They are sending bills to anyone with a similar name, trying to convince them to pay even bills they don't owe. They take so little care in trying to collect from the correct debtor that they put erroneous collection accounts on credit reports without checking identity information. (Dogs don't have SSNs.)
Send a written dispute to the credit reporting agency that has AFNI's erroneous entry on your credit report.
Also call T-Mobile directly (not AFNI), to determine whether they show any account under your name and SSN. If you have never had a T-Mobile account, it is likely that this is an "error" by AFNI in attributing this debt to you.
AFNI will often claim it must be "id theft", apparently as a tactic to divert consumers from demanding proof they owe the alleged debt under their FDCPA validation request rights. They appear to be using this "suggestion" to attempt to pressure consummers to pay debts they don't owe, as they then proceed to demand proof from the consumer that they don't owe the debt rather than AFNI having to provide proof they do.
According to FTC opinion letters, validation of a debt in response to a consumer's request in accordance with FDCPA must be obtained from the original creditor, and should not be just checking the debt collector's own records and sending a letter. There are indications from a number of consumer complaints that AFNI fails to obtain accurate validation of alleged debts with proper identification of the debtor from original creditors, in some cases still sending their own letter claiming the debt was "verified".
If AFNI fails to remove it, "verifying" it even though it is not your bad debt, then proceed with written complaints to FTC, Illinois Attorney General, and your state AG.
You might also wish to contact an attorney in your state with experience in FDCPA and FCRA law. You might try: www.naca.net
Comments
They recently billed a dog.
http://www.kcra.com/station/16839043/detail.html
They are sending bills to anyone with a similar name, trying to convince them to pay even bills they don't owe. They take so little care in trying to collect from the correct debtor that they put erroneous collection accounts on credit reports without checking identity information. (Dogs don't have SSNs.)
Sued by Minnesota Attorney General.
http://www.ag.state.mn.us/Consumer/PressRelease/080715AfniInc.asp
More complaints.
https://complaintwire.org/Complaint.aspx/BL6ADlQfXwAGogjJkKUatA
Also call T-Mobile directly (not AFNI), to determine whether they show any account under your name and SSN. If you have never had a T-Mobile account, it is likely that this is an "error" by AFNI in attributing this debt to you.
AFNI will often claim it must be "id theft", apparently as a tactic to divert consumers from demanding proof they owe the alleged debt under their FDCPA validation request rights. They appear to be using this "suggestion" to attempt to pressure consummers to pay debts they don't owe, as they then proceed to demand proof from the consumer that they don't owe the debt rather than AFNI having to provide proof they do.
According to FTC opinion letters, validation of a debt in response to a consumer's request in accordance with FDCPA must be obtained from the original creditor, and should not be just checking the debt collector's own records and sending a letter. There are indications from a number of consumer complaints that AFNI fails to obtain accurate validation of alleged debts with proper identification of the debtor from original creditors, in some cases still sending their own letter claiming the debt was "verified".
If AFNI fails to remove it, "verifying" it even though it is not your bad debt, then proceed with written complaints to FTC, Illinois Attorney General, and your state AG.
You might also wish to contact an attorney in your state with experience in FDCPA and FCRA law. You might try:
www.naca.net