The reason that I even found out about this site is because I was searching for the mailing address of Verizon Northwest Inc. To correct erroneous debt information the company filed on my credit record.
But understanding the nature of how this debt record was filed on my credit record in the first place is what makes me really indignant about their method in resolving payments.
My dad, whose native language is not English, was struggling with Verizon Northwest Inc. For cable bills that he believed was not due. Everytime I would visit my parents', I would witness my dad fuming over the company that they would maliciously call him, threathening to turn his records over to collection agency.
He made a contract with the company for their cable services during their promotional period. He was told that he would not be charged for the service as long as he notifies before the promotional period ends. He faithfully followed the instruction, only to receive bills many months later that he now owed them. He contacted the company thinking that he could easily explain the situation away. However, a war broke between the company and my dad since then.
At this point I came into the picture, offering my help to him, thinking that this was due to the language barrier. I wrote a letter of explanation, asking them to contact me as I was willing to communicate on behalf of my dad. I also ensured to include a clause indicating he allowed me to access/release his information on his behalf. No one contacted me for about six months.
In the mean time, I moved to NY from WA, and received a collection notice from a company named afni, which I believe is a collection company for Verizon Northwest Inc. The letter stated that my account had been placed with them for collection. Furthermore, it offered their contact information to resolve the matter. As exasperated I was at the time to receive a collection notice from a company when I only tried to help my dad, I wrote them a letter of explanation again, hoping to resolve the matter once and for all.
I received a response a month later from them, stating that they verified with the creditor (Verison Northwest, Inc) and will resume collection activities.
At this point, I stopped contacting them, convinced that they are least interested in what I have to say, but that they are simply working as hired hands, blindly operating to collect debts. At the same time, I received my semi annual credit report, with a debt record filed by Northwest Inc.!!
I then resolved to do something other than just writing to both companies in order to clear my credit record; I decided to make this public, so that others who may go through the same hardship may benefit in learning what channels of actions to take in order to prevent blatant abuse from companies in this case. I'll definitely keep this case posted as things progress.
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