08 spoke with a sales rep and the manager and he could only give 15.00 off! I told them there is no activity in the account. I'm self support and can't afford to give my money away!!!...I can use the Interntet at home I don't need to use my cell for the Internet...Thank You, Esther
"Signing up" is accepting an offer and agreeing to a contract. Were you made an offer, and did you respond to that offer by accepting it, or are you just guessing at why some extra "service" started showing up on your phone bills?
What does this "service" say it actually is? Is it actually from Verizon, or is it from some billing aggregator cramming some scam "service" onto your Verizon bill?
Today, I actually received a copy of a bill in my name from June 2000. It looks legit to me, but I do not recall owing Bell Atlantic any money. In fact, I moved back home that year, and had the number transfered into my roommate's name. If I still had owed money on it, I'm sure that my friend would have told me. I lived at the same residence for over seven years after that. Only now that I have moved to another state have I heard anything about this.
The SOL in both NY and CO (where I now live) is only six years. I'm not paying this bill that I don't even think I owe. Yeah, it was overdue. Who's to say I didn't pay it the next month? I don't have access to checks from nearly eight years ago, so I can't really look for proof either way. I've sent the initial letter, and received their validation. Now what do I do? I have no intention of paying this bill. Do I simply send them a letter stating that? Should I get my AG involved?
Here's the letter:
To Afni, Inc.:
This letter is being sent to you in response to a letter I received from your company on January 30, 2008.
Be advised, this is a notice that your claim is disputed.
Under the Fair Debt Collections Practices Act (FDCPA), I have the right to request validation of the debt you say I owe you. I am requesting proof that I am indeed the party you are asking to pay this debt, and there is some contractual obligation which is binding on me to pay this debt. Please be advised that validation is not a request for verification or proof of my mailing address but proper, complete and competent evidence that I have any legal obligation to pay you.
Your legal staff will agree that compliance with this request is required under the laws of New York State and Federal Statutes.
In addition, please attach copies of:
*Agreement with your client that grants you the authority to collect on this alleged debt, or proof of acquisition by purchase or assignment.
*Agreement that bears the signature of the alleged debtor wherein he or she agreed to pay the creditor.
*Proof that the Statute of Limitations has not expired on the alleged account
Please also be advised that this letter is not only a formal dispute, but a request that you cease and desist any and all collection activities. This consists of the listing or furnishing of any information to a credit reporting repository that could be inaccurate or invalidated or verifying an account as accurate when in fact there is no provided proof it is.
I require compliance with the terms and conditions of this letter within 30 days from the date you receive it, or a complete withdrawal, in writing, of any claim.
Also, use this correspondence as a request that no telephone contact be made to me by your offices to my home. If your office(s) attempt telephone communication with me, including but not limited to computer generated calls, calls or written correspondence sent to any third part, it will be considered harassment. Any and all future communication with me must be done in writing and sent via the United States Postal Service to the address listed in the header of this note.
In the event of noncompliance, I reserve the right to file charges and/or complaints with appropriate County, State & Federal authorities, the BBB and State Bar associations for violations of the FDCPA, FCRA, and Federal and State statutes on fraudulent extortion.
I also hereby reserve my right to take private civil action against you to recover damages.
If this bill went delinquent in June 2000, then it can only be reported on your credit reports at most 7 years from when it was charged off, or at most 7.5 years from when it went delinquent. That would be December 2008 at the latest. AFNI therefore cannot legally report this on your credit reports. In many states, this would also have passed SOL, in which case they cannot legally threaten to sue, and if they did sue, you could raise SOL as a defense.
There are a number of complaints similar to yours, where accounts were transfered when moving out, and years later they come after the earlier name on the account. These could mean either that the phone company failed to actually transfer the account, or that AFNI, having the information on the account but being unable or too lazy to locate the last person, looked back in the records, or skip-traced whoever else lived in the house around that time, and figured they could stick you with it. This would also explain why you would never get a bill while this was in the hands of the original company who actually considered the account transfered.
Is the document they sent even legitimate, with Bell Atlantic's name on it (if that was who you had an account with at the time), instead of, say, Verizon who bought them. Are other aspects of the bill consistent with a normal legitimate bill on a current account, including correct name and address, date, and itemized phone charges that you might recognize as your calls? Are parts left out, or are there other indications that this is "reconstructed", or "altered"?
You have a bill dated June 2000. Does this date and amount agree with what AFNI claims is owed? In that case, you have have both SOL and 7 year reporting expired in your favor.
Did you move in June 2000? Or did you move months earlier, indicating they failed to transfer the account when you requested it and paid off the final balance? Did you move months later, indicating AFNI has pulled a statement earlier than your last statement, which would not represent your final payments?
Are they using this bill to claim it is your account, but then claiming some amount from a later date is actually owed, perhaps to evade SOL or 7 year reporting limit? In that case, their document doesn't support their claim, and also hints that they may be trying to get you to pay a bill that actually was in your roommate's name.
Your safest response is not to play their games. You already noted that SOL is 6 years in both NY and CO, so you send them a letter saying the account is still disputed since you paid it back in 2000, and that their own records show it is also past SOL and not legally reportable, so you are requesting that they cease communications. If they continue to harass you, you file complaints with FTC and IL, NY and CO AGs, and sue for violation of your cease communications request.
They had reported this on all 3 of my CR's before they had ever contacted me. Of course the orginal account would be out of SOL by now anyways. It was funny that this should have come up right after we bought a house.
There have been several consumer reports that AFNI's collection letters start after buying a new house. It is possible that the mortgage credit inquiry triggered a notification from the credit reporting agency to AFNI (debt collectors can pay for this service), or it may be that the "debt" is actually connected to the address they moved to, with no relationship to any real account under their name. They have been reported to have billed people who once lived at the address on some account, even if they lived there years earlier from when the alleged account was open.
You might pull your credit reports, and look for the date shown for their "inquiry", indicating when they pulled your credit report.
If AFNI is claiming you owe a debt from Oct. 2001, then it is possible that it might stay on your credit reports at most thru Oct. 2008 or as late as April 2009 (7 years from charge-off, or 7 years plus 180 days from original date of delinquency), unless you take action to get it removed.
But note here, when GTE became Verizon:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Verizon_Communications
"Verizon Communications, Inc. (NYSE: VZ) is an American broadband and telecommunications company and a component of the Dow 30. It was formed in 2000 when Bell Atlantic, one of the Regional Bell Operating Companies, merged with GTE. Prior to its transformation into Verizon, Bell Atlantic had merged with another Regional Bell Operating Company, NYNEX, in 1997. "
Note that since GTE merged into Verizon in 2000, it may be likely that if you only had dealings with GTE, any account you had with them was closed (paid or not) back in 2000, in which case it may already be illegal to report under FCRA. In fact, most of the old "GTE/Verizon debts" AFNI has caused so many problems for people with are from 1999 or earlier, are not legally reportable, and they know it.
On the other hand, if they are claiming this debt went delinquent in Oct. 2001, that may mean either that it isn't even your account, or that they have illegally "reaged" the alleged debt, illegally putting it on your credit reports by giving the credit reporting agency a false original date of delinquency in order to extort payment. They are required to provide the original date of delinquency to the credit reporting agency within 90 days of putting any information on credit reports, so that the credit reporting agencies can enforce the 7 year reporting limit required under FCRA.
If AFNI has placed erroneous information on your credit reports, dispute it in writing thru the credit reporting agencies. Until you have disputed errors thr the credit reporting agencies, AFNI has little liability. If AFNI "verifies" without first sending you validation of the debt, or fails to mark their entry as "disputed", then they may be liable under FDCPA. If they "verify" erroneously reported information, they may be liable under FCRA. File another complaint with FTC and IL Attorney General, and contact an attorney with experience in FDCPA and FCRA litigation.
Peoria BBB is their paid lap-dog.
Here is AFNI, 1120 complaints in the last 36 months, with 725 in the last 12 months, indicating a recent large upsurge in complaints.
http://heartofillinois.bbb.org/WWWRoot/Report ... 24&firm=9000349
"
Name: Afni, Inc.
...
BBB Accreditation Status
This company has been a BBB Accredited business since May 2007. This means it supports the BBB's services to the public and meets our BBB Accreditation standards.
...
BBB Definition: BBB Accredited business - BBB has determined that this business meets BBB accreditation standards, which include a commitment to make a good faith effort to resolve any consumer complaints. BBB Accredited Businesses pay a fee for accreditation review/monitoring and for support of BBB services to the public. BBB accreditation does not mean that the business’ products or services have been evaluated or endorsed by BBB, or that BBB has made a determination as to the business’ product quality or competency in performing services.
Program Participation
This company has agreed to use special procedures including arbitration, if necessary, to resolve disputes through their participation in the following programs: BBB Accreditation Identification, BBBOnLine.
...
Customer Experience
Based on BBB files, this company has a satisfactory record with the BBB. A satisfactory record means a company has been in business for at least 12 months, and properly addressed matters referred by the BBB. The company does not have an unusual volume of complaints, or any government actions involving its marketplace conduct. The BBB understands and has no concerns about the company's products, services and type of business.
If you believe you have been contacted by this company in error, please read the information below this report and follow the instructions given.
When considering complaint information, please take into account the company's size and volume of transactions, and understand that the nature of complaints and a firm's responses to them are often more important than the number of complaints.
The BBB processed a total of 1120 complaints about this company in the last 36 months, our standard reporting period.Of the total of 1120 complaints closed in 36 months, 725 were closed in the last year.
..."
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Now compare Arrow Financial. 865 complaints within 36 months, 291 within the last 12 months, consistent with a steady complaint rate, although a lot lower than AFNI's last year.
Note that back in Oct. 2004, long before action was taken by Minnesota or Illinois, BBB attempted to work with Arrow to try to resolve what it saw as a pattern of complaints, with no response. Arrow is rated "unsatisfactory ... due to a pattern of complaints and has failed to correct the underlying reason for the complaints." The nature of complaints reported by BBB is very similar to those made by consumers against AFNI on various consumer forums, and in fact, BBB discloses the nature of these complaints and collection abuses, so that consumers can be warned.
http://chicago.bbb.org/WWWRoot/Report.aspx?site=46&bbb=0654&firm=38006035
"
Name: Arrow Financial Services, LLC
...
Customer Experience
Based on BBB files, this company has an unsatisfactory record with the BBB due to a pattern of complaints and has failed to correct the underlying reason for the complaints.
The patterns of complaints on file allege: failure to provide verification of the debt owed; attempting to collect debts that have been paid in full; attempting to collect on non-existent accounts; unauthorized withdrawals from consumer accounts and/or rude and discourteous treatment from company representatives.
When considering complaint information, please take into account the company's size and volume of transactions, and understand that the nature of complaints and a firm's responses to them are often more important than the number of complaints.
The BBB processed a total of 865 complaints about this company in the last 36 months, our standard reporting period.Of the total of 865 complaints closed in 36 months, 291 were closed in the last year.
...
Government Actions
Per a January 25, 2007 press release, Illinois Attorney General's Lisa Madigan's has filed a lawsuit against Arrow Financial Services for allegations that debt collectors used unfair tactics and deceptive practices to collect money from consumers.
Madigan's lawsuit charges Arrow with multiple violations of the Illinois Consumer Fraud and Deceptive Business Practices Act. The suit specifically alleges that Arrow attempts to collect on time-barred debts over ten years old, attempts to collect on debts that have been discharged in bankruptcy or that have been settled, engages in abusive practices in an attempt to collect, such as using profanity, attempts to obtain payment without proof of debt, refuses or fails to provide proof of debt, illegally contacts consumers' family members and workplace, and withdraws money without authorization from consumers' bank accounts.
Madigan's lawsuit asks the court to prohibit Arrow from engaging in deceptive debt collection activities and further violating Illinois' consumer protection laws. The lawsuit seeks a civil penalty of $50,000 and additional penalties of $50,000 for each violation found to have been committed with intent to defraud. Finally, Madigan's lawsuit asks the court to order Arrow to pay restitution to consumers and to pay all costs for prosecution and investigation of this case.
The Minnesota Department of Commerce announced November 28,2005. that this company has paid a $125,000 civil penalty and will design and implement a compliance program within 60 days. The Department of Commerce investigation alleged that Arrow and/or its collectors engaged in more than fifteen violations including:
- Withdrawing money electronically from a debtors checking account without authorization
- Continuing to contact debtors at their places of employment after receiving notification to stop.
- Disclosing a debtor's information to a third party.
- Failing to establish procedures when screening collector applicants as required by law.
- Failing to respond to the department's request for information.
Additional File Information
On October 15,2004 the Better Business Bureau sent the company a letter asking them to develop and implement a plan to obviate their pattern of complaints and respond to numerous unanswered complaints. The company was asked to respond in writing within ten days. The Bureau has not received a response.
..."
-------------------------------------------------
Given the nature of complaints against AFNI, as seen in MANY detailed reports by consumers, WHY does BBB rate them "satisfactory", with only an innocuous reference to generic boilerplate "Industry Tips" advise "If you believe you have been contacted by this company in error"?
Is it credible that BBB is NOT receiving the same information on this company into its complaint files that is available to anyone doing a Google search on "AFNI"?
Why is BBB NOT adequately protecting the public?
I AM CANCELLING MY VERIZON ACCOUNT.. If you also have verizon you might want to think about doing the same. Thanks to verizon now strangers/scammers at afni, inc have our information. If you ask an afni, inc for their last name they'll tell you that they can not give you that information mean while they have our info and ss# thanks to verizon.
Let people know how verizon sold our information to afni,inc. they are scammers afni, inc is now givin my phone number to other telemarketing company/scammer .. I am in the do not call list and I have never received any unwanted calls but now after afni, inc guess what my phone doesn’t stop ringing by scammer… I have googled the numbers that are calling me and they are scams….
Verizon should also get sued for selling our info to a company that’s into scam afni, inc has a bad name. They have the worst collection dept, rude unprofessional workers that are trying to make money off of people that don’t even owe money for unpaid bills way past the SOL….
Here are some po box address that they have......
Afni, Inc PO BOX 3427 BLOOMINGTON, IL 61702-3427
Afni, Inc 404 BROCK DRIVE BLOOMINGTON, IL 61702-3427
Afni, Inc po box 20939 ferndale, mi 48220
Departmen 555 PO BOX 4115 CONCORD, CA 94524
to file a complaint with the BBB in IL here is the zip code 61602
I have file complaints with everyone and their mother, ftc, ag in my state, ag IL, bbb IL, the list goes on... I'm in process of making a police report..... I'm also going to report them to the local news stations, if I could I will call a few states and report them there too.... EVERYONE HERE DO WHATEVER IT TAKES TO STOP THIS AFNI, INC BS...
and as per the FDCPA I'm going to do what it takes to sue them because I sent Afni,inc a cert dispute letter and it was signed by one of Afni's agents and they have not replied back via mail and they keep calling my house...... everytime AFNI, INC contacts you after you have already sent them a dispute letter you might be able to sue them $1000 for evertime day contact you, and if I could sue verizon for selling my information to these scammers I am going to... so keep calling me AFNI, INC $I want $1000 for each call you make to my house......
VERIZON SCKS TOO.... VERIZON IS A MOLE!!!!!
Docket search: afni Justia Federal District Court Filings and Dockets.
A company called AFNI, Inc. P.O. Box 3472 in Bloomington, Il. 61702 is a third party collections company.
They buy old worthless, incorrect and often out of statute of limitations debt portfolios.
Recently, ANFI, Inc. sent out a second notice collection bill on an old phone account through Verizon California Inc. they said I owed from 2001. Note I never received a first notice, and why would they have waited over 7 years to send me any kind of notice to begin with?
They, AFNI, Inc., offered to settle for half of what they said I owed, about $45.00.
Dumbfounded I knew I never had any account of any kind with Verizon, so I called Verizon Cal. Inc. and spoke to Eric. He looked in his data base for my name, SS# and the phone number. He said there was nothing about me in any of their files. He also said the phone number wasn't even a Verizon number.
So I did a phone number search at my own expense and found out what I already knew, it was not mine.
I checked my credit reports and found in violation of the Fair Debt Reporting Act they also placed this bill on my consumer’s credit reports without ever notifying me, and re-aged it from 2001 to 2007, which is also against the law.
If you receive one of these bills from AFNI, Inc. and you know that you had never had Verizon; or if it is a bill you never heard of before, check your credit reports right away.
I checked other web sites and found out a lot about AFNI, Inc. scamming people, not just a few but hundreds, thousands across the USA.
I then disputed the bill by Certified letters. Also, I filed with my state’s Attorney General and the IL. A.G., the FTC, and the BBB and every web site I can to get the word out on these scum.
The IL. BBB says that AFNI, INC. says it is my bill from 2001, but they have not validated it yet. Even if it were mine, it is out of SOL in California, over 4 years old. I am not sending them one red cent and will sue them if they continue to report this on my CR or sell this worthless paper to another debt agency.
I have heard to NEVER, NEVER call AFNI, Inc., as they will capture your phone number and start calling and harassing you; AND NEVER give them your Information as they will use anything against you. Which brings me to the letter that AFNI, Inc. sent to me to help them validate my information to help their records, avter DV letters to them...FDCPA violation.
For More Information on the AFNI, Inc. scam check BudHibbs.com or simply type in consumer complaints AFNI, Inc. into your search the web box. There are hundreds of complaints against these scam artists.
Only by banding together and filing reports against AFNI, Inc. can consumers shut these guys down.
Locally we have Ch. 47 on your side and I am thinking about contacting them. I bet they would be very interested to hear from you too, alerting them about this scam